Thursday, August 2, 2018
Trini Lopez Exclusive Rock Folk Pioneer Celebrates 50th Anniversary of ‘Trini Lopez At PJ’S’
Trini Lopez Exclusive Rock Folk Pioneer Celebrates 50th Anniversary of ‘Trini Lopez At PJ’S’
By Ray Shasho
-Interviewed November 14th 2014
Trini Lopez is an international music legend best known for recording classic covers and converting them into danceable songs by adding his own special spin and flavor. Lopez not only makes those notable tunes danceable, but he usually outsells all other artists who have also covered those songs including the recordings by the original songwriters.
Born in Dallas, Texas, his Father Trinidad Lopez II was a singer, dancer, actor, and musician in Mexico. Trini�s parents moved to Dallas when his dad was eighteen seeking a better life. Trini learned to play guitar from his father and played for money on street corners. He eventually began performing in clubs around the affluent parts of Dallas. Lopez even performed at a club owned by the notorious Jack Ruby.
A true rock and roll visionary � Lopez uncannily wrote and recorded a song called �The Right to Rock� released on a small label called Volk Records in 1958. After hearing the single, King Records offered Trini a three year contract. The only chart hit for Lopez on the King Records label was a Skyliners cover called �Since I Don�t Have You,� Trini�s rendition reached #10 on the Cashbox and Billboard charts.
After one of Trini�s performances Lopez met with another Texan, rock and roll pioneer Buddy Holly. Holly tried to help Trini by inviting him to meet with his record producer in Clovis, New Mexico. Lopez became great friends with Buddy Holly and The Crickets. Holly was killed in a plane crash along with Richie Valens and The Big Bopper on February 3rd 1959. Several months after the crash, Lopez received a phone call to come out to Hollywood, California to become the new lead singer of The Crickets.
The Crickets plans never materialized and Lopez took a job at the Ye Little Club in Beverly Hills. The one year run led to a historic engagement at the famous PJ�S nightclub. It was at PJ�S where Lopez landed his big break. Frank Sinatra took notice of Trini�s one-man act and had Don Costaoffer him an eight year recording contract on Sinatra�s label Reprise Records. Trini�s first two albums were recorded live at PJ�S and successfully launched an incredible music and acting career for the impending international superstar.
Trini�s most recognizable Hit Singles � �If I Had a Hammer� (#3 Billboard U.S. Hit-1963 -Reached #1 in 36 countries), �Im Coming Home Cindy� (#39 Billboard Hit-1966), �Michael, (#42 Billboard Hit-1964), �Lemon Tree� (#20 Billboard Hit-1965) �Kansas City� (#23 Billboard Hit-1963), �America,� �La Bamba�(1966) �Gonna Get Along With Out Ya� Now� (1967), and The Bramble Bush (1967) to name just a few.
(Trini�s music was also spotlighted on various soundtracks including... Apollo 13, Born on the Fourth of July and numerous others).
Trini Lopez acting career �
Marriage on the Rocks (1965), The Dirty Dozen (1967), The Phynx (1970), The Reluctant Heroes (TV Movie -1971), Adam-12 (TV Series 1971-1972), Antonio (1973), The Mystery of the Silent Scream (1977), The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (TV Series 1977).
Trini Lopez incredible string of TV appearances �
The Greatest Ever War Films (TV Movie documentary) 2014, Trini Lopez Presents Latin Music Legends (TV Movie) 2009, American High School (Video) 2009, Armed and Deadly: The Making of The Dirty Dozen (Video documentary short) 2006, The Best of Music Flashback Television Shows: Featuring Music Scene and Hullabaloo (Video documentary short) 2001, Refrescante 95 (TV Series) 1995, Prima Donnas 1995, Querida Concha (TV Series) 1993, ,Musikladen (TV Series) 1981, A Gift of Music (TV Movie) 1981, Sha Na Na (TV Series) 1978, 1971-1976 The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series), 1976 Celebration: The American Spirit (TV Movie), 1975 Rock on with 45 (TV Series), 1970-1974 The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series), Caesars Palace Week from Las Vegas (1974), 1972-1974 Stand Up and Cheer (TV Series)
1965-1973 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV Series), 1971-1972 The David Frost Show (TV Series),1970 The Dick Cavett Show (TV Series), 1970 Playboy After Dark (TV Series), 1968-1970 The Carol Burnett Show (TV Series),1967-1969 The Joey Bishop Show (TV Series),1968 The Song Is You (TV Movie), 1967 Operation Dirty Dozen (Short documentary),1967 Spotlight (TV Series),1967 The London Palladium Show (TV Series),1967 The Dean Martin Show (TV Series),1966-1967 The Andy Williams Show (TV Series),1967 Gypsy (TV Series),1966The Jack Benny Hour (TV Movie),1966 Hippodrome (TV Series) Host
1966 Danger Grows Wild, 1966 The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show (TV Series),1965-1966 Hullabaloo (TV Series)(Host), 1965 Marriage on the Rocks, 1965 Whats My Line? (TV Series) - Mystery Guest, 1964-1965 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV Series), 1964-1965 The Hollywood Palace (TV Series), 1964 The Bob Hope Show (TV Series),1964 The Bob Hope Thanksgiving Special (TV Special), 1963 Celebrity Party (TV Movie)
The Gibson guitar company asked Trini Lopez to design a guitar for them in 1964. The Trini Lopez Standard, a rock and roll model based on the Gibson ES-335 semi-hollow body, and the Lopez Deluxe, a variation of a Gibson jazz guitar designed by Barney Kessel. Both were in production from 1964 until 1971 and are highly sought out collector items. Some owners of the guitar include Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Noel Gallagher of Oasis.
Trini�s last few albums � (2008) �Ramblin Man� and (2011) �Into the Future� have been critically-acclaimed. �Into the Future� was Trini�s 65th celebrated album of his illustrious musical career.
TODAY � Trini Lopez and Exhibit Records announced the release of a Special 50th Anniversary Numbered Limited Edition of �TRINI LOPEZ AT PJ�S The 200 gram vinyl record is beautifully presented in a sturdy old style gatefold jacket featuring the original album art work and for the first time includes the lyrics to all the tunes. The back of each album is foil-stamped with its unique number, and available to purchase
at Exhibit Records.
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Track listing: Side One: A-me-ri-ca, If I Had a Hammer, Bye Bye Blackbird, Cielito Lindo, This Land Is Your Land, Whatd I Say Side Two: La Bamba, Granada, MEDLEY: Gotta Travel On, Down by the Riverside, Marianne, When the Saints Go Marching In, Volare, Unchain My Heart.
Trini Lopez - guitar, vocals
Mickey Jones - drums
Dick Brant - bass guitar
Mickey Jones - drums
Dick Brant - bass guitar
Producer: Don Costa
Recorded at PJS nightclub, West Hollywood, California
Recorded at PJS nightclub, West Hollywood, California
�TRINI LOPEZ AT PJ�S reached #2 on the Billboard charts and remained on the Top 40 for over a year.
Also watch for a NEW RELEASE entitled �TRIPLE PLAY� featuring the legendary Trini Lopez,David Somerville from �The Diamonds� and Maurice Williams of �The Zodiacs.� Available very soon! Watch for the release on Trini�s official website www.trinilopez.com
Trini Lopez is also planning to release a CD featuring all original compositions.
I had the rare and very pleasant opportunity to chat with Trini Lopez recently about � The 50th Anniversary of �Trini Lopez at PJ�S� �Buddy Holly � King Records � The Crickets �Don Costa � Signing with Sinatra �The Dirty Dozen � And much-much more!
Here�s my latest interview with the legendary singer, musician, songwriter, actor, and one of the most exciting and recognized entertainers worldwide �TRINI LOPEZ
Ray Shasho: Hello Trini, thank you for being on the call today from beautiful Palm Springs, California. Let�s first talk about your latest release � A Special 50th Anniversary Numbered Limited Edition album entitled � �Trini Lopez at PJ�S.� This legendary live recording was #2 on the Billboard charts, first released in 1963, and produced by the legendary Don Costa. It also stayed in the Top 40 for over a year.
Trini Lopez: �Yes, I cannot believe that my very first album that I ever did in my life just happens to be after all these years my best seller. So I guess Exhibit Records wanted to jump on the bandwagon and they re-released that album, �Trini Lopez at PJ�S�� I was really surprised!�
Ray Shasho: It was such a popular and best-selling album that you followed it up with �More Trini Lopez at PJ�S.�
Trini Lopez: �Don Costa, Frank Sinatra�s conductor and arranger on so many great albums � at that time he was riding high with Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Barbara Streisand, Steve and Eydie and on and on. So he was also my producer on those live albums.
Ray Shasho: What was it like getting signed on Sinatra�s label, Reprise Records?
Trini Lopez: �I wanted to work at PJ�S from where I was working at the time at a little nightclub in Beverly Hills called the Ye Little Club; it was an English pub and a real elegant place. I was booked for two weeks and stayed a year. I kept hearing about PJ�S and the reason I was excited about one day working there was because I heard that Sinatra went there all the time with all of his buddies. People like Paul Newman and Steve McQueen and all these big stars of the day. When I used to work at the Ye Little Club, I did have a lot of stars come in but they were the young Hollywood. People like Connie Stevens, Robert Conrad and a lot of people who had TV series and were on their way up the ladder of success.�
�I kept hearing about the higher Hollywood Echelon who used to go to PJ�S and when I heard that Sinatra used to go in there I thought� Oh God, I�ve got to work there. So when I finished my year engagement at the Ye Little Club they wanted me to work at PJ�S. I created a big following in Hollywood and so I was very popular there. So they hired me for three months at PJ�S and I stayed a year and a half � all by myself, just me and my guitar. I used to work from 9-2 in the morning; I did four shows and never repeated a song, four hours of singing. I never got a sore throat or got sick by the grace of God. Sinatra started coming in and I was so excited to see him in person and in those days was too shy to even get close or talk to him. After Sinatra came in and saw me about three or four times, he sent Don Costa to talk to me.�
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