Tag Archives: Mike Borchetta

Roundup: Fireworks & Photos, P&Z & Hamlet, WTF & Soil …

Posted on July 2, 2025 | 1 comment

A reminder: “06880” wants your fireworks photos!

Your parties and picnics; you and your friends hanging out; your kids running around — however you celebrate, we hope you’ll share with our online community.

We’re less interested in shots of the actual fireworks — sorry, but they all tend to look the same — than in people. Faces, smiles, flags — email them to 06880blog@gmail.com, by 10 p.m. tonight (the end of the fireworks show).

Enjoy the show! Then share it with all the rest of us. Thank you!

A great shot from last year. (Photo/Jennifer Kobetitsch)

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Speaking of Compo: This morning’s “06880” lead story focused on the Westport tradition of saving spots on the sand for the fireworks.

The weather may have deterred a few folks — though the slight rain is expected to end, with gradually decreasing clouds throughout the day.

But sure enough, this was the scene just after dawn this morning. Let the games begin!

(Photo/Cindy Nigro)

And here was the view, just before 9 a.m.:

(Photo/Matt Murray)

And 2 from 9:15:

(Photos/Amy Schneider)

Getting a bit aggressive, at 10:15 a.m.:

(Photo/Matt Murray)

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Speaking still of the beach: It’s official.

Last night, the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) unanimously approved a proposal by Chris Tait and Andrew Colabella to name the pickleball courts there in honor of Tom Lowrie.

It’s a fitting tribute to the man who has done more to promote the sport in Westport than anyone.

And who turns 97 tomorrow. Happy birthday, and congratulations, Tom!

Tom Lowrie (Photo/Pam Einarsen)

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The Planning & Zoning Commission begins its 65-day deliberation period of The Hamlet at Saugatuck this Monday (July 7, 6 p.m., Zoom).

It’s a work session. The public can observe, but not participate.

Hamlet’s 65-day period begins.

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Alicia Murphy is making the most of her summer internship with Wakeman Town Farm.

A rising senior at the University of Mary Washington, she is majoring in environmental science. Her concentration is in sustainability and soil science.

Growing up in a small town in rural Indiana, Alicia received an extensive agricultural education throughout high school. But she realized how destructive and unsustainable traditional farming practices really are.

At WTF she developed an interest in the newest garden. Recently reclaimed as a part of the farm, the land has suffered a significant degree of soil compaction and topsoil degradation, making it difficult for plants to thrive.

Alicia’s goal is to create a plan for sustainable, long-lasting remediation.

On July 16 (2 p.m., Tim’s Kitchen), she’ll describe her summer work, soil restoration, small-scale sustainable practices, and solutions for compacted and depleted farmland. The public is invited.

Alicia Murphy, at Wakeman Town Farm.

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Mike Borchetta — a 1961 Staples High School graduate who, in a long music industry career, worked with Glen Campbell, the Beach Boys and Four Seasons, Dusty Springfield and Wayne Newton — died recently. He was 84.

According to Nashville Post, his resume in Los Angeles and Nashville included stints as president of Lofton Creek Records, Broken Bow, Capitol, RCA, Mercury, Philips Records and Rebel Engine.

As vice president of promotion at Curb Records from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, Borchetta played a key role in signing of Tim McGraw.

Much earlier, as a Staples student, he brought Bo Diddley, Harvey & the Moonglows and Dave “Baby” Cortez to town.

Borchetta and his wife Martha also bred and trained thoroughbred horses. He is survived too by his children Scott, Adelle, Chris and Angela, all of whom are in the music industry. Scott started his own label — and discovered a 16-year-old Taylor Swift.

Details for a service have not yet been announced.

Mike Borchetta

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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” scene comes from hen-pecked Greens Farms:

(Photo/Jacque O’Brien)

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And finally … in honor of Mike Borchetta (obituary above):

(Today is hump day. And fireworks day. And — as always — a day to support “06880,” your hyper-local, 24/7/365 blog. Please click here — and thank you!)

1 Comment

Posted in Beach, Environment, Local politics, Obituaries, Saugatuck, Sports

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Bo Did Westport

Posted on April 6, 2016 | 23 comments

Westport’s musical history is well noted.

Mark Smollin wrote a book about all the 1960s bands that played at Staples: the Doors, Cream, Yardbirds, Animals and many, many more.

Linda Eastman — before she was McCartney — photographed Jeff Beck in the high school choral room.

A video of Steve Tallerico — before he was Steve Tyler — plays in an endless loop at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. In it, he talks about the incredible influence this town had on his musical career.

But before the Byrds, Peter Frampton and Sly and the Family Stone played here — and all the rest — there was a different kind of teenage music. And Westport was at the center of it then, too.

Michael Friedman today, in his Weston home.

Michael Friedman today, in his Weston home.

Michael Friedman was there. Now 72, he’s had several intriguing careers. He’s been an antiques dealer, and a restaurant owner.

He produced “Hello, It’s Me,” and managed Todd Rundgren and Kris Kristofferson — as well as (with Albert Grossman) the careers of Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, The Band, Odetta, and Peter Paul & Mary. He did publicity for the Dave Clark 5 and Herman’s Hermits.

But even before that — when he was a student at Long Lots Junior High, and a member of Staples High’s Class of 1961 — Friedman was part of Westport’s thriving music scene.

In 1958 — as a “self-taught, left-handed, not-so-great drummer” — he joined saxophonist Rick Del Vecchio and guitarist/singer Mike Youngman in a group called the Schemers. Friedman calls them “Westport’s 1st garage band.”

They were young. But the 4th member was even younger. Barry Tashian brought great guitar chops — and an amazing voice, and plenty of showmanship — to the foursome.

Bo Diddley was heard in Westport.

Bo Diddley was heard in Westport.

The Schemers covered songs by hot artists like Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. They knew Diddley especially well: He played in Westport “a number of times,” Friedman says. They were dance shows, at places like the YMCA.

Once, Diddley’s drummer was too drunk to perform. Friedman took his spot.

Another act that came to Westport was Harvey and the Moonglows (“Sincerely”). Once again, the drummer drank too much. Once again, Friedman stepped in.

Only one local band was bigger than the Schemers. Bridgeport’s Dick Grass and the Hoppers — featuring 350-pound lead singer Bobby Lindsay — had a regional hit with “Mr. John Law.”

A few years later, Tashian went on to far great fame. With fellow Westporter Bill Briggs — and 2 Boston University classmates — the Remains took Boston by storm. They toured with the Beatles, appeared on “Ed Sullivan” and “Hullabaloo,” and were (in the words of Jon Landau) “how you told a stranger about rock ‘n’ roll.”

Unfortunately, the Remains broke up. But that’s another story.

Westporters and Remains Barry Tashian (left) and Bill Briggs flank Staples music director John Ohanian in 1966.

Westporters Barry Tashian (left) and Bill Briggs of the Remains flank Staples music director John Ohanian in 1966.

Tashian was not the only Friedman-era Stapleite to go on to musical fame. Mike Borchetta brought musical acts to Westport while still in high school. One was Dave Baby Cortez (“The Happy Organ”).

Borchetta later became a noted music promoter — first in Los Angeles, then Nashville. He went on to start his own label — and discovered a 16-year-old Taylor Swift.

Don Law was another Staples musical mover and shaker. His father — also named Don — was “Mr. Nashville.” He produced Johnny Horton’s “Battle of New Orleans,”Marty Robbins’ “El Paso” and Jimmy Dean’s “Big Bad John,” as well as many Johnny Cash records.

His son — Friedman’s friend — was a Boston-based promoter. The Boston Globe says Law “virtually controlled the live music scene throughout New England for almost four decades.”

And who can forget Rusty Ford, who went on to play bass with the psychedelic, theremin-heavy, influential but now forgotten Lothar and the Hand People? Ford and his wife Karen have lived in Westport since 1992.

Lothar and the Hand People. i'm not sure which one is Rusty Ford.

Lothar and the Hand People. Rusty Ford is 2nd from left in this photo by Richard Avedon.

Friedman’s own career took a couple of detours. He sold Americana and folk art, and owned the Ash Creek Saloons in Fairfield and Norwalk, along with Darien’s Goose restaurant.

But music was always his first love.

“I’ve had a fun life,” he says, sitting in his Weston home. He’s surrounded by memorabilia, like an acetate from the Beatles’ recording of “Help!”, a 1948 snare drum head signed by Levon Helm, and a photo he took of Janis Joplin just before she performed for a few thousand Hell’s Angels.

Yet of everything he’s done — including dating Linda Eastman — “the Barry and Bo Diddley years were the best. There’s nothing better than playing in a rock ‘n’ roll band.”

Michael Friedman knew Levon Helm when he was in the Hawks -- the band that preceded The Band. The drum head says: "Michael. You & me brother. They wouldn't believe us if we told it. Love & respect, Levon. Sept. '09."

Michael Friedman knew Levon Helm when he was in the Hawks — the band that preceded The Band. The drum head says: “Michael. You & me brother. They wouldn’t believe us if we told it. Love & respects, Levon Helm. Sept. ’09.”

 

23 Comments

Posted in Entertainment, Looking back, People, Staples HS, YMCA

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Westport’s Newest American Idol

Posted on March 13, 2015 | 9 comments

Millions of viewers across the US have seen Randy Jackson’s replacement on “American Idol”: Scott Borchetta.

A dozen or so oldtime Westporters probably say “hmmmm…”

Back in the day, the Post Road was filled with mom-and-pop grocery stores (think Calise’s, without the hot foods). The owners worked hard, and served their neighborhoods well.

One — near Old Road, about where the Lexus dealer and Anthropologie are now — was owned by a Mr. and Mrs. Borchetta.

Scott Borchetta

Scott Borchetta

Their son Mike graduated from Staples in 1961, then went off to California. He became a noted record promoter for labels like Capitol, RCA and Mercury.

Later Mike moved to Nashville, to start his own independent record promotion company.

Scott is Mike’s son. He was a race car driver, then founded Big Machine Records and discovered Taylor Swift.

Now he’s “American Idol”‘s house mentor. The show, of course, is all about hard-working, unknown people trying to make it big.

Sounds like 3 generations of the Borchetta family, right?

(Hat tip: Dick Alley)

9 Comments

Posted in Entertainment, Looking back, People, Staples HS

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