I thought this would be a good time to share my run-in with a superstar outside of a concert venue.
It was Thanksgiving a number of years ago. I was hosting the morning show on a now defunct radio station here in Los Angeles. A family relation had a condo in Palm Springs and everyone agreed to have a family reunion/Thanksgiving dinner in the desert. I thought it was a great idea since I obtained tickets to the annual “Skins” golf match held in the desert every Thanksgiving weekend.
It was the Saturday after our Thursday feast that we had enough of leftovers and voted to go out for dinner. We made a dinner reservation at a popular restaurant on Palm Canyon Drive. We show up only to learn that there would be an hour wait even with a reservation.
So a member of our entourage said,” I know a place, follow me.”
We get in our cars and follow our leader to a place called Johnny Costa’s in Cathedral City. We walk in, all ten of us, and ask if there was a wait.
"Not at all, follow me," the hostess replied.
We entered through the cocktail bar and followed the hostess through a doorway complete with beads hanging from the entry into a spacious dining room. Glancing around the room, I noticed that only two tables were occupied with four people at each table.
While I’m standing around waiting for the director of our group (notice every group has a leader) to tell everyone where to sit and who to sit next to, I’m surveying the room and there he sat, staring at me as our group leader was being a little loud and obnoxious giving orders. It was Neil Diamond, sitting with his then wife, and another couple. I sit down (where I’m told) and order.
During the course of dinner I asked the waitress (just to be sure), "Is that Neil Diamond sitting over there?"
“Yes,” she answered.
I pulled out my business card with the radio station name on it and said to the waitress, “So as to not intrude in his privacy, on your next trip over to his table, would you please ask if he would autograph my business card?” She agreed.
About ten minutes later, she went over to his table and I saw her put the card down in front of him, while saying something. He stares down at the card, then looks up at me and nods yes.
I thought, "Cool!"
Anyway, a little while later they pay their check and walked out passing by our table.
Neil said, “Thanks, Jim!”
"Thank you, Neil," was my immediate reply.
When our waitress brings the card back, it was quite the conversation piece.
Neil signed it: “To Jim, thanks for the play.”
He was listening to the radio station, as he was one of our core artists. His music came up quite often in our mix.
I have since seen him in person at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The arena was filled to the rafters and he left ‘em wanting more.
By the way, I related the encounter the following week on the air. And all I can say is that Johnny Costa’s must have had a jump in business. Countless calls came into the station from people wanting to know where Johnny Costa’s is located.
Neil Diamond Hits on K-EARTH 101, HD-1 & HD-2
Cherry, Cherry
Cracklin' Rosie
Sweet Caroline
Solitary Man
Thank the Lord for the Night Time
by JIM CARSON
While I’m standing around waiting for the director of our group (notice every group has a leader) to tell everyone where to sit and who to sit next to, I’m surveying the room and there he sat, staring at me as our group leader was being a little loud and obnoxious giving orders. It was Neil Diamond, sitting with his then wife, and another couple. I sit down (where I’m told) and order. 