It’s not often that one finds oneself on the red carpet OR on the dance floor with Mick Jagger. In my case, it’s exactly once in a lifetime. My old friend, Erica Huggins is one of the producers of Get On Up, the new James Brown bio-pic.  The premiere was scheduled for the Apollo Theater in New York City and our mutual friend, Jamie, was going, so I sort of, (well not so sort of) asked for an invitation. And Erica, who is positively lovely, invited me along. What I didn’t know is that we would be traveling to the theater with her (Yes! Her entourage!) in her chauffeur-driven Escalade.  What we also didn’t realize, is that we would arrive RIGHT ON the red carpet. 

The doors were flung open and there we were, on that long swath, with hundreds of photographers trying to figure out if we were famous. They worked that one out quickly: Erica and her family were whisked away and Jamie and I stood there blankly, having not the faintest idea what to do. Strike a pose? Dawdle at the entrance pretending to be movie stars? When Tony Danza (hey, looking good, Tony!) pushed us aside, we decided to make a run for it and practically sprinted to the theater door. In retrospect, I wish I had sashayed, then perhaps I would have found myself on Entertainment Tonight. Oh yes, the movie! We loved it! Directed by Tate Taylor of The Help fame, and starring Chadwick Boseman (Jackie Robinson in 42), who practically morphs into James Brown. For those of us who grew up with The Godfather Of Soul (my dad was a big fan), the soundtrack of historic, live recordings is revelatory. Yup, the guy was cuckoo but a true genius. Oh, and my six degree moment? Dancing at the after party not three feet from Mick Jagger. Altogether a ridiculously memorable night. Thank you, Erica!

Tags: New York