Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney plays birthday party for a good cause - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian · 02-25-2003, 01:47 AM

Ex-Beatle plays birthday party for a good cause

By Leslie Wolf Branscomb
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

February 24, 2003

It was a 50th birthday surprise that Wendy Walker Whitworth never would have imagined.

An intimate blues club. All her closest friends. And Paul McCartney – yes, that one – singing to her.

It was a rare personal appearance by a star who virtually never plays private parties. For his appearance, McCartney was paid $1 million, which will be donated to charity.

"You can tell by my voice how much I screamed last night," said Whitworth, still hoarse yesterday, the day after being serenaded by the former Beatle at a Rancho Santa Fe restaurant. "I was nervous about turning 50, but it's OK when Paul McCartney sings to you."

Whitworth is an executive vice president at CNN, and executive producer of "Larry King Live." She lives in Rancho Santa Fe with her husband, financier Ralph Whitworth, who pulled off the surprise party without his wife catching on.

The private concert took place at Delicias, a small, chic restaurant Ralph Whitworth arranged to have converted into a nightclub for the evening. He dubbed it the "Ranch Blues Club."

About 150 guests attended, including Larry King and Wendy Whitworth's best friend, Katie Couric of NBC.

Ralph Whitworth said yesterday that he had met McCartney before and was a supporter of the singer's anti-land mine activism.

"I rang Paul up about four or five weeks ago and I said, 'Hey, I've got a great idea,' " Ralph Whitworth said. "I said we're going to help fit thousands of people with prosthetics, and my wife gets to have Paul at her 50th birthday party.

"He said, 'I've never done a private party before and I've had lots of offers, but this one strikes a nerve with me.' "

Ralph Whitworth arranged to pay McCartney $1 million, which will be donated to the charity Adopt-A-Minefield, a cause championed by McCartney and his wife, Heather Mills.

"This was as much about the cause as it was about the music," Ralph Whitworth said. "That was really my gift to her. . . . She's a gal who kind of has everything, so it just seemed like the right thing to do, especially in these times."

McCartney and his band arrived in town Saturday afternoon. The restaurant was closed so they could rehearse.

"That brought the neighbors out of their houses," Ralph Whitworth said. "Part of our plan was to keep it a secret and that was tough, so we leaked out fake stories about who it might be."

One woman threatened to call police because of the noise until she realized who was singing, he said.

By the time the guests assembled, only about 20 people in the audience knew what was to come, Ralph Whitworth said. His wife, he said, was "flabbergasted."

McCartney performed 19 songs, including such Beatles classics as "Let It Be" and an acoustic version of "Yesterday," which he played with the same guitar he used on "The Ed Sullivan Show" decades earlier.

Near the end, McCartney presented Wendy Whitworth with 50 roses, danced with her and sang the Beatles song "Birthday."

"I think he played for an hour and 40 minutes, and it was unbelievable," Wendy Whitworth said. "It's still like a dream."

McCartney, who left town immediately after the party, released a statement through his publicist.

"Normally I don't do this sort of gig, but I was chuffed to do it because it was a win-win show," he said, using British slang indicating how pleased he was to play at the party.

Penny Lane · 02-25-2003, 10:34 AM

Sigh........................

laceyinthesky · 02-25-2003, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Penny Lane
Sigh........................

Aww.. lol

I must admit that was nice of him.

Brian · 02-27-2003, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Penny Lane
Sigh........................

I knew you were going to do that!

Penny Lane · 02-27-2003, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BJL

I knew you were going to do that!

Now, how did you know that?!

02-25-2003, 01:47 AM	#1
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney plays birthday party for a good cause Ex-Beatle plays birthday party for a good cause By Leslie Wolf Branscomb UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER February 24, 2003 It was a 50th birthday surprise that Wendy Walker Whitworth never would have imagined. An intimate blues club. All her closest friends. And Paul McCartney – yes, that one – singing to her. It was a rare personal appearance by a star who virtually never plays private parties. For his appearance, McCartney was paid $1 million, which will be donated to charity. "You can tell by my voice how much I screamed last night," said Whitworth, still hoarse yesterday, the day after being serenaded by the former Beatle at a Rancho Santa Fe restaurant. "I was nervous about turning 50, but it's OK when Paul McCartney sings to you." Whitworth is an executive vice president at CNN, and executive producer of "Larry King Live." She lives in Rancho Santa Fe with her husband, financier Ralph Whitworth, who pulled off the surprise party without his wife catching on. The private concert took place at Delicias, a small, chic restaurant Ralph Whitworth arranged to have converted into a nightclub for the evening. He dubbed it the "Ranch Blues Club." About 150 guests attended, including Larry King and Wendy Whitworth's best friend, Katie Couric of NBC. Ralph Whitworth said yesterday that he had met McCartney before and was a supporter of the singer's anti-land mine activism. "I rang Paul up about four or five weeks ago and I said, 'Hey, I've got a great idea,' " Ralph Whitworth said. "I said we're going to help fit thousands of people with prosthetics, and my wife gets to have Paul at her 50th birthday party. "He said, 'I've never done a private party before and I've had lots of offers, but this one strikes a nerve with me.' " Ralph Whitworth arranged to pay McCartney $1 million, which will be donated to the charity Adopt-A-Minefield, a cause championed by McCartney and his wife, Heather Mills. "This was as much about the cause as it was about the music," Ralph Whitworth said. "That was really my gift to her. . . . She's a gal who kind of has everything, so it just seemed like the right thing to do, especially in these times." McCartney and his band arrived in town Saturday afternoon. The restaurant was closed so they could rehearse. "That brought the neighbors out of their houses," Ralph Whitworth said. "Part of our plan was to keep it a secret and that was tough, so we leaked out fake stories about who it might be." One woman threatened to call police because of the noise until she realized who was singing, he said. By the time the guests assembled, only about 20 people in the audience knew what was to come, Ralph Whitworth said. His wife, he said, was "flabbergasted." McCartney performed 19 songs, including such Beatles classics as "Let It Be" and an acoustic version of "Yesterday," which he played with the same guitar he used on "The Ed Sullivan Show" decades earlier. Near the end, McCartney presented Wendy Whitworth with 50 roses, danced with her and sang the Beatles song "Birthday." "I think he played for an hour and 40 minutes, and it was unbelievable," Wendy Whitworth said. "It's still like a dream." McCartney, who left town immediately after the party, released a statement through his publicist. "Normally I don't do this sort of gig, but I was chuffed to do it because it was a win-win show," he said, using British slang indicating how pleased he was to play at the party.

02-25-2003, 10:34 AM	#2
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,248	Sigh........................ Attached Images
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