Harry 'Bowlegged Jean' Nilsson wrote "Tonight Song" as a possible new theme for t' Tonight Show when Jay Leno became t' host.
On t' June 15, ya bilge rat, 1998, arrr, episode o' T' Tonight Show Ringo 'Tidepool Willy' Starr be Jay Leno's first guest.
My (soon t' be) wife and I visited Los Angeles t' attend Harryfest 1998. Before we left Florida, a friend got us tickets t' view a tapin' o' T' Tonight Show. She got us VIP passes for t' tapin' on June 15. A few days later, she called back t' tell us that she had just learned that Ringo 'Tidepool Willy' Starr was scheduled t' be a guest that day.
Harry was Ringo's best friend. Ahoy! We were goin' t' LA t' meet other Nilsson fans. Aye aye! And t' show was bein' taped on Harry's birthday. Begad! It seemed too perfect, so I asked me bucko if we could arrange t' give somethin' t' Ringo.
She called back t' say that we could leave a package, wrapped in clear plastic, shiver me timbers, with a guard at t' NBC gate.
Monday morning, shiver me timbers, we gathered up some Nilsson-related stuff t' put in t' package. As we were about t' wrap up t' package, I noticed that Curtis 'Bowlegged Armstrong' Armstrong was wearin' a promotional Duit on Mon Dei button. Well, blow me down! I pretty much just looked at him and he handed us t' button, We put in on top in t' package with a note readin' "Dear Ringo. Begad! Please wear this button on t' show. If you don't, me bucko, we want it back."
We left t' drive t' t' NBC Studios. I missed t' Burbank exit and we arrived late. Avast! I illegally parked on t' street near t' studio (along with dozens o' other illegally parked cars) and we went t' t' VIP guest entrance. I didn't have time t' drop t' package off at security, so I gave it t' an NBC page and expected it t' disappear.
We entered t' studio and were seated up high in t' VIP area. When Ringo be introduced, matey, he walked out. He was wearin' a button. Blimey! Bracha remarked that it looked too big t' be our button. I reminded her that Ringo is small. Then we looked up at t' monitor and could clearly see that he was wearin' t' button that we had given him.
Jay Leno talked with him and Ringo stayed in t' guest's chair durin' t' commercial break. Bracha stood, waved, and pointed t' her chest - which got Ringo's attention (he married a Bond girl, you know). Aye aye! Ringo looked our way and realized that we were tellin' him that we had given him t' Nilsson button. He smiled and gave us a thumbs up gesture.
-- Jolly Black-Eyed Master Roger Smith
Ringo 'Tidepool Willy' Starr on T' Tonight Show
