STAN FREBERG HERE..."Goodbye, Jesse."
Stan Freberg here. We lost my old friend Jesse White not long ago. Jesse, the original "Maytag Repairman" in TV commercials, was a lot more than that to me. He was one of the stars of my original "U.S.A." album, Volume One, and was also on my newer Volume Two. More when I come back. [:60 SPOT BREAK]
Stan Freberg here. Jesse White, the wonderful character actor, didn't especially like being identified mainly as the original "Maytag Repairman"; not after a lifetime of movies going back from "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" to "Harvey," in which he played the male psychiatric nurse to James Stewart, which he also played in the original Broadway version, by the way.
And he once told me he was just as proud for being known as a member of my stock company. Jesse worked for me over 35 years on many different productions, like on my first "United States of America" album. He said people everywhere would beg him to sing a few bars of "It's A Round, Round World," or "(Put On Your) Top Hat, White Feather and Tails," or give 'em a couple of lines as the Indians' real estate agent selling Manhattan Island: "You hear that? Is that a generous Indian? You'll have Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island, too!"
Fortunately I was able to get Jesse onto my recently recorded second "U.S.A." album for Rhino, while he was still with us. It was nominated for a Grammy, so Jesse White, you can be proud of that, too.
I'll miss you, pal.
Stan Freberg here.
Copyright (C)1997, Stan Freberg/Freberg, Ltd. (but not very) Distributed by Dick Brescia Associates and Radio Spirits, Inc.