We invite you to please share your remembrances of Rich.
Please send your emails or video stories to: daleallenllc@yahoo.com and I will post them here.
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Long time friend and peer Ron Farber shares his adventures with Rich:
"I am still shaken and shocked over the recent passing of my dear friend of almost 50 years, Rich Totoian. We had a close and bonding friendship that transcended our mutual time at A&M and HME Records; his later work with Bud Prager's ESP mgt. and Epic; mine with Penthouse and as an indie -- lots more. We shared so many successes, road trips, laughs and outrageous 'adventures.' He was what one would have called 'a great record man' ...and even a far better person! |
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Our A&M years were just the seed for what grew into a lifetime of wonderful and rewarding experiences. Still can't believe you're gone Toto! We were a force -- a team that always had each other's back! And those of you who knew Rich, will agree that he was truly one of a kind -- a warm, gentle man who was an incredibly gifted story teller with an endless supply of music biz tales! And nobody could 'tell them like Richie.' He could remember hundreds of true experiences he had as he told them with a remarkable ability to inject dialects, voices and sound affects along with facial expressions. When Toto got 'on a roll,' he was beyond hysterical and entertaining. Had he pursued it, I really believe that he could have become a major comic star. He was that quick and funny! Having worked with George Carlin, Franklin Ajaye and known Robin Williams -- trust me...Toto was a natural talent in that league! And his humorous side was just part of why we all so loved this guy and always wanted to 'hang with him.' It was never dull and always interesting. I feel fortunate to have been part of scores of crazy and amazing times with him. So much to tell with too little space here to mention. I will try to recreate some experiences as best as I can.
1. Talk about being a pal, I'll never forget flying from Atlanta to Denver with most of the A&M executive 'tier' doing product presentations for our field people. We had the whole first class section of a large plane and Rich said to me..."go sit next to Jerry Moss...you never get to spend time with him." Wow! I did and during that flight Jerry told me the whole story of Supertramp with "Crime Of The Century about to be released! How they were that great live and being an unknown band with so much equipment, they had to headline so we needed to be smart how we synced the tour with fm radio to fill venues! I became obsessed with this band and that album. And many might remember that Supertramp became my 'middle name' for the next few years! Rich could have sat with Jerry and amused him and gotten more 'points' -- instead, he placed me there to spend quality time with the owner! That's a pal!
2. It's Nov., 1978 -- Harold brings the national & regional promo group to San Francisco for meetings at a Gavin convention. A couple of guys had never been to San Fran and were concerned -- this is a week after Harvey Milk and their mayor were shot. After dinner one night, Rich who had lived there and knew the city inside out (don't forget it was he who discovered Santana) took a couple of cab fulls to Enrico's in North Beach. T'was a Friday night and this was a cool open sidewalk cafe that was hopping in the North Beach district. Richie assured everyone how safe this area was. As he had us 'captured' telling one of his great stories (with his back to the the street), a crazy girl runs up to him, takes off her shoe and hits him hard on his back. Everyone is freaked! Rich grabs one of the cane chairs and like a lion tamer in a circus and forces the psycho to back off and run away! For the rest of the weekend, every time any of us saw Rich in our fancy hotel lobby, we'd take off a shoe and tap him on the shoulder! Other guests probably wondered -- what a strange thing to do!
3. It's Dec., 1975 -- weekend meetings in gorgeous Aspen, CO. Sunday is departure day -- flight to Denver and onward to our home cities. All but Rich and Charlie Minor show up at the tiny Aspen Airport. It's fogged in and overcast -- all flights delayed perhaps for the day. FYI, Rich and Charlie were each with a local 'ski hottie' who knew that no flight will take off with that sky. Thus, they're no shows. Our beloved president, Gil, decides to charter a full size bus for the 5+ hour ride to Denver's Stapleton Airport. Those of us on board aged greatly during that scary, horrific ride! Like a movie scene...the bus swayed and skidded on icy narrow mountain roads...we all thought we'd go over a cliff any time. Moss was not on that one...however, Harold, Gil, Fead and other top VP's were; along with several of us 'junior execs.' Someone said that if this bus did crash, that would leave Rich and Charlie alone to 'run the company! Gil was gracious enough to invite a couple of outsiders to join us --- one guy looked like the 'straightest suit & tie nerd ever -- even he partook smoking the many joints that Steve Dunn 'happened to have.' And about halfway there, we stopped at a roadside general store on this 2 lane road...Gil literally bought them out --emptied all the shelves with snacks, sandwiches and drinks (including beer). Now we were 'gased and scared' all at once!
And, when we finally pulled up to the airport in Denver...who was there to greet us -- Rich & Charlie --skies had cleared after a couple of hours and they took the 30 minute flight after all! There were no cell phones then and they had no idea what had happened to us.
These two 'romeos' had made the right move after all!
The rest of us lived through this 'wayward bus' ride!
4. One time in the 1980's Rich & I went to a club near his apartment in 'the village' in NYC to see Ronnie Spector perform. The place is packed -- no seating -- only standing room with wall to wall people. We say hello to Tommy Mottola (who Toto knows). Good thing. Before long, Rich gets into a shoving match with some older, heavyset guy -- I get next to him not knowing what -- and then up steps, Tommy Mottola with actor Mickey Rourke. They manage to separate Toto and me from this guy and his group just before fists and bottles flew! So glad -- we were outnumbered. Then Tommy introduces us to Mickey whereby Rich mentions his hit film, "The Pope of Greenwich Village" which takes place on Carmine Street. Rich tells Mickey "I live on Carmine Street." Mickey then tells us..."yeah...you almost died here on Varick Street --- that guy you had the shoving match with is a 'made man' and those with him are his 'mob' buddies all packing heat!" So, I can honestly say that actor Mickey Rourke saved our asses that night!
5. I supposedly almost got the 1974 George Harrison tour busted in Wash., D.C. After the concert in the Watergate Hotel hospitality suite (where we would introduce George to the media), Tom Scott asks if Rich and I had any more of the grass we all smoked the previous night. Since I can't roll a joint well, we both went to get some 'wild weed.' When we returned, I was trying to give joints to Tom and George not noticing that Jack Ford, the President's son, was there along with a few guys in suits with earpieces. It was Rich who realized the scene and kept yours truly from taking out the 'doobies' Once again, Rich to the rescue!
There are so many more to be told. Just not the time or space at this point. Perhaps someday, someway.
Again, Rich was a super friend and such a good guy. He leaves his son, Kevin, also Dale, Joan and hundreds
who knew and adored him. He was the ultimate 'mixer.' One of the true greats has left us! Rest well my old pal -- you will be so missed by multitudes!"
1. Talk about being a pal, I'll never forget flying from Atlanta to Denver with most of the A&M executive 'tier' doing product presentations for our field people. We had the whole first class section of a large plane and Rich said to me..."go sit next to Jerry Moss...you never get to spend time with him." Wow! I did and during that flight Jerry told me the whole story of Supertramp with "Crime Of The Century about to be released! How they were that great live and being an unknown band with so much equipment, they had to headline so we needed to be smart how we synced the tour with fm radio to fill venues! I became obsessed with this band and that album. And many might remember that Supertramp became my 'middle name' for the next few years! Rich could have sat with Jerry and amused him and gotten more 'points' -- instead, he placed me there to spend quality time with the owner! That's a pal!
2. It's Nov., 1978 -- Harold brings the national & regional promo group to San Francisco for meetings at a Gavin convention. A couple of guys had never been to San Fran and were concerned -- this is a week after Harvey Milk and their mayor were shot. After dinner one night, Rich who had lived there and knew the city inside out (don't forget it was he who discovered Santana) took a couple of cab fulls to Enrico's in North Beach. T'was a Friday night and this was a cool open sidewalk cafe that was hopping in the North Beach district. Richie assured everyone how safe this area was. As he had us 'captured' telling one of his great stories (with his back to the the street), a crazy girl runs up to him, takes off her shoe and hits him hard on his back. Everyone is freaked! Rich grabs one of the cane chairs and like a lion tamer in a circus and forces the psycho to back off and run away! For the rest of the weekend, every time any of us saw Rich in our fancy hotel lobby, we'd take off a shoe and tap him on the shoulder! Other guests probably wondered -- what a strange thing to do!
3. It's Dec., 1975 -- weekend meetings in gorgeous Aspen, CO. Sunday is departure day -- flight to Denver and onward to our home cities. All but Rich and Charlie Minor show up at the tiny Aspen Airport. It's fogged in and overcast -- all flights delayed perhaps for the day. FYI, Rich and Charlie were each with a local 'ski hottie' who knew that no flight will take off with that sky. Thus, they're no shows. Our beloved president, Gil, decides to charter a full size bus for the 5+ hour ride to Denver's Stapleton Airport. Those of us on board aged greatly during that scary, horrific ride! Like a movie scene...the bus swayed and skidded on icy narrow mountain roads...we all thought we'd go over a cliff any time. Moss was not on that one...however, Harold, Gil, Fead and other top VP's were; along with several of us 'junior execs.' Someone said that if this bus did crash, that would leave Rich and Charlie alone to 'run the company! Gil was gracious enough to invite a couple of outsiders to join us --- one guy looked like the 'straightest suit & tie nerd ever -- even he partook smoking the many joints that Steve Dunn 'happened to have.' And about halfway there, we stopped at a roadside general store on this 2 lane road...Gil literally bought them out --emptied all the shelves with snacks, sandwiches and drinks (including beer). Now we were 'gased and scared' all at once!
And, when we finally pulled up to the airport in Denver...who was there to greet us -- Rich & Charlie --skies had cleared after a couple of hours and they took the 30 minute flight after all! There were no cell phones then and they had no idea what had happened to us.
These two 'romeos' had made the right move after all!
The rest of us lived through this 'wayward bus' ride!
4. One time in the 1980's Rich & I went to a club near his apartment in 'the village' in NYC to see Ronnie Spector perform. The place is packed -- no seating -- only standing room with wall to wall people. We say hello to Tommy Mottola (who Toto knows). Good thing. Before long, Rich gets into a shoving match with some older, heavyset guy -- I get next to him not knowing what -- and then up steps, Tommy Mottola with actor Mickey Rourke. They manage to separate Toto and me from this guy and his group just before fists and bottles flew! So glad -- we were outnumbered. Then Tommy introduces us to Mickey whereby Rich mentions his hit film, "The Pope of Greenwich Village" which takes place on Carmine Street. Rich tells Mickey "I live on Carmine Street." Mickey then tells us..."yeah...you almost died here on Varick Street --- that guy you had the shoving match with is a 'made man' and those with him are his 'mob' buddies all packing heat!" So, I can honestly say that actor Mickey Rourke saved our asses that night!
5. I supposedly almost got the 1974 George Harrison tour busted in Wash., D.C. After the concert in the Watergate Hotel hospitality suite (where we would introduce George to the media), Tom Scott asks if Rich and I had any more of the grass we all smoked the previous night. Since I can't roll a joint well, we both went to get some 'wild weed.' When we returned, I was trying to give joints to Tom and George not noticing that Jack Ford, the President's son, was there along with a few guys in suits with earpieces. It was Rich who realized the scene and kept yours truly from taking out the 'doobies' Once again, Rich to the rescue!
There are so many more to be told. Just not the time or space at this point. Perhaps someday, someway.
Again, Rich was a super friend and such a good guy. He leaves his son, Kevin, also Dale, Joan and hundreds
who knew and adored him. He was the ultimate 'mixer.' One of the true greats has left us! Rest well my old pal -- you will be so missed by multitudes!"
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ALL ACCESS allaccess.com
Veteran Promotion Exec Rich Totoian Passes On At 85
by Joel Denver
June 27, 2022 at 1:20 AM (PT)
ALL ACCESS is very saddened to report the passing of longtime music promotion exec RICH TOTOIAN at age 85 earlier this month (6/17) peacefully in bed at Jewish Senior Services in Bridgeport. RICH had been in the hospital for some tests before his passing and was cremated per his wishes. A celebration of life event is being planned for October 16th from 2-5pm at Park City Music Hall in Bridgeport by his son KEVIN and family, with whom he’d lived with at the time of his death.
Longtime friend RON FARBER told ALL ACCESS, “I am still shaken and shocked over the recent passing of my dear friend of almost 50 years, RICH TOTOIAN. We had a close and bonding friendship that transcended our mutual time at A&M and HME RECORDS; his later work with BUD PRAGER's ESP MANAGEMENT and EPIC; mine with PENTHOUSE, as an indie and elsewhere. We shared so many successes, road trips, laughs and outrageous 'adventures.' He was what one would have called 'a great record man' ... and even a far better person!"
FARBER added, “RICH was a true legend as a promotion guru as well as a raconteur extraordinaire. RICH had also held national exec positions with COLUMBIA, A&M, WINDFALL MUSIC, and more. RICH was a very gifted storyteller who could recreate his endless past experiences using his remarkable talent for voices, dialects, and facial expressions.
“He had a thousand personal stories about everyone he encountered, from his pal KEITH MOON of THE WHO to JANIS JOPLIN, MILES DAVIS, ANDY WILLIAMS, PETER FRAMPTON, JACK BRUCE of CREAM, GEORGE HARRISON, LESLIE WEST of MOUNTAIN and scores more! In addition, it was RICH TOTOIAN who discovered SANTANA getting COLUMBIA RECORDS to sign him! RICHARD was loved by his peers and will be remembered for his warmth, compassion, loyalty, and kindness.”
Veteran Promotion Exec Rich Totoian Passes On At 85
by Joel Denver
June 27, 2022 at 1:20 AM (PT)
ALL ACCESS is very saddened to report the passing of longtime music promotion exec RICH TOTOIAN at age 85 earlier this month (6/17) peacefully in bed at Jewish Senior Services in Bridgeport. RICH had been in the hospital for some tests before his passing and was cremated per his wishes. A celebration of life event is being planned for October 16th from 2-5pm at Park City Music Hall in Bridgeport by his son KEVIN and family, with whom he’d lived with at the time of his death.
Longtime friend RON FARBER told ALL ACCESS, “I am still shaken and shocked over the recent passing of my dear friend of almost 50 years, RICH TOTOIAN. We had a close and bonding friendship that transcended our mutual time at A&M and HME RECORDS; his later work with BUD PRAGER's ESP MANAGEMENT and EPIC; mine with PENTHOUSE, as an indie and elsewhere. We shared so many successes, road trips, laughs and outrageous 'adventures.' He was what one would have called 'a great record man' ... and even a far better person!"
FARBER added, “RICH was a true legend as a promotion guru as well as a raconteur extraordinaire. RICH had also held national exec positions with COLUMBIA, A&M, WINDFALL MUSIC, and more. RICH was a very gifted storyteller who could recreate his endless past experiences using his remarkable talent for voices, dialects, and facial expressions.
“He had a thousand personal stories about everyone he encountered, from his pal KEITH MOON of THE WHO to JANIS JOPLIN, MILES DAVIS, ANDY WILLIAMS, PETER FRAMPTON, JACK BRUCE of CREAM, GEORGE HARRISON, LESLIE WEST of MOUNTAIN and scores more! In addition, it was RICH TOTOIAN who discovered SANTANA getting COLUMBIA RECORDS to sign him! RICHARD was loved by his peers and will be remembered for his warmth, compassion, loyalty, and kindness.”
