ML - Michigan Avenue

2014 - Issue 7 - November

Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!

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photography courtesy of stanley paul "W hat is a Pump Room?" That was the first thought that came to Stanley Paul's mind back in late 1964, when the ris- ing star on New York's music scene first heard the name of the famous restaurant tucked inside what was then known as Chicago's Ambassador East Hotel. Booked by his Big Apple – based manager at the time, Paul's original 13-week gig at the Pump Room ultimately led to a half- century career based in what he has long considered his "new hometown." Recently, the veteran musician and Chicago society orchestra leader sat with Michigan Avenue. On the rooftop terrace of his Old Town penthouse, he remi- nisced about his 50 years of entertaining at major Windy City events, private parties, and weddings—and, in particular, the 10 years he spent as the musi- cal major domo at the Pump Room. It was a choice vantage point from which he met, serenaded, and often became extremely close friends with some of the most iconic stars of the past century. STANLEY'S BIG BREAK From Paul's point of view, it's still "amazing how the whole thing happened," even looking back to those far more innocent days of the early '60s. After playing at clubs and nightspots around the New York area beginning in 1960, Paul's first big opportunity came when he was signed by power- ful agent and manager Joe Glaser of Associated Booking Corp., who represented such stars as Lou- is Armstrong and Billie Holiday. "Within two weeks of signing with him, he had me booked at Basin Street East, one of the top clubs in New York," says Paul. It was there he shared the bill with such stars as the McGuire Sisters and Peggy Lee, and would spot such musical icons in the audience as Rich- ard Rodgers and Judy Garland. In 1962, Glaser even got Paul signed to a contract with Decca Records. "Can you imagine? I was just a kid," says Paul with a laugh. Years later the piano man and orchestra leader learned that while Decca signed him and a number of other acts that year, they made a huge mistake when "they turned down a new group from Liverpool— The Beatles!" While Paul was doing well and being booked at a number of clubs around Manhattan, Glaser came to the realization that while the "kid with the smile" was great at the keyboard, he wouldn't ever make it as a jazz artist like the rest of his clients. "Someone in Mr. Glaser's circle—I think it was [great jazz pianist] Erroll Garner—told him I would make a good society orchestra leader," says Paul. "So Glaser started sending me and my trio out to Long Island and the Hamptons and so forth. A few weeks after that, I got a call that they had gotten me a job in Chicago—at the Pump Room." Not only was Paul unfamiliar with Chicago, having never been here, but he also had never played for people to dance, except for those few gigs in the Hamptons. So before heading west, Paul "bought some Lester Lanin records," made by the famous New York society bandleader, and "went to El Morocco and the Persian Room at the Plaza, and listened to how they did it." On a crisp autumn day in 1964, Paul landed at O'Hare International Airport, got into a cab, and was immediately given a Chicago "linguistics" lesson by the taxi driver. When told to take him to the Ambassador Hotel at State and Goethe—using the correct German pronuncia- tion for the name of the great poet—the driver shot back with, "You mean you want State and Go-Thee!" As he walked into the lobby of the hotel that day, Paul was amused to spot a sign announcing his imminent debut at the Pump Room—pro- claiming the upcoming performances of "Stanley Paul and his East Coast Society Orchestra." "I thought, what East Coast Society Orchestra?" marvels Paul. "I'd be playing with all Chicago musicians!" It didn't matter. From his opening night, Paul and his more fast-paced New York style of dance music was a hit. "I was too young to be scared that night. I looked down at the piano and just did what I knew I could do. I didn't look at the people, but when I did look up—within five minutes of starting—the whole dance f loor was crowded." The reviews were all raves, coming after a kickoff that included a Chicago who's who gracing the booths of the Pump Room. Though they were all new faces to him, Paul says, that first night legendary Chicago Sun-Times colum- nist Irv Kupcinet and his wife, Essee, were in booth one. Mamie and Julius Walton were right across in booth 12. Herb Lyon, who wrote the Tower Ticker at the Chicago Tribune, was there; so was columnist Maggie Daly from the Chicago American and Sam Lesner from the Chicago Daily News. "Victor Skrebneski, Carol Stoll, and Bruce Gregga were also there, and later all became dear friends." Stanley Fifty years after his much-ballyhooed arrival in Chicago, iconic bandleader and man-about-town Stanley Paul continues to make his mark on the city's society scene.  By Bill Zwecker Lord "I got a call that they had gotten me a job In chIcago—at the pump room." —stanley paul 128  michiganavemag.com

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