Early ‘wee morning’ hours are refreshing enough before the bubbling sizzle throughout summer Central Californian days. During a cool sunrise Dassa and I stroll the streets, paths, and sidewalks arriving at Starbucks on the corner of Herndon & Clovis Avenue for a Passion Fruit Iced Tea and pup cup. Three dog fountains and multiple puddles are spattered on the way home keeping my furry friend hydrated.
We stride onto the Clovis Old Town Trail, a 3/4 mile blacktop meandering westward. Temperatures are at least 10 digits lower in the shadows of dotted broad-leafed red maples. A canal runs parallel to the water vessel with two matted slopes for man and best friend to access. Dassa cannot be restrained, nibbling long strands of grass before taking a dip drifting downstream as I gently draw her back with my Flexi 26 foot retractable leash.
Thank You for Being A Friend …
Dassa drips and shakes her saturated coat while returning to the walking trail, a pedestrian chuckling at the sight. The whole time a joyful piano beat ekes through my Apple Airpods followed by ‘Thank You for Being a Friend. Traveled down the road and back again. Your heart is true, and you’re a pal and a confidant …’ I feel my my cheeks involuntarily curl upright, a lighter weight in my step. This invasion of my body is why I’m bringing this song to your attention today.
Lyrics of gratitude I have not often heard, but one I never interrupted until the last note was played. Likely, this is the reason from 1985 through 1992 Golden Girls’ NBC sitcom secured the rights for Cindy Fee to sing ‘Thank You for Being a Friend’ during each of the 180 episodes’ opening credits with a musical version played while the closing credits rolled. It is a tune that never gets old.
Andrew Gold …
Interesting, Andrew Gold wrote, produced, recorded, and sang the original version of ‘Thank You for Being a Friend’ while playing the piano, yet he had nothing to do with the performance of the Golden Girls’ theme song. Nonetheless, from ’87-91 he won the Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) Film & TV Award each year acknowledging the impact of his songwriting regarding the Golden Girls’ theme song.
Gold’s ‘Lonely Boy’ song became Billboard top 7 in 1978 while ‘Never Let Her Slip Away’ soared to #5 on the United Kingdom chart, twice. Prior to this success Gold was literally instrumental playing most instruments on Art Garfunkel’s solo hit ‘I Only Have Eyes for You’ and Linda Ronstadt’s #1 single ‘You’re No Good’. Cher, Trisha Yearwood, Wynona Judd, Vince Gill, Celine Dion, The Everly Brothers, The Eagles, and even Jeff Bridges were all influenced by his writing, producing, or instrumental gifts; a sensational talent with little acclaim.
Yet, Gold is likely best known today for the 2010 Internet meme ‘Spooky, Scary Skeletons’. He passed away one year later after successfully battling Kidney disease yet succumbing to heart failure, age 59. I didn’t even know that an Internet meme was a thing, being an image or video clip that goes viral often gaining popularity. Ironically, like the Golden Girls’ theme song, Gold had nothing to do with it. His talents simply seeped into the forefront.
In fact, back in 1996 he released ‘Halloween Howls, a children’s Halloween novelty album. On this album was ‘Spooky, Scary Skeletons’ along with such hits as Monster Mash, Addams Family, and Ghostbuster songs. What an influencer! Sometimes we come across people who were in the shadows of stardom, but in this case there is no mistaking the reality, Andrew Gold a star ⭐.
Eerily ironic, Annie and I just had a delightful visit from our nephew (James), his wife (Sammy), and their child (John Wesley) from Oregon. I was introduced to ‘Spooky Scary Skeletons’ for the first time by James and 1 year old and 363 day old John Wesley (a new little buddy of mine). Serendipitously, during times of solitude, I’d retreat to my man station to research for this blog realizing Andrew Gold produced the music of this Halloween album for kids.
Sometimes you just have to pinch yourself.
Take care, my friend 👍.
