PAUL WILLIAMS  IN NEW YORK HOME PAGE JUNE 2001

SANDY SELLS IN NEW YORK 

I must confess it: back in March when David mentioned  that Paul was being inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame on June 15, the idea of being there came to my mind. But I immediately got rid of it, it was so crazy just to think of traveling to the States to take part of the celebration. So it wasn’t until my friend Pepo González said “It would be great if we could go to NY” that I let myself dream of the chance of  joining other Fans in this adventure. Hey, Pepo, I acknowledge you all recognition for what happened after that conversation. The only pity is that you couldn’t  be there yourself this time .

I invited my husband, Juan, to make the trip, and to my surprise he agreed at once: I have realized my PW virus has infected all my environment.

So we tried to combine a few days of vacation in NY, Washington DC and Niagara Falls with the experience of meeting other Paul Williams Fans, attending the Tribute concert and seeing Paul on stage.  It was undoubtedly a great experience.

I had been in contact with David, Claire, Cathy Cervenka and Paul himself during the previous days by e-mail, and I was as excited that I couldn’t wait to board the plane and arrive in NY. Cathy, who is one of the artists of the “Losers’ Lounge” and one of the organizers of the Tribute concerts. She was very kind to me, giving me all information about the concerts and that’s why we could attend the first one when Paul appeared on stage: June 8. 

Paul was sat down at the first line of seats, so I went there, I kneeled down in front of him (what an image, certainly), I said I was Analía from Uruguay, and a second after,  I had done it: I don’t know how, but I had imprinted a kiss on his cheek. I completely forgot that’s not the way Americans are used to say hello to strangers. The fact is that he’s not at all a stranger to me, though he’s probably not aware of it. His voice comes out of my CD player almost everyday, his autographed picture is at a honour place in my living room, my picture with him in November 2000 is on the bookshelf, my daughters know  him  as “the Phantom’s man”: he is a constant presence in my life in many ways.

Anyway, Paul didn’t seem to be bothered for my Latin explosion, and he talked to me in that lovely way of his, so warm, so nice, that way that makes you feel special. He introduced me to his wife (this time I remembered how to behave and shook hands with her, though I couldn’t say anything but “Pleased to meet you”, as nervous as I was).  She was very nice, and Paul also asked me about my holidays, whether I had had the chance to do sigthseeing in New York. I told him I was going to be back to the concert of June 15, together with David, Claire and the rest of the gang. He said “you are coming with the family, they’re family to me”.  I said goodbye (“see you on next Friday”), shook hands again and went back to my seat, where I prepared myself to enjoy the concert. 

All artists are very good, and I found all parodies to movies very funny. My favourite performances turned out to be those by “our” Cathy (what a great singer she is!), by Lianne Smith (she’s terrific on stage) and Joshua Tyler. I had read Tyler was going to perform my favourite PW song, That’s Enough For Me, and I didn’t have much expectation since I believe nobody can sing it as Paul does. But Mr. Tyler surprised me with a version full with tenderness and emotion. Great job!

On June 15 evening we went once again to the Westbeth Theatre, in front of whose door we found a group of Fan's, wearing those incredible T-shirts Claire had designed (and that I had bought for ourselves and for my friends Pepo, Cecilia and Ale). We immediately joined them, introduced each others and took pictures there. I remembered having met Norma Capocci (the talented and beautiful lady who organized the Bugsy Malone performance last March), and her friends from Ohio: Sandy, Joyce and Linda. There were also Michael, Christine, Hannah and her sister (we were in NY, remember? J), JJ and her cousin, Judy, Claire and Marc, and of course David and Ann. There was also another young man but  he arrived at the last moment and I couldn’t talk to him.

Juan and I got seats by the Ohio representatives and shared the concert with them. All the Fan's are very nice and warm people, but that didn’t surprise me at all: we were all gathered around Paul Williams, a unique person who spreads gentleness.

It was nice to see the acts once more, I enjoyed all performances again. It is sometimes difficult to appreciate versions of those songs that are part of one’s life and that are made in such a different way. Michael LaMorte made a very special version of Waking Up Alone, which had been a smash hit in South America when released and continues to be probably the best known song performed by Paul himself.

At the end of the Tribute concert, Paul went up to stage and gave us a bunch of songs. It was a magical moment and the vision of David while he was listening to Paul was so touching. This was the first time David could listen to Paul in person (apart from a couple of songs in Ireland), and I am sure he was living the moment in a very special way. He was not looking at Paul all time long; instead, during long moments his chin was resting on his chest, his eyes shut,  and probably all his emotions and his memories were deeply moving him. I’m sure he’s not at all aware of it, but David is the man who made all this possible: the man who devoted so much time and energy and love and admiration to Paul that he created the most impressive website dedicated to an artist I’ve ever seen.  The man who has been in contact with so many fans all over the world during these years, spreading his love for Paul’s music and his admiration for the little great genius. The man who has actually been the basis for all this movement around Paul. I felt really happy for David, he deserved every word Paul said about him and more.

When the concert was over and the lights went on, I waited for my turn to say hello to Paul. I started introducing myself once again “I’m Analía, from Uruguay …”, but he said “I know, darling, I know” and he gave me hug. Juan teases me saying poor Paul is already bored of my presence everywhere  J . Juan took a couple of pictures of Paul and me but without advise and he ran out of film, so when I tried to be taken a traditional picture of Paul and myself looking at the camera, there was no chance at all. Anyway, I know I’ll treasure all the images of that incredible evening for ever in my memory. Paul was so nice to take a couple of minutes with everyone of us and to have special words for everyone who approached him.  I asked him when he is coming to South America as he’s been planning, and he introduced me to his manager saying “this is the man you have to talk to”.

I saw his lovely daughter Sarah there and I only could smile at her, she seems to be a very nice girl; I didn’t dare to bother her in my style “I love your Dad’s music, he’s the greatest poet of our time”, and all that. Afterwards, I thought, she’s a teenager and she is probably tired of listening to the same things all day. However, when I read in other people’s accounts that she is so sweet, I hated myself for being so shy. I didn’t dare to meet Richard Dreyfuss either, what a silly woman I am. I think I was feeling Paul had already given so much to us that I just wanted to thank him and go away on tiptoes without interfering any longer with that incredible man, his family and his friends.  

So we said goodbye to David, Ann, Norma, the Ohio girls, Claire, JJ and the rest of the crew. I’ve spent some time this last weekend sticking on an album all stuff I’ve lately collected about Paul, as well as the pictures of that unforgettable evening. I am now dreaming of another concert in South America, this time with the presence of all the Fan's who want to come. Does it sound crazy? Well, as I said at the beginning, going to NY sounded insane at first and turned out to be absolutely real and absolutely wonderful. Aren’t we dreamers building a Rainbow Connection, after all?