Did you know that former rock manager, film producer and chairman and CEO
of United Artists Jerry Weintraub went to Leonid Brezhnev’s funeral at the Kremlin
and had better seats than some politicians? That he lifted John Denver from
obscurity in Greenwich Village and got him multimillion dollar TV specials and
record deals within a matter of a couple of years? That he booked Elvis Presley
and produced such films as The Karate Kid and Diner?
Along with Rich Cohen, Weintraub has authored a book of “unusual stories
from a persuasive man” called When I Stop Talking, You’ll Know
I’m Dead. From his childhood in the Bronx to his stint in the mailroom
of a major entertainment agency to his refusal to wear tights in an acting class
that included James Caan (who did wear them) to the crazy world or rock and
roll where he worked with the likes of Bob Dylan, Elvis, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin,
Queen, the Eagles, the Beach Boys…the list goes on and on.
What I especially like about Wentraub is his matter-of-fact, I-just-went-for-it-and-
sometimes-failed-sometimes-got-my-way anecdotes. He doesn’t bluster nor does
he play humble all that often. He’s as grateful for his fortunes as he is realistic
about the hard work it took to get them. You have to love the trials of his
times with Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, as well as his tolerance of John
Denver’s insecurities and Zeppelin’s excesses. Through it all — from his
appearances in the recent films to raising a brood of adopted kids — Weintraub
could really be called “the greatest showman on earth.” At least,
he’d tell you so.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
