Sure, Nile Rodgers’ “Booked for the Evening” honor was last week.
But the video was just posted on the Westport Library’s website. If you weren’t there — even if you were — it’s worth watching.
The musician/producer/composer/arranger/Chic co-founder is as talented a speaker as he is a musician/producer/etc.
Nile Rodgers
He describes buying a house in Westport in 1979, after receiving a multi-million-dollar royalty check for “We Are Family” (to avoid New York taxes, among other things).
He hung out at clubs like Backstage and the Brook. Donna Summer and Ashford & Simpson lived here. “It was really, really fun,” Nile says. “I thought, ‘the suburbs are amazing!'”
He talks about being treated at Silver Hill, which earned applause from the large crowd. He’s been sober for nearly 20 years, which got an even bigger hand.
Nile went to Toquet Hall with Madonna (to see if kids were dancing to their music).
But one of the coolest days was a book signing at the Westport Library. They ran out of books — and scurried to Barnes & Noble to replenish the supply.
Click below for the full 13-minute speech. Nile Rodgers makes all of us in Westport feel like family.
Back (way back) when I was in the music business we shared a lawyer. But I never got to meet him. Loved his style.
Great neighbor and good friend for 31 years. Very modest about his charitable giving.
I just listened to Nile’s words, WOW, quite the man, an amazing life, what a talent, such a heart, and a beautiful message. The best 13:14 minutes of my day, and my day was already quite nice.