On Sunday I lost a pal. Mort Viner was one of those characters that only comes along once in a lifetime. He was my friend, but also played the roles of Manager, Agent, Music Librarian, Chauffeur, Dresser, Car Dealer, Baggage carrier and Bodyguard.�
He even insisted on supervising my wardrobe. For my first appearance on the tonight show with Johnny Carson I had decided to wear a favorite fifteen year old jacket in blue seersucker.�Mort however had different ideas "You"re gonna buy a new sports coat�and wear�a shirt and a tie and look like a star."
"Great" I said� "I'll look like bloddy Andy Williams"�"I wish you could f****** sing like him" was Mort's reply.���
Mort was from the old days. We met thirty-five years ago on the set of Hello Dolly when he was representing Gene Kelly. �They were two of a kind: Highly respected professionals, amazing senses of humor and most importantly, full of integrity.� Mort had great vision and a tremendous passion for this business. He helped me to realize so many of my dreams.
Without Mort I would never ever have had the courage to stand on a stage for the first time as myself, not a character, but myself and sing to audiences around the world... sharing my inner most thoughts and treasures of this lifetime. �Without Mort I would never have had a recording contract with Atlantic records. Nor would I have had the opportunity to open in an amazing Las Vegas show at the MGM Grand, [Even though it ended sadly, I have absolutely no regrets. The aftermath was a life experience, we all have them!]�
I consider myself such a lucky man to have had him in my life all these years.� And I shall miss him greatly.�We've spoken to each other every day, with few exceptions, for the last fourteen years. And I've never missed Mort more than I did yesterday, when I landed at LAX from London.�I got in the car and the phone didn't ring. There wasn't a call to say "It's Mmoort. I checked the flight, it was on time, I knew you'd be in the car by now, talk to you later"� �God bless you Morty and thanks for everything.
