An Evening With Stephen Kalinich

An Evening With Stephen Kalinich
At Ravello’s Restaurant,
Old Street
LONDON EC1
29th July 2006
Speech Notes by Alex McCambley

Good evening to all Brian Wilson and Beach Boys fans tonight and a special
Good Evening to our guest tonight, Stephen Kalinich.

When Sue Levinson asked me to do this, she asked me politely to speak slowly and please take account of the fact that people attending tonight have different accents and may not understand me if I speak too quickly.

I thought about that, ……should I speak with:
(adopt Home Counties accent) “a Home Counties accent? ~ Well I’m not doing that dear!”
(adopt an Ulster accent) “that would really confuse ye!”
So I will speak Scottish, but slowly!

However, I am pleased to be asked to do this as I missed the Landmark celebration at the last minute, last year.

One of the people I most wanted to meet was Stevie Kalinich. Not just for his relationship with the Wilsons; Dennis and Brian in particular, but also for his beliefs through his writings and poetry.

The great things that come through the music of Brian Wilson, which attract us all as fans are:
the human spirit
peace, but most of all LOVE!

Now that last word LOVE, touches so many of the collaborators of the music of Brian and Dennis Wilson, and this is so obvious in the work of our special guest tonight, Stephen Kalinich.

Last week while checking out Stevie’s website, which I recommend to you all. apart from songs like ‘You’ve Touched Me’, ‘California Feelin’, A Friend Like You’ and ‘Little Bird’, I came across several poems Stevie had done.

Poems like:
‘The Purpose of Being’ and ‘Let Love Love You’.

However, it was in an interview Stephen had done with ‘Music and Film Network, that I found the key to his writing. Just before I tell you what that key is, I’ll tell you how I found it.

Just last week, my son was experiencing problems in attempting to buy a house and was becoming frustrated and dispirited as more and more obstacles seemed to be placed in his way as he ploughed through the purchasing process and in turn, it concerned me as his Dad

While my son’s experience was in my mind, I happened to be reading Stephen’s interview from ‘Music and Film Network’. Now, in his interview, Stephen was asked a final question,

‘While there are obstacles in our way on a daily basis, what advice can you provide to people experiencing obstacles?’

I timely read that Stephen had written a poem called – I think –
‘Overcome the Obstacle’.

(Read the poem)
OVERCOME THE OBSTACLE
LEARN TO SAY NO
STAND ON YOUR OWN
KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW
STRAIGHT TALK
DEAL WITH LIFE SQUARELY
DO NOT REACT AUTOMATICALLY
BREATHE IN TENSE SITUATIONS
EXPRESS KINDNESS AND LOVE
DEVELOP LISTENING AND PATIENCE

I suddenly realised that in his reply to the question posed, Stevie, through his poem was talking to me, and that was the key!

‘Overcome the problem with love and humanity!’

And just as Brian, Dennis and the rest of the Beach Boys provide, their music speaks to me as an individual and all of you, all of the time, as does Stephen’s work
I’ve since passed Stephen’s poem to my son and he in turn has taken strength from it. So thank you Stephen and welcome to Britain.

Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses to Stephen Kalinich!

END
For you Stevie, I write these following words as a personal up-to-date Coda to my speech notes to pass on my best wishes to you and thank you for your wise words, fun and friendship since I first met you that evening.

I have called it ‘Coda for Stevie’

I was requested to be the messenger to introduce Stevie to new friends
I thought about the words
I researched the words
I found the words
I spoke the words
In the fun and revelry of the evening I misplace the words in my pack
Stevie asks me for the words again as a keepsake
I could not find the words again and again, over and over I search in vain
I have to apologise

Eleven years pass

Suddenly a plague is upon us
We all are locked down
The world is at a standstill and I have nothing to do

I decide to clear my loft of forty years of career and other paperwork
I sift and shred papers
Miracle!
I find the words again
Is this a sign when we all need a lift?
I read the words
I am reminded of the man I found before

I found a genuine man who cares about the human spirit
Who cares about humanity
Who cares about love
His quest is peace and love
His quest is World Peace
His message is “World Peace Must Come!”

I remember and speak the words again!
“World Peace Must Come!”