Meeting Mark Lindsay

Call it a rock-n-roll fantasy–of sorts–fulfilled. Last Saturday night (December 15), I met Mark Lindsay, former lead singer of Paul Revere and the Raiders turned Portland radio DJ and restaurant entrepreneur.

I met a frickin’ rock star! How awesome is that?!

Even now, almost a week later, it seems like just a dream that I met Mark Lindsay–singer, songwriter, musician, most-televised lead singer of all time–the sexy-cool voice behind “Kicks,” “Hungry,” Indian Reservation,” “Arizona,” “Let Me,” “Silver Bird,” “Miss America,” “Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon,” and–my favorites–”Ups and Downs,” “Steppin’ Out,” “Louie Louie,” “Where the Action Is,” “Cinderella Sunshine,” “Sometimes,” “Melody for an Unknown Girl,” “Him or Me-What’s It Gonna Be,” and especially “Just Like Me.”

Luckily, it wasn’t a dream. (Sigh!)

My parents and I arrived at Mark Lindsay’s Rock-n-Roll Café–on the corner of 42^nd and Sandy in Portland’s Hollywood District–for our 8:30 dinner reservation. While rounding the corner of the building, we all stopped to get a look at Mark in the broadcast booth. He glanced our way for a moment.

(I think I was overly excited, because I have a vague memory about one of my parents asking me if I was going to pee my pants.)

I had brought along the album covers for the Raiders’ Midnight Ride and Greatest Hits, hoping to get them autographed. Our waitress said that Mark didn’t leave the booth till the end of his broadcast at 11:00, and it was unlikely to get anything autographed till then.

So, one burger, halibut fish and chips, a funky chicken, German chocolate cake, and two chocolate mousses later, the time had ticked much closer to 11:00. We gravitated to a table near the broadcasting booth and checked out the wall decor. Dad and I perused the memorabilia for sale, and I bought an autographed poster from Mark’s 2003 finale concert. While we were up and about, we were approached by an employee who asked if we had anything we wanted autographed. So, I handed over my album covers, and watched Mark sign them from my table vantage point.

I think I stared at the autographs for at least 10 minutes.

Once Mark was done broadcasting, we sat there and watched him walk upstairs, then back down, and past our table. After a few minutes, Dad piped up and said that he thought he saw Mark slip out the back door. Oh, well! Then, thinking it would save us a half-block walk back to the car, Dad suggested we leave out the back door. We all froze when we opened the door and saw Mark standing in the entryway, checking his phone messages. We were about to retreat, when he waved us in.

OK, I don’t remember much about the whole meeting, other than introducing myself, shaking his hand, and saying it was nice to meet him. I had to ask my dad if I actually thanked him for signing my album covers (he said I did). And I vaguely remember Dad talking his ear off. Then, he thanked us, we thanked him, and we left.

Dude! I MET MARK LINDSAY!!!

Granted, he wasn’t the first famous person I’d ever met, thought likely the most well-known. Being a writer (and, therefore, a reader), I had met several authors, either at school or writing conferences. I met late Northwest children’s author Willo Davis Roberts, author and mountain climber John Roskelley, Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix biographer Charles Cross, entrepreneur turned author Sunny Kobe Cook, investment banker turned Walla Walla author Sam Mcleod, and several authors at National Writer Workshop in 2004, 2005, and 2007. Oh, and I’ve met Washington’s Attorney General several times and other bigwigs in state government. And I went to college with Tay Zonday, the guy who graced the world (via YouTube) with “Chocolate Rain”–though in class, we knew him as Adam.

My parents have had a few more chance meetings with more well-known people. While employed by the Washington Supreme Court, my mom met former football player Lester Hayes. Dad met actress Mare Winningham and actor Christopher McDonald, when they were starring in a made-for-TV movie being filmed partially in Ilwaco while we were all staying there. Mom might have met them, too, but I was only 10 and more fascinated with the craft service trailer, which cooked us dinner that night. And during a 1996 campaign visit to Centralia, at which my aunt catered, my mom met some guy named Bill, his wife Hillary, their friends Al and Tipper, then-Governor Gary Locke, and national news reporter Sam Donaldson. Following that visit, my aunt’s Presidential (blackberry) Cobbler became one of her best sellers at her then-cafe.

Oh, heck, Mark Lindsay wasn’t the first “famous” person I’ve met and he probably won’t be the last, but it’s very likely that he’ll remain the most memorable. His music has certainly influenced my life, and his radio show continues to turn me on to more incredible music that, otherwise, I would never hear about. And it’s so great that he has made himself available to the public. Anyone can see him while he’s broadcasting. And he even has a MySpace page!

Why can’t more rock stars be just like him?

Thanks for reading!
~Tal