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My parent's wedding was a small affair and Grandma Fehin did not attend as she disapproved. Grandpa Fehin was there to give his daughter away.
My mother
Both my Irish grandparents were religious and kind gentle people. Grandpa loved to tell scary stories at bedtime.
My mother became pregnant very quickly and up until this time, Dad and she lived in one room, in the home that belonged to my Uncle Syd's mother.
Dad told me of the mouse who kept scampering around the room until one day it made the mistake of running across his face. He caught it, however, let it go in the garden.
We also had a kitten (cannot remember her name), but sadly she was killed by a car
It was March 24th, 1955 and I was just five years old, when the Nuns from the Convent infant school sent me home alone. I clearly remember that I had to take two buses and was worried that I would get lost.
Normally, a neighbour's daughter would bring me home, however, she had a dentist's appointment and the Nuns just decided to send me home unaccompanied.
It is very clear in my mind. I was a small five year old child, having to take two buses to get to my home.
5 Arethusa Road, Rochester (Kent) which my parents had not long bought.
I remember moving-in day well as I pushed my old pram around the long grass that my dad and I think Bill were
cutting.
They had to nail my iron crib down some way, otherwise I rocked it around the room. I have had sleep problems all of my life.
I could not get into my house and the next door neighbour managed to open the door, but held me back.
No matter, I have always known that my mother put her head in the gas over and cut her throat.
My poor father who totally adored and loved my mother was questioned by the police as a suspect in her murder.
Very fortunately, a neighbour had seen my mother hanging out washing.
I remember my brother David and I holding hands in the dark garden as police and other adults went about their business.
My father was investigated for his murder, however, fortunately a neighbourhad seen my mother hanging laundry on the washing line.
Sometime later, my father took David and me to his parent's house in Aubrey Walk and apparently told his parents to look after us and he was going to go and join Deborah (also known as Doreen) in death.
Somehow his parents persuaded him otherwise.
Dad had two sisters, Patricia and Jacqueline and there was a third Dorothy who was from my grandmother's first marriage.
Nan Munday was not married when Dad was born as her husband refused to divorce her and would not let her see her daughter Dorothy.
Dorothy finally showed up one day with her husband, Sad and son, Stewart.
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Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2020, 06:43:06 PM GMT+1
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Must start working on autobiography
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must start working on autobiography
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Here’s the email – please reply so I know you got it.
Best,
Jon
WALTER THOMPSON - ADVERTISING - MARKETING DEPT STATISTICS
AT 19 BECAME GENERAL MANAGE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO crazy photographers with 2 assistants (advertising, catalogs, book covers - was used for Hamlyn published Girls' Annual holding large English sheep dog, who disappeared off into Piccadilly Circus and we spent ages chasing him/her around eventually catching them - fashion, products), plus photography, b/w film and print development. Some modelling. Set design
HAVE WORKED IN ADVERTISING, MARKETING, PUBLIC RELATIONS (in fashion, furniture, textiles, silverware, MUSIC BOOK PUBLISHING, EDITING, RECORD PRODUCTION
AT AGE 23 BECAME General Manager of Music Sales Ltd for the amazing mentor and innovator, Bob Wise
Enjoyed compiling music folios (Milt Okun tried to poach me) tremendously - great deal of satisfaction in holding a printed folio in your hands and knowing you produced it.
We enjoyed a big success with newspaper stand distributed folio of lyrics and bio of David Cassidy with Annie Lieberwitz' famous photographs of him almost naked - we cropped the photos just above the public hair, and I had to deal with loads of calls from young girls wanting the rest of the photograph!). Bob had a habit of throwing me into unknown territory. One time he went off to Australia leaving me in charge of negotiating a newspaper stand distribution deal with the then largest publishing company, New Music Library and the largest independent for a David Bowie book of lyrics, bio and photos. He gave me the parameters (you have to overprint copies) that was to at the least minimize loss. I successfully negotiated a deal, whereby whatever amount sold, we made a small profit.
AT AGE 24 GENERAL MANAGER OF ELTON JOHN'S AND BERNIE'S TAUPIN'S MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANIES Was suddenly thrown into maelstrom of politics and "brown nosing".
Sent by John Reid to negotiate participation in the copyright of Kiki Dee's hit "I've Got The Music In Me (written by Tobias Bushell and published by April Music, owned by CBDS). Off I went to meet with the then head of CBS Legal Dept, Paul Russel, who was somewhat surprised at having a meeting with a someone who looked like a young teenage girl (as was New English Library!). Anyway, I was successful to some extent, however, it was a complicated agreement and we ended up using my draft. Was fired by John Reid and thanked him for doing so. Thoroughly enjoyed working for Elton, who personally brought me his demos to listen to and also the first mix of "Philadelphia Freedom", which he asked to safely guard as it was his only copy. When he returned to collect reel, I handed him some spliced pieces of tape. His face was a picture, however, he had a great sense of humor. Also worked with Kevin Ayers, Brian and Brenda Russell and Dave Stewart. Albums released by Elton during my period with the company, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, Caribou and Rock of The Westies. Traveled 1st class to New York, stayed at the Carlyle. Was not allowed in the bar in jeans, nor if I was unaccompanied by a man! Elton arranged for a private showing of Blazing Saddles, which halfway through I fell asleep. Saw Elton perform his first no 1, a duet with Kiki Dee, "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart, when she was the opening act for The Beach Boys at Dodgers Stadium. Met the Beach Boys, and more brown nosers. With Elton's sound engineer, Clive Franks, saw The Who at Madison Square Garden, witnessed my first riot at a concert when the band refused to come back on and do an encore; and was frightened almost to death by the taxi driver who ran every red light on the way back to the hotel. Met Marv Goodman for the first time (worked for Chrysalis New York), who to this day remains a great friend.
At age 26 JOINED CHRYSALIS MUSIC LTD as Professional Manager and worked in the same building as Sir George Martin (who I had met when I played him Elton's Caribou album before its release, intent on getting cover recordings), as well as Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway. Was offered the job of head of A & R Development, however, a friend did that and I wasn't taking his job. Did, however, accompany Brian Protheroe with his hit single "Pinball" to West Berlin, as no one else in the company knew how to get on with him , Racing Cars with great voice of Mal Pope
AT AGE 28 Promoted to General Manager of Rare Blue Music (ASCAP) and Red Admiral (BMI) and various other Chrysalis managed or owned publishing companies. Actively participated in many areas of Chrysalis Records, in particular A & R, Marketing, and Promotion
30 Promoted to Vice President and renamed company The Chrysalis Music Group USA
Founder member of NMPA following year became Chairman and invited Bob Pittman of the newly formed MTV to speak at NMPA meeting, joined by representatives of BMI and ASCAP and major publishers
32 Promoted to Senior Vice President, and participated in all areas of Chrysalis Records Inc
33 Nominated for ASCAP Board of Directors, first women, youngest and I think, 1st European.
At 35, in 1985 I left company due to constant personal harassment by President, Jack Craigo; and inability of Corporate Board to control his actions towards all staff, nor that of Paul Hutchinson. Signings include Frank Wildhorn, helped him develop pop song writing. Had at least two number ones and went on to become a famous promoter and writer of several hit musicals. Frank is still successful.
Signings include Carlene Carter, Jack Lee - he wrote Hanging On The Telephone and Will Anything Happen - on Blondie's triple platinum Parallel Lines . Had three songs on Paul Young's triple million album. Two were number one single. Neil Giraldo, a fine guitarist, who joined a Pat Benatar
33 moved Chrysalis Music Group USA headquarters to New York
3 of Chrysalis Corporate Board voted to promote me to President of The Chrysalis Music Group USA. While Terry Elllis promised to do so, he did not, nor as he promised, move publishing group to separate office in Galleria Building, where the company had a suite of offices.
At 35, in 1985 I left company due to constant personal harassment by President, Jack Craigo; and inability of Corporate Board to control his actions towards all staff, nor that of Paul Hutchinson.
I resigned when Chris Wright bought out Terry Ellis (who had moved back to the UK some years earlier and we'd had to endure the bad presidency of Sal Licata, however, I kept the publishing companies in the black, while he took the record company into the red. Another story!
I was asked to stay one by Terry Connolly, Group MD for a few months as it would not look good for the company if two senior people and me in particular, their one high profile US and UK Senior woman executive left at the same time. I acquiesced and much to Craigo's chagrin, continued to do my job.
WHAT I WAS NOT TOLD, was that they were taking the company public; and the ERA for women passed in 1976 and they frequently trotted me out when ever they needed to show they were an equal opportunity employer. My foot! I was paid $35,000 pa as a SVP. Anyway, needless to say, I did not end up with any shares in the public company!
1985 I managed Carlene Carter, who I had managed on and off during the years after I signed her to Chrysalis, whenever she didn't have one. Got to know Nick Lowe really well.
1991 I returned to the corporate world as Vice President of Imago, again with full participation in all record company matters. Aimee Mann, Henry Rollins and Black Flag. Dreadful company, however, I was very honored, and it is a good memory from a bad time; that at my leaving lunch with the majority of the company's admin staff, they all asked me to start a music company and they would all come with me.
My father died in 1992, and basically I had a nervous breakdown.
In 1997 I returned to Los Angeles to help my brother and in 1998 repped Boosey & Hawkes to Film and TV Music Supervisors. A hard sell, even though it is an amazing classical catalog. Was ousted when the London office appointed a new MD, who I did not respect at all. Did succeed in getting Karl Jenkins his first score for a TV movie and under serious consideration by Director, Michael Mann, who I got Karl's music directly to. Kathy Nelson actually had to phone me! Another story for my autobiography.
Anyway, I got to know many film and TV music supervisors, who I remain in touch with even now.
2000 I helped organize the biggest foot race at that time, the San Francisco Bay 2 Breakers, and must have walked far more than the actual walk itself! Moved back to LA and worked for LA AIDS Walk, however, my mental disabilities were increasing to the point where my post traumatic stress disorder in particular could not deal with the bully woman SVP of MZA Events, who started the first ever AIDs Walk. I remain friends with Craig Miller its founder.
I last worked in 2002 when I again managed Carlene Carter and in 2003 helped her through the year of Howie Epstein's death (also a personal friend of mine, and someone I cared about deeply), her mother's death and her step father's and her sister's. I was privileged to be considered a friend by Johnny and June, who welcomed me to their home in Hendersonville and Jamaica. Again another story for my autobiography. But when Carlene, who I had got into rehab (she was late in paying me commission and I couldn't calculate how much she would owe me from the various deals I negotiated for her)
Now I paint watercolors. Have sold out one limited edition giclees, including to the fantastic Billy Bass, famous for all the wonderful iconic images designed when he was Senior VP of marketing for Chrysalis Records in LA.
Carlene remains one of my close friends
And I do voice overs.
Have volunteered and recorded books for The Reading for The Blind and Dyslexic.
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