Cal Fussman. The writer. Your dedication and patience guided me through a project that at times seemed overwhelming. You have masterfully helped organize my words and stories. Now you, too, will always be at home on Arthur Avenue.
Frankie Thomas. The transcriber. Your speed was essential and your readings were absolutely first rate. You’ll be in my new movie.
Michael Chu. You came through with an amazing critique. Your meticulous attention to detail lifted the book in so many unexpected ways.
Chazz Palminteri. You, the ultimate storyteller, helped me tell my story.
Dan Klores. You offered just the right encouragement and incredibly astute advice on this book and in so many other situations.
Everybody who so kindly and generously gave their voices to help tell this story: Walter Afanasieff, René Angélil, Babyface, Marc Anthony, Charlie Calello, Sean Combs, August Darnell, Robert De Niro, Celine Dion, Emilio Estefan, Gloria Estefan, David Foster, Jimmy Iovine, Rodney Jerkins, Randy Jackson, Billy Joel, Jon Landau, Jennifer Lopez, Dave Marsh, Sharon Osbourne, Joe Pesci, Cory Rooney, Shakira, Al Sharpton, Steve Stoute, Harvey Weinstein, and Frank Welzer.
My teachers. Ahmet Ertegun, Mo Ostin, Clive Davis, David Geffen, Jerry Wexler, Arif Mardin, Phil Spector, Steve Ross, Jerry Moss, and Quincy Jones. You are the greats whom I watched, listened to, and learned from.
Every songwriter and producer who ever filled my head with dreams and aspirations.
And the beat goes on… and on… and on…
My beautiful parents, Tom and Peggy… puttin’ on the ritz.
Me on Santa’s lap at Macy’s Parkchester, Bronx, New York.
Me, five years old, at my sister Joan’s wedding. Check out the plastic on the sofa and lamps—very Bronx Italian.
Me, in my Admiral Farragut Academy uniform (ugh!), with my dad.
My 8×10 glossy, which got handed around to all casting directors and record companies. What happened?
As a young wannabe actor in one of my first and last movie roles.
Out to dinner with (left to right) Penny Marshall, Paulie Herman, and Robert De Niro. That’s artist Peter Max leaning in behind Penny.
Me, twenty years old, at Chappell Music, working with Tony Bennett.
Recently… in the studio with Tony doing his Duets album. Credit: Ruben Martin
Early ’80s, backstage at Madison Square Garden after a Hall & Oates concert. Left to right: me, John Oates, Daryl Hall, Mick Jagger, Todd Rundgren.
At last, at last—my first Champion Entertainment office at 105 West Fifty-Fifth Street.
Classic photo! The great Jerry Wexler, Marc Meyerson, John Oates, Daryl Hall, Robin Gibb, Arif Mardin, and me, with young Atlantic Records president Jerry Greenberg.
Two young dreamers: me and Allen Grubman in Acapulco, when he was “thin.”
Puffing a great Davidoff Dom Perignon Havana in the ’70s.
Holding my then one-year-old son, Michael, at the farm in Hillsdale, New York.
My two loves, Michael and Sarah, as children on my boat Dreamtime, named after a Daryl Hall song that Dave Stewart produced.
Me and Sarah out at her riding lesson at Kentucky Stables in Mamaroneck, New York.
Music! Music! The great ’70s: me, John Oates, Carly Simon, Daryl Hall.
Me with (left to right) Antonio “LA” Reid (chubbier and with hair, pre X-Factor), Babyface, and Arsenio Hall. Credit: Sony Music
Between two industry greats, Ahmet Ertegun and Walter Yetnikoff. Credit: Sony Music
Mariah and I in the good days… Credit: Sony Music
Early 90’s after party for the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles at Jimmy’s Restaurant—such great memories. Bottom row (left to right): Walter Afanasieff, Celine Dion, Mickey Schulhof, Mariah Carey, me, Michael Jackson, Brooke Shields, Dave Glew, Tracey Edmonds, Babyface. Crouching down in front of Brooke Shields is Daryl Simmons, and next to him is LA Reid. Back row (left to right): Richard Griffiths, Michele Anthony, Tony Bennett, Peabo Bryson, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Regina Belle. At far right is Shelly Lazar, aka MFTQ (motherfucking ticket queen). Credit: Sony Music
Madonna and me at my pre-Oscar party at Asia de Cuba, Los Angeles, March 1998.
With founder, chairman, and CEO of Sony, Akio Morita, and violinist Midori. Credit: Sony Music
Left to right: Sony Corp Chairman and CEO Norio Ohga, my mentor and Japanese godfather, me, and Nobuyuki Idei in Tokyo, February 1996. Credit: Sony Music
NYC Grammy after party: Robert De Niro, Billy Joel, and me. Credit: Sony Music
George Michael and me at his Madison Square Garden show for the Faith album. Credit: Sony Music
At the Vanity Fair party for the Tribeca Film Festival, April 2011, with Michael Douglas and Robert De Niro. Credit: Dick Corkery
With Billy Joel and Michael Jackson at one of our after parties. Credit: Sony Music
Michael Jackson and me—over 100 million albums sold! Credit: Sony Music
Michael looking great that year at our Grammy party. Credit: Sony Music
GOOD FELLAS: Nick Pileggi, Chazz Palminteri, Police Comissioner Ray Kelly, Harvey Keitel, Robert De Niro, me, Jerry Inzerillo, and Quincy Jones at the Tribeca Film Festival Vanity Fair Party, April 2011. Credit: Dick Corkery
2000 Vanity Fair Music Issue with then-Chairman of Universal Doug Morris and Allen Grubman. Shot at Sony Music Studios on West 54th St, NYC. Credit: Jonas Karlsson
My surprise fiftieth birthday party in Miami, thrown by Gloria and Emilio Estefan at the Cardozo Hotel.
With Jennifer Lopez at her album-release launch for On the 6. Credit: Sony Music
Shakira and I at the after party for the first-ever Latin Grammy Awards.
Julio Iglesias starts the Latin explosion.
Ricky Martin, me, and Marc Anthony after MTV’s Video Music Awards, 1999. Credit: Sony Music
Lauryn Hill and me in 1999, the year she won five Grammys. Credit: Sony Music
Joe Pesci and me. “Omerta.” Credit: Sony Music
With the incomparable Barbra Streisand. Credit: Sony Music
With Joe Perry, Tony Bennett, and Steven Tyler at a Sony Music Grammy Party. Credit: Sony Music
Me, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Will Smith at the movie premiere of Men in Black, outside Planet Hollywood on West Fifty-Seventh Street in New York City.
At the after party for the first-ever Latin Grammy Awards, September 2000. Left to right: Michele Anthony, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez, me, Gloria Estefan, Melanie Griffith, and Antonio Banderas. Credit: Sony Music
My birthday dinner at Da Silvano Restaurant, with Will Smith on the left and Thalia on the right.
Left to right: Me, Diddy, Patti Scialfa, and Bruce Springsteen at Spy Bar in Soho, NYC. Credit: Sony Music
Thalia and I in Los Angeles at the Sony Grammy party with Destiny’s Child. Left to right: Michelle Williams, Kelly Rowland, Beyoncé. Credit: Sony Music
Like a rolling stone… Credit: Sony Music
Thalia, the love of my life, and I, just married, leaving the altar at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City, December 2, 2000. Credit: Jimmy Ienner Jr.
Thalia and I at the ranch in Aspen for an Architectural Digest spread… “The Bronx Cowboy.” Credit: David Marlowe
Celine Dion listening session for a recording with the Bee Gees at the Hit Factory, New York City. Left to right: Robin Gibb, Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Celine, me, Billy Joel, Joe Pesci. Credit: Sony Music
One of our great Halloween parties: the Donald, me, and Steve Stoute as Don King. Credit: Jimmy Ienner Jr.
Left to right: Andy Garcia, me, and Elton John with my good buddies Danny DeVito (front) and Joe Pesci (far right) at a Grammy after party. Credit: Sony Music
A little advice, from the “Other Boss,” George Steinbrenner (seated), and PR guru Howard Rubenstein. Credit: Kevin Mazur
At dinner with friend John O’Neill, a former FBI special agent and counterterroism expert (The Man Who Knew).
President Bill Clinton, Tony Bennett, and me at th
e annual Peace Memorial event in Washington, D.C. Credit: National FOP
With Gloria and Emilio Estefan. President Clinton has an incredible sense of humor and a way of making everyone feel at ease. Credit: National FOP
Once again at the annual Peace Memorial event in Washington, D.C., with (left to right) New York City police commissioner Ray Kelly, me shaking President George W. Bush’s hand, and Marc Anthony. Credit: National FOP
Top of Aspen Mountain, “Mi Adorada Familia,” with Sabrina and Thalia, who is holding Matthew.
With our baby girl, Sabrina, at her first horse show in Greenwich, where she won a blue ribbon.
Africa, a dream come true.
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Contents
Welcome
Dedication
Introduction
1: The ’Hood
2: The Dream
3: Na, Na, Hey, Hey: The Beginning
4: An Offer He Can’t Refuse
5: The Silver Cloud
6: Shock the Monkey
7: The Wind
8: Nothing I Could Do
9: No Ordinary Love
10: Fairy Tales Don’t Come True
11: The Billion-Dollar Song
12: The Latin Explosion
13: The Trojan Horse
14: Round 3
Acknowledgments
Photo Insert
Newsletters
Copyright
Copyright
Copyright © 2013 by Thomas D. Mottola
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
Unless otherwise noted, all photos are from the author’s collection.
“Gino (The Manager)”
Words by Daryl Hall and John Oates, music by Daryl Hall
© 1975 (renewed) Unichappell Music Inc. (BMI)
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
“Cherchez La Femme”
Words and music by Stony Browder Jr. and August Darnell
© 1976 Raineyville Music (BMI) All rights administered by BUG Music
Group, Inc., a BMG Chrysalis company.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Grand Central Publishing
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First e-book edition: January 2013
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ISBN 978-1-4555-0543-2
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