Steve Dacri sits down with the one and only, Trini Lopez.

When I was hitting my 18th birthday, I had just bought my very own car, and to celebrate, I went to see Trini Lopez who was playing in Framingham, Massachusetts, about halfway between my home in Worcester and Boston.

It was a memorable show, I was so blown away by this man with the guitar and that smile. He was at the top of his game, his popularity soaring, and I remember waiting for nearly an hour afterwards, for a chance to meet him and take a picture with him.

That was over 30 years ago, and here I am sitting in the dressing room of Trini Lopez, only now the location is Las Vegas, where Trini was appearing as a special guest at the Cannery.

This would be the perfect place to show both of those pictures, the one from 30 years ago and the one from today.

What a perfect full circle moment that would illustrate.

Unfortunately, that will not happen. I can't seem to locate the one from my 18th birthday, I even called my mom back in Worcester and asked if she had it. SHe says I do. That would mean its buried i one of my storage sheds.

So, you can imagine what it would look like, here's another picture of Trini from that same year...pictured with the Beatles, not me.

It looks just like that, except put me in the spot where John is, and remove the other 3 Beatles.

Trini hit the stage at 9:30 pm and lit into "Lemon Tree". The crowd went wild and never sat down until he left the stage. From that it was "If I had a Hammer", and then, with the entire cast of performers, the whole bunch led the audience in a rousing rendition of "La Bamba".

Yes, friends, Trini Lopez still rocks.

After his performance, we sat in his dressing room.

SD: I first met you when I was celebrating my 18th birthday, we took a picture then.

TL: And here we are taking another picture together here.Isn't that great?

SD: It is. It's realty a thrill for me. Do you remember playing in Framingham?

TL: I do, I really do. I loved to play there. Many fond memories.

SD: You actually remember Framingham?

TL: Oh yes, a small town near Boston, and I always remember how wonderful the people were. So appreciative, they loved my music.

SD: Well, when I saw you there, it was the late 60's. You were a huge star by that time, right?

TL: Yes, it was a very special time for me, "Lemon Tree" was number one in those days. Also "Hammer", I believe.

TL: Let me tell you a funny story about Framingham. One night, after my show, they told me that the great actress Jane Russell was in the audience, and sure enough, after the show, she arrived in my dressing room. She looked great, and she was really a very famous movie star. She said she was performing in a show nearby, and she invited me to come on my next night off. Not only me, she invited everyone in my band, the whole bunch of us.

So the next night, we all show up at the theatre, its a Saturday night, the place is packed, every seat is taken. The lights go down, the announcer says, "And now, ladies and gentlemen, here is Jane Russell."

Nothing happens, nobody comes out. Then, a second announcement, same a the first. Still no Jane. I knew something was wrong. It turned out she was completely drunk backstage, and couldn't go on. They ended up canceling the show. SHe never did come out. Can you imagine?

SD: There's a lot of that going around. So, Trini, what brings you here in this show? You aren't what I would call Bubblegum Music.

TL: (Laughs) No, I am a bit different from Bubblegum, but I love the Bubblegum sound, and I all of these wonderful acts on the show today, it was great to be onstage with all of them. Ron Dante, of the Archie's, is producing my new album. He asked me to come as a special guest, and I was happy to do it.

SD: Does "If I had a Hammer" still sell all over the world?

TL: Yes, it does. My album "Trini Lopez Live at PJ's" has been a best seller ever since it first came out, and that was in the 60's. It's been very good to me, and a big change for me, it changed my life, literally.

SD: Was that song bigger than "Lemon Tree"?

TL: Oh yes. Both of them were number one songs, but "Hammer" was number one in 38 countries.

SD: And "La Bamba"?

<TOP>

TL: Just as big. Then, when the movie came out, it became a hit again. I really have been blessed.

SD: Robin Leach was telling me earlier that you actually used to sing for money on the streets of Texas. True?

TL: This is true. In Dallas. I sang all day long and made very little money, but we needed that money to live, we were very poor.

SD: And now, you sing on the streets of Palm Springs?

TL: That's right. You should come and here me sometime.

SD: You really stole the show tonight.

TL: Thank you so much, Steve. It was a lot of fun.

SD: It was the highlight for me. The whole show was magical, but when you took the stage the room exploded. YOu still know how to rock the room. DO you ever get tired of singing "If I had a Hammer" or any of your other hits?

TL: Never. No. I love those songs. And I love to see people enjoy them. Like I said, I feel very blessed to be able to share my music with so many people.

SD: Thank you for all the music, and thanks for your time tonight.

TL: It was my pleasure.

SD: We'll come se you in Palm Springs. Any good Mexican restaurants you like?

TL: My house, we have the best food for gringos there. You will have to come over. Bring Jan.

SD: You got it.

<TOP>

Read about Trini Lopez here.

<TOP>