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Summary

This book, Lettuce Entertain You, Incorporated, is a memoir about the author's experiences growing up, then working with concerts. The author also describes La Villa Real Special Events Center, a music venue owned by his father. The author shares stories and anecdotes about his encounters with various bands and artists. He talks about a George Strait concert, Willie Nelson, Motley Crue, Juan Gabriel, and many more. The book also tells stories told by the author's father, which include personal concert experiences, drama, fabrication, and a voodoo doll. Overall, the book provides a first-hand account of the author's experiences with concerts featuring Rock, Country and International bands. He shares his behind-the-scenes experiences working with those concerts. The narrative takes a turn when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and his ability to work. He then shares a few of those stories as well. Overall, the book provides a firsthand account of the author’s working with concert experiences.

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My letter to Lou Gramm story

My letter to Foreigner’s Lou Gramm

I’m excited to be seeing you in concert. I take tremendous honor to be writing you. I feel like I am living in Wayne’s World, “I’m not worthy”. I am writing to a living legend. A Rock N Roll Hall of Famer.

You were the voice to the songs that got me through elementary school back in 1982-85. I had to start doing homework everyday as soon as the bell rang, and school let out. My mom taught at the same school I was at. Even though I desperately wanted to go outside and play, I was not allowed to until I finished my homework in my mother’s classroom. The saving grace was that she had a record player. It might have been a children’s record player, but do you think I cared?

I put on headphones and listen to records while doing homework. Ironically, it was literally an album called, Records. You might have heard of it. It came out in 1982. It was by a band called Foreigner. The lead singer was a man you might know named Lou Gramm. I would lose myself for almost an hour as I submersed myself in Records. From start to finish, it was the best. Every single song. Every single one. I would also listen to ZZ Top, Cheap Trick, and Iron Maiden, but Foreigner was my favorite.

I am currently 52 years old. I was never a “Jukebox Hero”, but I worked at my father’s music hall all of my adult life after college. It was inevitable. My dad grew up in the music business. His father, my grandpa, opened up the first music recording studio in McAllen, Texas, then my dad would open up that music hall called, La Villa Real Entertainment Center. From 1977 to 2006, almost a thousand bands graced its stage. I had the privilege of meeting some of the bands and artists that shaped my life. But out of respect, we never took advantage of being around them, or bothered them. Work was work, and we needed to respect their privacy. We all had a job to do. But every now and then, on a rare occasion, I would ask for an autograph. One such case was in the year 2000, when You and the band Foreigner, played La Villa Real.

That night, I was working the box office, but asked my father for my album, Foreigner’s Records to be signed. It was. My dad had the album autographed and put it on my desk in the office. I was over the moon. I went to the office, looked at it, and geeked out. I went back to the box office, then was able to enjoy the concert. I mention that in my memoir, Lettuce Entertain You, Inc., about growing up, then working at my dad’s concert venue, La Villa Real. What I don’t mention in my book though, is that somebody stole my signed album, Records. It was autographed, sitting on my desk, and should have been safe and secure. Nobody was allowed in the office unless you were working. Even though I knew exactly where it should have been, I tore the office apart looking for my album, but it was gone. Had to be an inside job, whoever stole it.

That was not the first time a prize possession, or autograph, was stolen from La Villa Real. I tell the story in Chapter 9, Once Upon a time.

I also wanted to let you know that I saw you in a showcase in Nashville during the I.E.B.A conference. about 8 years ago. I also mention that story in my book, however the story mostly has to do with The Spinners. They were also on the showcase. But the highlight of the night, was hearing you sing, Jukebox Hero.

My dad was going through a Tejano faze and did not recognize any of your songs. I took great satisfaction in educating him. Now, he recognizes the songs, your voice, and your brilliance. Rock On!!

New Ending

I wrote a new ending to the book.

Original ending, “I was blowing it. Kevin Fowler sees it all the time, and told me, “You geeked out”. Yes. Yes, I did”

Now, my new ending to my book, Chapter 37, Geeked Out

Are you kidding me. Are you freaking kidding me. As I mention in the beginning of this story, Foreigner was my absolute favorite band growing up in the Eighties. I listened to their records religiously after school while doing homework. It was literally Foreigner’s album called, “Records”. Lou Gramm sang their way into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame. And even though Foreigner still tours, they now tour with a younger, different singer. Nowhere close to the iconic voice of Lou Gramm. His pipes.

On January 25th, 2025, my dad booked him for a concert in the afore mentioned Payne Arena, in Hidalgo, Texas. He had been communicating with the tour manager and told him he would personally be picking Lou Gramm up at his hotel taking him to the Arena. So, it was understood that he would also be taking him back to the hotel after the show. I was not with my father when he left to pick him up. I wish I was, but I was not. So, I wrote Lou Gramm a letter, and asked my dad to give it to him along with a copy of this here book.

Later that evening, when I got to the arena, my father escorted me and my friends to a table on the second floor with a perfect line of sight. Almost dead center looking at the stage. The show did not disappoint. Everything I was hoping for. He sang all the hits he had with Foreigner. As people who were at the concert commented, the show was, Great, Fantastic, Awesome.

After the concert, he would be taking pictures and signing autographs with fans by his merchandise table. The line was long. I was told to wait downstairs. That when the line was done, we would be meeting him backstage. My dad told me he gave him my book and told me Lou Gramm read my letter. That he wanted to meet me and talk with me backstage. I was acting as if that was normal. It was not. It definitely was not.

The opening band that night was Asia, featuring John Payne. Followed by Lou Gramm. The original voice of Foreigner. I love the Eighties. I went backstage after they were done taking pictures and signing autographs with the public. Now, it was my turn. We get to the backstage area, and there was a very cool sign that said, Lou Gramm. In front of it taking pictures already, was Asia featuring John Payne. I followed the heard as a bunch of us were getting in position for a picture with him. As we were getting ready to take the picture, I saw Lou Gramm standing by himself off in the back. We made eye contact, and he seemed to have waved at me. Right then and there I should have gone straight to him to start a conversation, but again, I was following the herd and lined up for a picture. People never stopped taking pictures. A lot of the people taking pictures were working there wearing shirts that said, Payne Arena. And they were taking pictures with John Payne. Funny. After a long while, Lou got up and walked out. I was hoping he was getting ready to take pictures with everyone, but it was already very late, and a few minutes later they were yelling at us to get out. No picture. No conversation. He was waiting to talk with me right when I walked backstage.

Before the concert, he did sign a couple of guitars, and a few autographs for my MS fundraiser, but I personally could not thank him. He got into the car with my dad, and they left back to the hotel. I got into the car I was riding in, called my father to tell him I was leaving, then hung up. It dawned on me a few minutes later that Lou Gramm was in his car. My dad always answers calls in his car on speaker, so I immediately called my dad back and asked if Lou Gramm could hear me. Somebody said yes, then said, “Hi, this is Lou Gramm”. This is where I screwed up again. Most of my friends know I have a delay with my cellphone. When I talk, or someone on the other end talks, a second passes before they, or I, hear what is being said. So, when they start talking again, a lot of the time, we are both talking at the same time. This was happening, so I paused, told him it was an honor speaking with him, wished him well, then said goodbye. I kept it short even though there was so much more I wanted to say. Damn cell phone. I tossed and turned all night. Damn cell phone. I couldn’t sleep. Damn cell phone.

I screwed the pooch.