Pro audio industry bon vivant, photographer and author (not to mention occasional blogger for ProSoundNetwork.com) Mr. Bonzai recently released his soon-to-be holiday classic, “O, Let Me Be Your Christmas Tree,” and simultaneously issued his new mini-memoir, John Lennon’s Tooth, detailing the true story of how he met and hung out with the legendary Beatle.
Working on “Christmas Tree” with Mr. Bonzai’s lyrics and concept, composer Silas Hite, nephew of Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh, wrote the music and recorded the production with guest vocalist Emily Benson. The song was also mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering. “After watching Bernie at work with scores of musicians, it was quite a thrill to have him master our song,” commented Mr. Bonzai. “He really got into it and he works incredibly fast, enthusiastically bringing out the jingle bells, giving a special punch to the percussion and finalizing a record that sounds great on big speakers or even on tiny iPhone speakers.”
Weird Al Yankovic remarked, “I’ve never heard ‘shake my junk’ in a Christmas song before—think you’ve got a hit on your hands!” After hearing the new holiday production, guitar virtuoso Steve Vai added, “How cool! Jing-a-ling!” CJ Vanston, known for his work with Spinal Tap, commented, “Despite my total abhorrence for Christmas, I found your song deliciously charming.”
Never one to sit still too long (as you can tell if you’ve seen that video above), Mr. Bonzai has also penned a new mini-memoir, John Lennon’s Tooth, a 30-page eBook now available from Amazon, iTunes, Nook and Kobo for a mere 99¢, documenting how he met John Lennon and paid his first visit to a recording studio—Abbey Road.
He shares, “In September of 1967, I walked up to John Lennon’s home south of London. John was asleep, but his housekeeper, Dorothy, let me wait in his garage until he awoke. John came out and invited me in. We spoke about meditation, movies and music, and he invited me to drive into London in his Rolls-Royce, where I witnessed my very first recording session. It was “I Am The Walrus.” 44 Years later, I read online about John’s tooth coming up for auction, offered by the family of Dorothy, who was now 91 years old. I couldn’t believe it. She was the lady who altered my destiny, and she was still alive. We had our first meeting via Skype and I finally was able to thank her. Then she told me her story, which has never been published before, about life at home with John and his family, teaching John how to drive, and other anecdotes from back in the day.”
Check it all out in the electronic pages of John Lennon’s Tooth!
Mr. Bonzai • www.mrbonzai.com
Bernie Grundman Mastering • www.bgmastering.com
