Los Angeles, California

Up and at 'em early to meet my old buddy Dennis St. John for a walk on Santa Monica beach and breakfast. Dennis and I go way way back to the old L.A. days having played on hundreds of recording sessions together as well as working in Neil Diamond's band. A finer fellow would be hard to find and we've remained good friends for 36 years now.

Returned to the hotel for some phone calls and a nap and then it was time to sit in traffic for over an hour to arrive at Griffith Park and tonight's gig, The Greek Theatre. Speaking of old days, it was Dennis St. John and I on Hot August Night, a live double disc by Neil Diamond recorded here at the Greek back in 1972. Hard to believe it was 33 years ago and doesn't bear thinking about. As I looked out from the stage at sound check, a flood of memories hit me of that and previous performances. Apart from some additional seating that has been added along the sides, very little has changed from the first time I stood on this stage, which was actually back in 1971!! Even longer, yikes.

It was a sold out show with 6,165 Los Angelenos in attendance. My in ear monitors packed it in much to my distraction through the opening song but Adrian Fitzpatrick and Kerry Lewis of our crew came to my rescue with a new unit by the second song. It took me a few more tunes to focus my attention to the show at hand but was soon back to it. A well played and tight show that was well received by the crowd. Always a pleasure to play the Greek and a real homecoming for me.

There was an after show reception with hundreds of folks coming by to say hello including my brother Jon, his wife Leslie and her parents Pat and Richard. We arrived back at the hotel at 1:30 in time for a round of vitamin G and bed.

So long,

Richard