Book excerpt: Rhythm of a broken heart: LA Woman chapter

I’ve never had the pleasure of flying in first class, till now.

In fact, I’ve never traveled west of the Mississippi.

These weeks leading up to our first road trip have been exhausting.

It was a dreary, cold and typical New York winter’s day when we boarded a new 707 at JFK.

Being a 5 a.m. flight, everyone slept during the five hour westward journey.

After a restful, pampered and luxurious flight, the pilot announced our impending arrival.

Opening my window shade, I viewed a beautiful new world. The sky was deep blue and crystal clear. As we floated across the valley, it appeared as if the view was from a picture postcard.

Palm trees, tiled roofs, swimming pools, green grass and lush landscaping. In the distance was the sparkling Pacific ocean with frothy whitecaps parading to the shore.

In a few short minutes, we were on the ground in the: “City of Angels, City of Lights” and the “City of Nights.”

It’s tough holding back my excitement of being here and becoming a part of music history.

There is still that childlike part of me that had yearned to be free of the illness prison that had held me for years.

The limo bus driver was so awesome. He chose to take us on a tour, up the coastal scenic route to Beverly Hills. We drove by the gorgeous white sand beaches of Manhattan Beach and past the channel of the Marina Del Rey harbor, created by the Corps of Engineers in 1954.

We toured the romantic canals of Venice Beach, where the Doors and Morrison started in 1965. He meandered through the high class Santa Monica neighborhoods. We then turned east on Santa Monica Boulevard and wandered through Century City.

I saw every type of cool, beautiful and hip person.

The vibe is so different here. It’s a feeling as if they all were hiding some deep secret.

The final leg of the ride was up Beverly Drive to view the exquisite mansions of Beverly Hills. The street ends at Sunset Boulevard right in front of the famous and exclusive Beverly Hills Hotel, our amazing destination.

This resort was built in 1912, as the anchor for the newly planned Beverly Hills community. The city’s development has grown up all around it. It is the epicenter of the Hollywood mystique, and its golden age of glitz and glamour.

David told me it had become a haven for stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Howard Hughes and Marilyn Monroe. If this is a sample of my new lifestyle, I’m all in with this dream. Our location is superb, within walking distance from all of the clubs, bars, and the exclusive shops of Rodeo Drive. I wondered who in this world of stardom actually walks? Finally, it’s only ten minutes from our venue, the Troubadour Club on Santa Monica Boulevard, west of Beverly Hills.

My amazing suite overlooks the lush gardens and glamorous pool area. I should be exhausted from the trip but there was too much beauty to be enjoyed right now. I feel like a kid in a candy store. The creative vibe and new energy of all of this is contagious and I am catching the bug.

After settling in, the gorgeous palm shaded pool beckoned me. I needed to pinch myself, to make sure that all of what was set before me was real. I had not even thought of bringing a bathing suit for this trip.

The on site stylish boutique, Helft’s of Beverly Hills, had an amazing selection of stylish and trendy bikinis. I had never owned one much less had ever achieved the selfconfidence to wear one in public. It was now time to let go and enjoy this new exciting life and the new me. I wasn’t shy anymore. I wasn’t ashamed of my body anymore. I purchased a frilly white french cut, deep plunge style. I never dreamed I would ever be able to fill one of these out, like I certainly do now. I paired it with white pool heels and a sheer pink cover up. The mirror reflected someone I was just getting to know.

“I must say, madam, you have the style, the aura and the look of a movie star. What you possess is rare. Be careful that some Paparazzi photographers don’t sneak in and take some pictures.”

I laughed at the clerk’s comments. I can see why so many songs are written about California. I was living the California dream truly on a winter’s day. The weather was as gorgeous as I have ever experienced. A deep blue sky, only a slight warm breeze, with the scent of tropical flowers surrounding the pool. I found a sumptuous lounge, dropped my cover up and revealed the new and exciting me to the world.

After a few casual laps in the sparkling warm water, I laid blissfully on my padded lounge and nodded off into dream land. I was awakened by a low whistle.

“I didn’t realize there was going to be a celebrity swim suit model here today.”

David abruptly awakened me from my lovely dream.

“The boutique owner warned me about the possible presence of celebrity stalkers, fans and groupies. I was hoping I could avoid them. He did not warn me about voyeurs,” I quipped.

“Damn, you are extremely quick, lady! That’s very funny. All of this is beautiful isn’t it? Umm..You make that bikini look fantastic. Are you enjoying yourself, he asked. “It seems like you’re stammering a bit, sir. Could it be the hot sun or the lovely scenery?

What’s our schedule today boss?”

He caught his breath and replied.

“It’s a full evening of fun. Drinks and dinner at the Warehouse on the harbor in Marina Del Rey. On to the Troubadour Club for a walk through for our gig. Finally, dancing at the exclusive discotheque “Daisy,” on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.”

“Wow, that is a busy schedule. It will take me a while to get ready.”

“Well, maybe run and slip something on. We are taking all of you to the Rodeo Drive boutiques for shopping. The producers are springing for some sexy club wear for tonight and the shows.”

We are so close, it was a three minute drive. The stores included Gucci, Giorgio, Vidal Sassoon and other designer boutiques. The girls helped me pick out three provocative outfits and three gorgeous pairs of sexy heels.

They acted as if I was their little sister and they were dressing me for a dance, which they were. We all had great fun. The nice part about winter is that it gets dark early. Darkness gets me in the nighttime party mood. My choice of an outfit was over the top spicy, to showcase our band’s vibe throughout the night’s events. I also wanted the group to see what their dress up doll looked like dressed to kill.

Dinner overlooking the harbor was astounding. Everyone stared at us the whole time. I’m getting spoiled very quickly. Marina Del Rey is a lazy and beautiful beach town. One that Sam and I could live in forever. I’m going to bring him here someday. The Troubadour was very busy.

We were getting stares from the men as if they had never seen beautiful women before. It is an intimate venue with seating for about 300. We decided to arrive early tomorrow evening to accomplish what we will need to do. Nesting back in the limo, David had scored us champagne, tequila and weed. I am so naturally high right now adding the party favors is bringing me to another level.

We were escorted from the luxe carriage into the exclusive Daisy nightclub  back on Rodeo Drive. This is where the Hollywood “A” list did their dancing and socializing.

Just last year, Diana Ross introduced the Jackson Five to the world at this club. Because of how busy and occupied I have been in my teen years, I never followed theatre movies, actors or celebrities. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been to a motion picture. Sam and I have always been performing, practicing studying or just hanging out together.

“Sarah, don’t be surprised if you see some well known actors and celebrities here. This club is for members only and they limit that to under 500.” Jane offered.

“That’s cool. I just want to chill with this awesome buzz I have and dance the night away. No drama, no stress, just some physical release, if you know what I mean.”

The crowd grew quickly. I found a spot on the dance floor that I could claim as my own for a while. The music was a blend of rock, R & B and soul. It was everything I could ask for. I just let it all go and connected my physical body to the flow of the musical rhythms. After groovin’ for a few tracks, I looked around the club and it seemed like everyone was watching me. Back at our table, all eyes were on me when I sat down. I enjoyed two glasses of Dom to settle in. David sat down next to me.

“Do you know that you have the attention of almost everyone here? You are an amazing dancer.”

“Should I feel self-conscious? Am I embarrassing myself?”

“On the contrary. I think everyone is waiting for you to get back up there. They want the show to continue.”

Just as I finished my glass, “Dance to the Music” by Sly Stone dropped.

As soon as I stood, a really cute guy asked me to dance. I took his hand with the only hope that this or any man here could keep up with me. He actually did very well. I quickly learned that I had made a big mistake. Striding up to the bar to get ice water, I was surrounded by a bunch of dudes, all wanting to ask me to dance. They were crowding me in. I was feeling claustrophobic, short of breath and needed to escape. I was panicking. I was then tapped on the shoulder from behind.

“Excuse me miss, you look overwhelmed. My friends and I have a private booth over there. Care to be rescued from this mess?,” he asked.

With a nod, I took his hand and we squeezed through the crowd to his table. He was a gorgeous shaggy haired blond. Tall, early thirties and in perfect shape. He had a cute grin . At his table was another good looking man with sandy hair and an incredibly gorgeous, dark eyed brunette woman.

“Hi, I’m Bob. This is Paul and Natalie.”

“Hello, I’m Sarah. It’s nice to meet you all. Bob, you should have a lifeguard rescue shirt on. You saved me from drowning out there.”

All three had a great laugh.

“Is this your first time here? You are an amazing and beautiful dancer,” Bob commented.

“Thank you. Yes, I’m in L.A. with a new all girl rock band. We have a gig at the Troubadour Club tomorrow.”

We all chatted for a while. They were all sweet, intelligent and interesting.

“May I buy you a drink to thank you for rescuing me?”

“That’s sweet, Sarah. Sure, a shot of tequila with a Czech beer chaser. The waitress knows what I like,” Bob replied.

“What do you guys do for a profession,” I innocently asked.

They laughed together almost in unison.

“Well, we all do a little acting and some singing. Just enough to get by,” Paul responded smiling.

“I’m beginning to see the huge attraction of being in the entertainment industry. It’s quite a rush having people appreciate your talents and displaying them.”

“What’s cool about us, Sarah, is that we’ve done some of this acting together. Just like you performing together with your bandmates,” Paul added.

“You are very charming, Sarah. Don’t lose that charm. This life can get very stressful. You are beautiful and obviously talented. Be true to your craft,” Natalie begged.

“Would you like to dance a few with me,” Bob asked.

“Only if you can keep up, sir.”

I had zero inhibitions and my responses were unfiltered. They seemed to appreciate my humor. We danced for a while and he tried his best to keep up. Soon I shook his hand and thanked him, waved to the others and returned to my group. When I sat at our booth, they all were quiet with funny, inquisitive looks on their faces.

“Ahhh…. Sarah, do you have any idea who you were talking to and dancing with,” David asked.

“Bob, Natalie and Paul are their names. They were very nice,” I replied.

My whole group exploded in laughter. I could not understand why.

“I’m sorry Sarah. Those are three of the most famous and popular movie stars in the business. Robert Redford, Natalie Wood and Paul Newman.”

“I’ve heard of them. Wasn’t Natalie in “West Side Story? I’ve been a bit sheltered until recently. I hope I acted appropriately.”

“From what we could see, they loved you. You sure can dance. Will you dance with me,” David asked.

“I’m so sorry, I think I ran out of gas a while ago. Are we leaving soon? It’s a big day tomorrow.”

We agreed to leave. In a short time, I was in my suite with the slider open to let the breeze flow and to hear the rustling of the palms. As I laid in bed, the light from the half moon flooded acrossmy floor. As wonderful, exciting, fresh and new all of this is, there is still that missing piece in my heart. I miss him so much. I hope he feels the same.

We slept in and enjoyed a late lunch at the Bistro in Century City. It is a very upscale place with a wonderful menu. We made the decision to dress, get ready and get to the club hours before the show to prepare and set up.

It was a warm evening. The girls had begged me to get this sheer Ruby sequined hot pants and frilled halter set at the boutique. While it looked hot and sexy in my room, I was worried about the response at the club. My sheer pink pool coverup was added and it helped tone down the look a little.

The Troubadour is situated on the famous Santa Monica Boulevard, just west of Beverly Hills. June and Jean Millington started their band under the name of “Wild Honey.” They became frustrated by their lack of success. Jean told me the complete history. They decided they would disband after one more night of open mic at the Troubadour.

On an October night last year, they were discovered by producer Richard Perry’s secretary. Perry convinced the brass at Warner/Reprice Record Company to sign them to a recording contract, sight unseen.

Our show tonight is scheduled to be both a reunion of sorts and a celebration of their success so far. Perry and his group, along with other music industry people will be there. This will also be a tribute to the success this club has produced for so many others.

This intimate venue has a seating capacity of only 300 or so. It has become the epicenter of the emerging southern California folk/rock and singer/songwriter movement. David told me that the list of artists beginning or discovered here, is extensive. Just a few included: Rick Nelson, Joni Mitchell, Bobby Darren, Neil Young and James Taylor.

Comedians Richard Pryor and Cheech and Chong were discovered here. Ron Henly and Glenn Fry of the Eagles, met at this bar. Elton John made his U.S. debut here, introduced by Neil Diamond. Kris Kristofferson debuted here when he opened for Linda Rhonstadt. Finally, Mike Nesmith of the Monkees, Carole King, Buffalo Springfield and others have their roots at this venue. To learn about all of the recent music history of this place was inspiring to me.

We arrived at 7:30. We all worked together to set up the stage, do sound checks and run through our song list. The only spectators were the bar manager and the cute bartender, Billy. It was nice sitting at the bar, my second drink in hand, casually chatting with him.

“You’re new with the band, right? I was here when they did their open mic night last year. The crowd loved them. I certainly would have remembered you.”

“Yes, I came aboard in November in New York City. It’s been a great experience. I’ve especially enjoyed my first visit here.”

Quietly, Jean came over to me seemingly upset about something.

“Sarah, I’m losing my voice. There is no way I can be lead tonight. Do you think you can take it over?,” she pleaded.

“That’s terrible Jean. I sure will try.”

Immediately my face flushed and my heart started racing. Billy, without any prompting, poured me a shot of Patron.

“I think you may need this,” he whispered.

I smiled and quickly enjoyed his offering.“ You wouldn’t by chance have a joint we can share?” I begged.

“Of course, follow me.”

David watched with curiosity as we walked together into the dimly lit back patio. I needed to chill out quickly. In such a short time, I’ve gone from an unknown, to being the lead singer at a famous club in Beverly Hills. Could this be possible?

“Don’t be nervous, Sarah. You wouldn’t be here or in this position if you didn’t have what it takes. You have an incredible presence. Better stated, you are gorgeous!”

“Thank you so much. You’ve helped me immensely.” I hugged him tightly.

“It will be fun. Just take a deep breath and chill. Any chance I can take you to dinner in Malibu tomorrow night?,” he asked.

“That sounds so nice. We have to prepare to leave tomorrow as we are departing very early the next day. Can I have a rain check until I’m back again?”

I hugged this lovely young man again, took a few breaths and marched into my brave new world. The initial crowd was sparse. There may still be a little effect on people going out after the Sharon Tate murder and the Manson scare.

Our first set was a little loose and shaky. I thought I did okay but my energy was tentative. I wasn’t used to the “all eyes on me” aspect of being the lead singer.

Luckily, Billy’s remedy allowed me to focus. During our first break, he waved me over and set me up again at the bar and on the patio. When I walked back in, during our short period of time outside, the club had filled almost to capacity. The bar manager winked and smiled at me as he walked by. It seemed as if somehow, the word spread about our show and everyone wanted to check out our look and style.

As we took to the stage again, there was applause and a sense of appreciation from the crowd. They seemed so close, almost in my lap.

Jean walked over and whispered in my ear.

“You are doing fabulously. They all are here because of your style and look. You are knocking them dead. Enjoy all of this, it’s your night.”

The rest of the show was surreal. Everything we did, clicked. Our cover of “Somebody to Love” by Jefferson Airplane blew everyone away.

We made the place rock. I was in full, dramatic voice that reverberated through the building and into the street. We did three encores and at the end, they stood and applauded for minutes. I hugged Billy on the way out and he handed me his phone number.

On our ride back, everybody was so great to me. David told us that the Rock Music editor from Rolling Stone Magazine, had been there.

He said we were so good. He was going to do a feature article. He told me that photos of my act were going to be published. Sam will be blown away. Him playing at Woodstock and his girl in Rolling Stone.

“You did an incredible job. It was magical. You own the lead. It would be hard for anyone to live up to what you pulled off tonight.”

Enchanted and spent, I collapsed in my bed.

The moonlight appeared brighter and the breeze cool and refreshing. I was sad to think this stay was over, it went so fast. There are so many opportunities and experiences to be had here. The future seems so very bright.