At SPAC: Bacharach, Kennedys
by Bernie Decker, The Knickerbocker News, July 6, 1971
*They piled out of a Cadillac limousine and a station wagon, looking wind-blown and sun-burned. There were Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.); his sister-in-law, Ethel, wife of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy; her oldest son, Joseph; some friends, and two bodyguards who looked as if they were on loan from the Chicago Bears.
Though there were a few more police than usual outside the stage entrance to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center amphitheater, they handled things casually. The Kennedy party moved without haste through the gawking press and other persons backstage.
They had flown by private plane earlier in the day from Hyannisport for the scheduled concert by their friend, Burt Bacharach.
WHEN WORD of the imminent arrival spread to members of the press, they gathered at the entrance. Bacharach’s manager apparently misunderstood.
“Fellows, I don’t want you to hang Burt up. He has it timed to get here and get on stage.”
No one bothered enlightening the poor man that it was not Burt Bacharach that everyone was waiting for, despite his being the announced star of the evening’s proceedings.
Bacharach’s musicians arrived before he or the Kennedys. One wandering about backstage mentioned that while Bacharach was playing in Baltimore, the Kennedys came to see him “two or three nights.”
Press and photographers were barred from the Green Room, the star’s suite where the party waited for Bacharach’s arrival and show. Ed Lewi, press representative for SPAC, went to the press room to get ice for drinks. When he returned, he entered the room only to feel a strong hand clamp on his shoulder. It belonged to one of the bodyguards.
“I’m the guy that’s giving you the ice,” Lewi informed the man, very quickly.
The Kennedys did allow some area people to meet them.
Elizabeth Gemlick of Myrtle Avenue and Maureen Cummings of Manning Boulevard, Albany, said they had worked in Senator Robert Kennedy’s office in Syracuse.
When Bacharach arrived and began his show, the Kennedys and their party were led through the backstage area and out a side door to front row, center, where seats had been made available to them.
One could see word whip around the amphitheater. There was a buzz and persons began standing up all around the auditorium, straining eyes or binoculars, trying to get a glimpse of the unexpected guests.
Many tried to get down front for a closer look, but SPAC ushers and police at the end of the first row aisle discouraged this.
FINALLY, what the Kennedys and 15,000 persons came to SPAC for—a concert by Burt Bacharach and his orchestra—began. (Another musical group provided a warm-up.)
It was what one would have expected. Mr. Bacharach’s orchestra provides his unique music with a marvelously balanced sound. (One musician said it was like a recording date: There were 34 microphones sprinkled throughout the orchestra and a mixer behind it.)
The orchestra played all the familiar tunes: “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head,” “Look of Love,” “This Guy’s in Love With You,” etc. Bacharach accompanied some of the songs with thankfully brief vocal assistance. He also gave a long, rambling discourse that had more to do with racing than music.
The audience—including the Kennedys—seemed to love it all. When the concert ended, Ted Kennedy was the first one on his feet to lead a standing ovation.
The Kennedys then were scheduled to retire to the Green Room with Bacharach for a time, then fly back to Hyannis.
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