We partied

I met Patti LaBelle in I think it was 1977. LaBelle, the group, was performing at the Flicks (movies) nightclub in Boston’s Kenmore Square, around the proverbial corner from Fenway Park. It was an enormous, elegant, elite nightclub, including a huge stage, sunken swimming pool and the first Pong consoles installed in Boston. I watched LaBelle’s performance, brought her Brut Champaign laced with Framboise and told her I liked her. We danced. She is a really warm and genuine lady, very down to earth. I’ll never forget the time we had together. And physical intimacy was not part of the picture.

A few weeks later, 2 blocks down the street, I danced with Patti Smith at Boston’s version of CBGB, The Rat. She could not sing as well as my first Patti (I mean, curvy Black R&B/Motown vs. skinny white hyper Punk?! . . .), but I loved them both, each in her own way, and I’d not give up either memory for ANYTHING.