I loved (I) Los Angeles

It was 1984, I am 21 years old, I knew everything.

Mr. Cuddin, I was working for a prince who was still a major recording star of the time, still at the time. I already went to New York, but now I stayed in Los Angeles. When I first arrived at LA, I clearly remember driving at Santa Monica Boulevard. I had 220 pounds of muscles and courage. I had plenty of money in my pocket. It was behind the wheel of the new, red Porsche 944 turbo. George Burns and Cadillac Sevilla. My children said, "Who is George Burns? But at that time George was a member of a California celebrity and I knew that my parents were delighted that I saw him I was blown away.

"Purple rain" was going to be premiered, so I was in LA. The streets were excited and crowded. I remember that Donna Mills suddenly shouted at my after party with my good friend Bob Brooks. Beautiful car, beautiful people, money, money, money. And it is always warm. For me, I found out that the 21-year-old world-class young man, LA, was the most wonderful place on the planet. Paradise. The prince once told me "Why do not people like Minnesota?" I had to laugh. His experience in Minnesota, from May to October, was the best six months in a year. When the wind's cold, monster's snow, black ice falls below zero, he lives in a palm tree and string - a bikini land! Of course he loved Minnesota! There is no place like summer.

The prince's companion stayed at Westwood Marquis. To the "Purple Rain" premiere, the hotel was full of celebrities who arrived to attend what was promised to be the hottest ticket in town. Indeed, before screening, I stepped out of my room into the hallway and remembered that I saw Peabo Bryson. Now I did not expect to see him, of course, I did a double take. Obviously I was a crazy fan, I asked for a sign or something, soon fell down and tried to actually cover my face! It hugged me as funny, so I told the Prince about it. Well, do not you know it? After that day, I went back to his room and was in the elevator with Prince, and steped to Mr. Bryson Elevator. He saw me and noticed that I met Prince ... and the prince probably averaged his eyes and tried to cover his face. After we left the elevator, Prince gave me a small smile like a notorious demon. I still laugh about it!

The Man · Chinese Theater (famous Grauman 's Chinese, built in 1927) is hosting a premier and has made a deck with purple accent including "purple carpet" for preparation. I remember that Peewee Herman got on a go cart. Many celebrities such as Stevie · Nicks, Eddie Murphy, Little Richard, John Cougar, Lionel · Ritchie etc walked purple · carpet and were keenly looking for the appraisal. Warner Bros. The Custom Purple Limousine delivered the prince to the theater, and when he got down he saw Grass Rock Funk the best and the crowd was absolutely crazy. That overnight and weeks around it was the most exciting and interesting thing in my young life as a bodyguard.

When we had time for themselves, Brown Mark and I enjoyed playing around the city. Please contact Larry Parker, a restaurant in the style of Beverly Hills 50 famous for booth Haagen-Dazs milkshake and mobile phones. One night, two stella of Stella were sitting in the booth. There was one small problem. They had dates. Mark, I called him Roger and our friend Lance tried it from the outside line to call the booth's phone. Therefore, these two men did not see us hit the girls on the phone. Tools worked, the telephone in the booth rang.

Facial expression of girls & # 39; The face was precious. One girl tentatively picked it up and "H - Hello?" So Reims called the girl on the phone "Two men are interested and they should throw out those with you" they said. The girls laughed loud and one of them came up to point out originality ... but they declined the invitation to join with us. When the night is over, we are preparing to depart. We were driving the Ferrari 308, the logs were purple, I was red. These girls saw us, saw the car, and threw out their people. Obviously, they are now attracting attention because they thought that both had to be "someone". They actually asked, "Hey, who are you?" "Prince base player and Prince's bodyguard" The expression of the face when we peeled off was standing in the parking lot, but it was precious ... once again!

Five years later, I was living in LA. When I want to go away and have a quiet time, I will run through the mountain towards Ventura. Prince met me at the BMW of Custom Teal Blue First Off the Line in 1989, washed and drove. Crank the C & C Music Factory until you see the colorful window. Life was beautiful and perfect. LA was something I saw on TV. But I discovered that it was not what you saw on TV. My first clue was when I did not search anything on the famous "Sunset Strip" Sunset Boulevard. It does not exist in reality.

I remembered the day I visited the cousin who lived in Compton by Prince 's car. It was my first time. I was very proud to be caught up in the blue B-Mer. My cousin saw that I pulled in the car's roadway and I was at the center of the "blood" territory where I am "stupidity" heart ... I am driving a blue car . What was once a wonderful place was beaten by the gang. I was fortunate that I was not shot. They said that due to the dark windows, how many people are running with me, I can not know if they are famous people.

I was shocked by knowing that regular peaceful people (including children) were victims of random shooting at all peas trees in this peaceful, ordinary, polite and unknown neighborhood It was. Not only Watts and Inglewood but also many tragedies were happening in this neighborhood. This was Los Angeles where many residents were experiencing. It was not attractive. It was not perfect. This was a real life. This was LA belonging to the inhabitants. I was a lucky visitor. I have a lot to learn about my life.
After all, I was only 21 years old.