Klooka

The Nighthawks were in their third set at Mackay's. The club was packed. Dancers jammed the floor. The band was swingin'.

A crew from KCOP (Ch. 13) was videotaping the dancers and the band. Their sound engineer plugged into the band's state-of-the-art audio system. "This sounds great," he said. "Wait until you hear it on your own TV!"

From time to time, other TV crews and people in the media did stories about Mackay's or the Nighthawks. All too often, they used the same theme, "The Big Bands Are Back." Gerry and the other musicians in the band always laughed whenever this happened. They had been playing in big bands most of their lives. For them, the big bands had never gone away.

After the third set, KCOP reporter Carmen Castillo interviewed Marty West, the Nighthawks leader. They talked for awhile, and then Marty suggested she talk to Gerry as well.

Carmen Castillo was one of the best-looking newscasters in L.A. or anywhere, Gerry thought. Unlike most rail-thin female newscasters, Carmen had a great body. Because Gerry often worked at night, he seldom saw her on the 11 o'clock news, but he often saw her on KTTV's "Good Day L.A." during the 9 to 10 a.m. slot. He knew Carmen was divorced and had a young son. Gerry guessed she was in her late 20s.

Carmen

KCOP's sound engineer put a mike on Gerry's shirt, then tested the sound levels. "OK, Carmen, we're all set." he said.

"This is Carmen Castillo. We're at Mackay's in Brentwood tonight. We're talking with Gerry Pollack, a veteran Los Angeles musician who plays tenor and alto saxes and also clarinet with the Nighthawks."

"Gerry, are you a native of Los Angeles?" she asked.

"Yes," he answered. "I was raised in Hancock Park and attended Loyola High School. I started playing alto sax when I was eight years old."

"Did your parents want you to play sax?" she asked.

"Oh, no!" Gerry said. "My parents wanted me to study piano, but I preferred sax. Later, in high school, I also learned how to play tenor sax and clarinet. And piano, but I'm not a very good pianist. I use it mainly for composing and arranging."

"How old were you when you began playing professionally?" she asked.

"Sixteen. I joined the union on my sixteenth birthday," Gerry said. "My music teacher, Manny Katz, was a friend of Billy May, the musical director at Capitol Records over on Sunset and Vine. He arranged for me to audition for Billy--and Frank Sinatra, with whom Billy was recording several albums."

"How did it go?" Carmen asked.

"Well, Billy had me rehearse with the sax section for an hour," Gerry said. "I was really nervous, but the musicians worked with me, suggesting different things as we went along. They told Billy I played very well. He said to come back on Monday to go to work. And I did."

"Say, are you on those great Capitol sessions Sinatra recorded in the mid-1950s?" she asked.

"I'm on some of them," Gerry answered. "One of the first songs I recorded with him was "Witchcraft."

"Do you ever see Frank Sinatra these days," Carmen asked.

"Yes, I saw him Tuesday night at Matteo’s Restaurant."

Carmen asked him about others with whom he had worked over the years. Gerry gave her a "Who's Who" in jazz.

"You love what you do, don't you, Gerry?" she asked.

"Oh, absolutely," he said. "I've lived a very blessed life. I thank God everyday for all he has given me--and still gives me."

Then Carmen surprised him: "Are you married?"

"No," Gerry said. "I haven't been blessed that way, but I haven't given up hope. Maybe someday...."

"Anyone waiting in the wings for you," she kidded.

"Maybe," Gerry smiled.

"Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians watching tonight?" she asked.

"Practice, practice, practice!" he said. "I've been playing for a long time, and I still practice an hour every day. Everyone in this band does the same thing. You have to!"

"Thank you, Gerry Pollack. It's been wonderful talking with you."

"Thank you, Carmen. Come back again!" Gerry said.

"That's a wrap," her producer said.

Carmen chatted with Gerry for a few minutes. As she was leaving, she gave Gerry her card. "My home number is on the back, Gerry. Let's go out sometime--sometime soon."

She winked, turned, and left with her crew.

Warm Valley
Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

Next Chapter:   The Hollywood Canteen