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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!!