Carl Perkins Benefit, House of Blues-Los Angeles
(February 1998) Where to start -- at the beginning I guess. I got into LA late afternoon and met Gloria Lynn, Karens H&S and LeeAnn at the hotel. When we were sufficiently beautified (ha) we walked down to the HOB to 
get our tickets. Will Call wasn't open yet, so we went into the souvenir store and ended up just walking downstairs to the restaurant. A couple of folks were tuning up on stage and about 15 minutes later out walked Dwight! they all did a little sound check -- probably about 1/2 hour or so. "The Boys" weren't there so Dwight was playing with Johnny Rivers' band. After the sound check we decided to move our dinner reservation up. Once we were seated and had ordered, I went round to the Foundation Room where a friend had arranged for myself and a guest to be on the guestlist and got my wrist band for admittance.
After dinner we got in line and waited about half an hour before they let us in. Downstairs it was a little hard to tell where to stand because the stage curtains were closed and we couldn't see the stage set up. Fortunately I "guessed" right because I was smack dab dead center in front of Dwight's mic, with just one girl in front of me. She was a real cutie too, but I just couldn't hate her cause she was so darn nice! :)
The openers did two songs and then ... Dwight! (Blue jeans-no rips, cream/beige paisley patterned shirt untucked, Levi jacket, and cream colored boots.) First song, eye contact and a smile -- I was flying! Someone said he was only going to do 3 songs, so when he walked off after 2 I was worried. Johnny said he'd be back though. For the remainder of the evening Dwight would do a couple of songs with Johnny and then exit stage while Johnny did a couple of songs. Halfway through the evening Jennifer Warnes came out and did a couple of tunes. When Dwight came back out they did "A Thousand Miles From Nowhere" (My Favorite!) Dwight looked at me a couple of times during the song, so you know I was really happy.
Then (you wouldn't think this could get any better!) Johnny introduced STEVEN STILLS and GRAHAM NASH! They sang a couple of their songs (Dwight played backup). They were getting ready to close with Blue Suede Shoes and you know that's going to be killer. I glanced to the right side of the stage and there are STEVEN TYLER and GEORGE THOROGOOD!! Everybody went nuts!!! Needless to say, they ROCKED through this song, with everyone doing a verse. When Dwight sang his verse I could swear he was looking at me the whole time (Editorial Note: I guess this would be where that "wishful thinking" piece comes in. At the time it seemed "real" but in retrospect I'd have to say that's probably not what happened). I'm saying to myself, "have I lost my mind or what." I am totally excited by all the great artists who are here, plus I know I'm heading directly for the Foundation Room! Obviously, at some point, I have died and gone to heaven because this cannot be happening in my real life.
I grabbed Karen Holley and we went upstairs. Admittedly we felt a little out of our element but decided to just "fake it". We got a drink and wandered around ... saw Steven Tyler (and daughter Liv later), Johnny Rivers, Graham Nash and a bunch of people who probably weren't "anybody" ;-) Dwight was not "hanging out" but was in a private room with the door closed. (we did see him once when someone opened the door). We waited there in case we could manage .... I'm not sure What we thought we could manage. Anyway, security finally came and cleared the hallway of all the hangers-around unless you had a "special" pass (the wristband apparently wasn't good enought in this case!) We knew nothing was happening for us upstairs in terms of Dwight so we went back to hook up with the others.
You know Karen S can create opportunities anywhere, and sure enough she discovered that you could go up the backstairs. Security was letting two guys wait there for 
autographs. It was right by Dwight's room so we waited and he did finally come out, ready to leave. He stopped and talked to us, signed our items (I had taken the newsletter with my picture with Dwight at Barnes & Noble for him to sign), and we all walked outside. There were a few folks waiting outside so he signed autographs for them and then walked down the street with us -- we were going to the hotel and he to his car. The entire evening was Awesome and I'm so glad I went even though I had to drive all night to be at a meeting in Sacramento the next morning. I wasn't exactly bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, but it was worth it!
photos Linda Lampkin
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