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AA TALKS BY FAMOUS PEOPLE Alcoholics Anonymous talks given by Musicians, Politicians, Actors, Entertainers, Sports Figures, Authors, etc. |
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PETER NOONE - HERMAN'S HERMITS - COLLEGE PARK, MD 4-4-98
This is an Alcoholics Anonymous talk by Peter Noone, the lead singer of the very popular 1960s British Pop Band, Herman's Hermits. For years in the 1960s Peter and his band recorded some of the most popular music in the world. In this AA talk, Peter tells us that he was drinking throughout the entire period that his band was so successful. Peter delivered this AA message in College Park, Maryland on April 4th, 1998. Based on the great rapport that Peter has with the very attentive crowd, you'd think that his career was that of a public speaker and humorist rather than a musician. His talk is extremely funny. A large part of this is because he doesn't take himself too seriously. While growing up in England, all of Peter's early heroes were drunks; the Irish poets, the drunken Welsh musicians - all of these people were admired by Peter. While attending a large Catholic school in England, Peter very quickly got the reputation of being a party boy. A little later on, while becoming a young man in the 1960s, Peter says he was definitely a product of that generation. Anybody that says they CAN remember the 60s weren't really there. After getting very drunk for the first time, Peter liked it so much that he did it again and again for the next 30 years. Because of his heavy drinking, there was a period of time that Peter did not put a lot of effort into his work. Peter admits that just about every time that he and his band were on the Ed Sullivan Show, he performed drunk. One of those times, Ed Sullivan invited him to go to Sunday mass the next day at St Patrick's Cathedral. For some reason he accepted the invitation and then went out partying with the Rolling Stones who were also on the show that evening. The next morning he found himself very ill and craving another drink while sitting next to Ed Sullivan in St. Patrick's Cathedral. Peter goes on and talks about his recovery. He really struggled with the humility aspect of this program. Being a self promoting musician nearly all of his life was in direct contrast to this way of life. Peter closes his talk by saying, "I wish you all whatever is your destiny and I hope it's staying sober. God Bless you. Thank you very much."
Contents - 12 Tracks
Length - 61 Minutes
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PETER TORK - THE MONKEES - IRVINE, CA 3-21-98
Peter delivered this AA message in Irvine, California on March 21st, 1998. He speaks with both humor and sincerity. At the time of this talk Peter has been sober for 17 years. Before becoming part of the 1960s pop music band THE MONKEES, Peter was already married and getting a lot of prodding from his wife to do something about his drinking. When he finally got a chance to go on the road, he thought it was the ideal set up - he could drink all he wanted and not have to answer to anybody. It turned out that because of the hectic work schedule of the Monkees, he was only able to have two drinks per day, one before each show. This pattern went on for several months after first going on the road. Peter tells us that when he finally found the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous, he was extremely grateful - he had never known that a place existed where you could go and share your problems and not be judged. He had previously spent three months in a federal penitentiary because of his addictions. He believes that all alcoholics are serving some cause. "There is no middle ground and no standing still. You are either working towards recovery or you working toward relapse. Even if you're on the right track, if you're not moving, you're going to get run over." "I got sober to live my life, now I live my life to stay sober." At the end of his talk Peter says, "I realize that I've not said anything about a higher power. But for those of you that have really been listening, you know I've actually been talking about nothing else. Thank you for my sobriety."
Contents - 10 Tracks
Length - 48 minutes
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RALPH WAITE - KAILUA-KONA, HI 4-17-93
Ralph, from West Hollywood, California delivered this Alcoholics Anonymous talk at the Big Island Bash in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii on April 17th, 1993. He was sober for 20 years at the time. Ralph, who was an actor for many years, may be best known for his role as John Walton, the father on the TV series, "The Waltons." He talks about the fact that, as a child, he was very terrified of death. Ralph attributes this fear to the fact that his father was a violent alcoholic. Ralph feels that he was not able to "blossom" as a person because of this childhood fear. The terror he felt as a child developed into a very righteous attitude as he matured. Even though Ralph was a hardcore atheist, he became a minister. When his nine year old daughter died of cancer, Ralph's alcoholism accelerated. He shares the fact that on the first three episodes of the Waltons, he was drunk. One day Ralph found himself at an AA meeting. He liked what he saw and decided to stick around. Near the end of his talk, Ralph says, "AA has given me everything in my life. I feel wonderfully appreciative and blessed."
Contents - 11 Tracks
Length - 55 Minutes
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SENATOR HAROLD HUGHES - IOWA CITY, IA 8-8-70
This is a recording of influential Senator Harold Hughes an un-anonymous alcoholic talking at the International Doctors in AA Banquet in Iowa City, Iowa. The talk is about alcoholism, drug dependency and public policy. This talk took place the day before a legislative vote on the policy that he initiated. The Hughes Bill effectively changed the Alcoholic and Drug Addict from criminal to patient and began the widespread opening of treatment centers which were relatively rare before that.
Contents - 10 Tracks
Length - 49 Minutes
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SENATOR HAROLD HUGHES - YOUNGSTOWN, OH MARCH 1972
This Alcoholics Anonymous talk was recorded by US Senator from Iowa Harold Hughes in Youngstown, Ohio in March of 1972. Harold says he first quit drinking in 1943. Then again in 1944, 1945, 1946, etc. He shares several of his drinking escapades and then when he finally hit bottom, he tells how a desperate prayer to a higher power stopped him from committing suicide. He was in the bathtub with a loaded gun at the time. Harold tells how he later got into politics. His alcoholism was disclosed by an opponent in a political race and Harold was forced to admit to it. Harold believes that because he was forced to break his anonymity at a public level, thousands of people have gotten sober. He tells how he asked Bill Wilson and several other prominent alcoholics to break their anonymity when they testified before his Senate sub-committee in 1970 but the only one to do so was actress Mercedes McCambridge. He believes that because Mercedes broke her anonymity, thousands of women have gotten sober.
Contents - 11 Tracks
Length - 54 Minutes
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STEVE FERRONE - CINCINNATI, OH - APRIL 2006
Steve Ferrone, the drummer for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk at the River City Roundup in Cincinnati, Ohio in April of 2006. He humorously introduces himself as a bona fide "Rock Star." Steve was originally from Brighton, England but now resides in Los Angeles, California. He was about 13 years sober at the time of this recording. He talks about attending his first AA meeting in New York City. He also tells how he was inspired by Eric Clapton's extremely strong commitment to sobriety when his son died. This is a very enjoyable and humorous talk.
Contents - 14 Tracks
Length - 69 Minutes
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STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN - AA TALK - DALLAS, TX
This is a really great recording. Stevie Ray Vaughan delivered this AA message just seven months before his death in a helicopter crash in East Troy, Wisconsin on August 27, 1990. He was 35 years old. This CD actually begins with one of his more popular songs, "The House is Rockin." While the song is fading out, the AA meeting starts and Stevie Ray begins his story. When he is finished speaking and as the crowd begins to applaud, his song, "The Sky is Crying," fades in. Stevie then sings his song, "Life by the Drop." When listening to this CD, you're not only exposed to a very good AA lead story, but you're also reminded of how Stevie Ray Vaughan was a truly great musician.
Contents - 9 Tracks
Length - 30 Minutes
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STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN - HOME GROUP MEMORIAL
This is a recording originally made in August 1990. It's a memorial service held at The Aquarius Group in Dallas, Texas. This was Stevie Ray Vaughan's Home Group. This service was held within days of Stevie Ray's death. Several long-time friends and AA members take their turn at the podium and reminisce about Stevie, his sobriety, and his life. There's a lot of heartbreak and emotion that can be heard and felt on this CD. There is about one minute of some excellent blues guitar work by Stevie that fades in as the last speakers words are fading out. Please note: Because of the way this event was originally recorded, the sound quality is not ideal. Some of the speakers are more easily understood than others but it is still a very "listenable" recording. However, we have edited tracks and improved sound quality as much as possible. Since there was only one original recording of this service, this is the clearest recording available.
Contents - 14 Tracks
Length - 51 Minutes
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STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN - LAST RADIO INTERVIEW
This is a great CD. On this standard audio CD, Stevie Ray Vaughan gives his last radio interview. He speaks with Timothy White in New York City. Stevie recalls his early musical influences, Bobby Bland, Muddy Waters, BB King, Jimi Hendrix and others. He plays his Stratocaster throughout most of the interview. Stevie also does quite a bit of singing. This CD starts with the song "Crossfire". As the song is fading out, the interview begins. At the end of this recording, as the interview winds down, the song "Pride & Joy" fades in.
Contents - 6 Tracks
Length - 37 Minutes
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TOM BROWN - PITTSBURGH STEELERS - HUBBARD, OH 9-8-76
Tom, from Novelty, Ohio delivered this Alcoholics Anonymous talk back on September 8th, 1976. Tom played "Tight" End for the Pittsburgh Steelers way back in 1942. His date of sobriety is April 21st, 1963. Tom tells how he hit a pedestrian while driving drunk in a Pittsburgh Steelers car. The organization was sued but didn't release Tom from the team. He goes on to tell some other drinking stories and then talks briefly about a couple of his sponsors, Warren Chisholm and Henry Womer. Tom really hated AA when he first joined up but his sponsors insisted that he continued to go to meetings, which he did every day for 18 months. Tom tells how he made amends to the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and how important it was for him to be able to laugh again in sobriety because life had become very dull. He strongly suggests that the newcomer attend AA conferences because there is a very special spirituality at these events.
Contents - 12 Tracks
Length - 61 Minutes
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WALTER O'KEEFE - CLEVELAND, OH 8-15-70
Old time radio entertainer, Walter O'Keefe delivered this Alcoholics Anonymous talk at the 4th anniversary of the Sister Ignatia Group in Cleveland, Ohio on August 15th, 1970. He's got a great humorous way of telling his story. Walter got sober under the care of Sister Ignatia so this occasion has special meaning to him. His talk is very motivating and at the end he says, "If there's anything in my heart you want, take it away. Because when I came here my heart was hollow and empty. You opened it up and showed me how to receive the eternal gifts that you and Sister Ignatia wanted to give me. Thank you for the best years of my life."
Contents - 16 Tracks
Length - 77 Minutes
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WILBUR MILLS - US CONGRESSMAN - MANASSAS, VA 2-2-89
This is an Alcoholics Anonymous talk by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman, Wilbur Mills. In 1974, police stopped Wilbur driving drunk with companion Fanny Foxe, who proceeded to jump in the Washington Tidal Basin. After his political career, Mills became a prominent alcoholism lecturer and an NCA board member. As a recovered alcoholic, Mr. Mills explained: "I thought it was a failure on my part. It's a disease from which you can recover and gain back your position in life." In this AA talk, Mills shares a lot about his own drinking escapades. When first confronted with the prospect of his being an alcoholic, he did what was typical - deny, deny, deny. He speaks of the infamous Tidal Basin incident. Toward the end of his drinking Wilbur was taking 200 milligrams of Librium and drinking a half gallon of vodka daily. He sums his talk up nicely by saying that even though he has met thousands of people in his life, he never came into contact with "God's People" until he joined the rooms of AA. A very grateful man.
Contents - 7 Tracks
Length - 33 Minutes
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