Harpo leaves Raiders! Permalink
Jim “Harpo” Valley—the happiest Raider and love’s devout apostle—has recently made the most important decision of his young life. After spending exactly one fun-filled year with Paul, Mark, Fang and Smitty—Harpo decided to give up the Raider life and strike out on his own. As he put it in an exclusive phone call to 16’s editor and his good friend—Gloria Stavers, “I’ve loved every minute of working with Paul Revere and the Raiders. It’s been a great year. I’ve learned so very much and made so very many wonderful friends—but now I feel that the time has come for me to go out on my own. Though I dig the Raiders’ sound, my own compositions and style of singing are in a different sphere.”
To cite an example, the name of Harpo’s new music publishing company is Gentle Mind. The tunes he writes are more in the ethereal vein than the Raiders’ style of rock and roll. To keep the record straight, Harpo added, “Please make sure everyone—especially my 16 friends—understands that my separation from the Raiders is completely amicable and that we are still the closest of friends. In the past I had occasionally thought of doing my own thing—and somehow the advent of my 22nd birthday on March 13, plus a series of other serendipitious events, sort of sparked the whole move off.”
Harpo has written many beautiful and meaningful songs. They are songs that express his innermost feelings and deep convictions. They are songs about love and understanding. He has a profound longing to record these songs and present them to you.
Harpo’s last gig with the Raiders was in Seattle, Washington, on March 21—and though he’ll always be the best of friends with his buddies Paul, Mark, Smitty and Fang—he is, at last, doing exactly what he wants to do. And that means that soon all you loyal Jim Valley lovers will be hearing the fulfilled Jim Valley singing his own songs on his own records. And remember—he loves you.
A stupido magazine printed that our fabulous Fang was going to leave the Raiders to become a movie actor. Needless to say, there’s not a shred of truth to that! . . . Get ready for some important news covering a lot of the top British pop groups. Like the balloon—or is it the submarine? is about to go POW! . . . “I hate him,” Chrissie Shrimpton said succinctly of her old “buddy,” Mick Jagger, at a recent press interview. Then she posed prettily with adorable Steve Marriott of the Small Faces.
Before the rumors start flying, I’m going to set the record straight here and now about Davy Jones’ friendship with Baker twin Jennifer. Jenny and Davy have been pals for years. It is strictly a brother-sister relationship and NO ROMANCE! . . . Remember last month I told you that Burt Ward was dating Kathy Kersh? Well, Burt’s divorce from Bonney was final on February 9, so he married Kathy in Las Vegas on February 25. What took him so long?
See ya’ ’round the cattery!
