One June 18th Paul McCartney celebrates his birthday and one week later he plays Nashville, Tennessee. Its was June 18th, 1974 and Paul, Linda, their kids and Wings were living on singer/songwriter Curly Jr. Putmans farm near Lebanon Tennessee. I had been hanging out with Denny Laine, Jimmy McCullough and Geoff Britton for a couple of weeks. I arrived at the farm around 3:30 pm on the 18th, its was very hot and dry as I entered the bands residence near the front of the property. I said hello to every one and stepped off the side of the room the stay out of their way. I noticed they seemed busier than usual, they were in and out of the front door several time bring in boxes and cases of a small proportion. I made my way over to a window that overlooks the pond and a small picnic area and I can see a car or two and people standing there, I had a pair of binoculars with me and as I raise them to my eye I see that its Paul and Linda and Paul is wear a shirt I gave him a couple of days earlier he is wearing my shirt, he is wearing my shirt I kept repeating. Denny, Jimmy and Alan Crowder, Pauls assistant hardly noticed and seemed preoccupied but I was beside myself, Paul McCartney, my hero and one of The Beatles was wearing my shirt on his birthday. I noticed a case of ice and a few bottles of wine was carried in now. A quiet conversation and whispers came from the members of Wings and Jimmy McCullough, who was only a year older than me but was Paul lead guitarist, came over to me, we are having a party down by the pond and we want to go but Alan wants us to watch the gate but you could watch the gate Jimmy explained, just let people in that should be in and keep anyone else out. I ask Jimmy how will I know who to let in, Jimmy responded, Roy Orbison, Chet Adkins and Jerry Reed and if you will do this I will take you down to me Paul when we are done. I said YES. Roy Orbison was the last to arrive, he drove a black Porsche, he was wearing jet black leather jacket, leather pants and a black t-shirt with dark sunglasses, his hair was jet black too. I waved him through and I thought it must be 95 degrees out and he is decked out in leather but then I realized its more important to look cool than be comfortable and he was very cool. As the sun drifted below the near by trees and the moon appeared above the horizon, Chet and Jerry had left and I could still see activity and hear music from a small stereo playing at the picnic area. The only people there now was Paul, Linda, all the members of Wings, manager Alan Crowder and roadie Trevor Jones. As I continued to stand at the gate and look toward the party I saw Paul walking through the field and he was coming toward me, my heart was racing, my throat was dry and I could not believe my eyes, Paul McCartney was wearing the black, embroidered with birds shirt I gave him and he was walking by himself toward me. As he approached he motioned for me to come to him, I was afraid I might pass out or say something stupid. Your the one with the bass guitar, your not gonna try to do something stupid like try to give me that are you said Paul. I said no, I had brought down a Rickenbacker bass and left it with Denny and told him to give it to Paul. As we walked together down to the covered area Paul saids I want to introduce you to Roy Orbison. There I stood between Paul McCartney and Roy Orbison. I shook Roys hand and said hello. The occasion was low key, Linda had on a long peasant dress and as I talked to Paul she stood in the middle and Paul was on one side of her with his arm around her and Denny Laine was on the otherside with his arm around her and they all just sort of swayed back and forth with a drink of wine in their hands and the music playing in the background. I barely remember my conversations with Paul except I mentioned his Hofner bass guitar, we talked about his fan club and I told him that when the Beatles broke up a lot of fans broke up too, some when with John, some with George and Ringo and I went with Paul. I also reminded him that the film Yellow Submarine was on tv tonight if he wanted to watch it. The night passed in a flash as I made my way around to chat with other members of Wings, Jimmy ran up to me and said Paul is waving at you, as I looked around Paul and Linda was in the car and it was pulled up in the field next to me. Paul was waiting to say good bye, good night Dan Paul yelled as he waved, goodnight I replied and waved back. My dream of a lifetime had come true, the best gift I ever received was by Paul McCartney but it was on his birthday June 18th, 1974 at Juniors Farm.
Posted on: Sat, 07 Jun 2014 13:25:10 +0000
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