Quite the Sendoff

Montecito music man Peter Clark, who moved to more heavenly pastures at 87, was remembered in suitable style by his widow Gloria Clark on what would have been their fifth wedding anniversary at the Montecito Club.

The iconic English-born pianist rose to fame in the 1950s appearing on Australia’s Amateur Hour at 17 and appearing with legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson in Melbourne before moving to California in 1963.

He used the stage name Chet DeMilo and played in bands in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Reno, and Lake Tahoe. In 1991, he bought Andria’s Harbourside, an eatery and piano bar in Santa Barbara, with his wife, Dallas, stepmother of Rolling Stone magazine founder Jann Wenner, and impromptu shows were commonplace. They sold the property in 2001.

Peter was also president of the Santa Barbara Jazz Society and a member of the Montecito Mafia, a social group of racketeers.

Local writer Erin Graffy emceed the tribute which featured Ahna Lipchik of the State Street Ballet, and singers Lois Mahalia, Alison Tuma, Leslie Limbo, and top opera tenor Eduardo Villa.

“Nadia’s Theme” by local Oscar nominated composer Barry DeVorzon brought guests on to the dance floor as guitarists Joe Kurpell and Chris Judge strummed away. The celebration of Peter’s colorful life wrapped with Sandy Cummins’ rendition of “L-O-V-E,” Erin’s tribute version of Peggy Lee’s “Fever,” and Leslie Lembo singing “My Way.”

Among the many turning out for the occasion were Brenda Blalock, Bob and Val Montgomery, Mo McFadden, Anne Towbes, Tom and Eileen Mielko, Hiroko Benko, Rebecca Brand, Arlene Larsen, Dario Furlatti, Tanya Thicke, Ginni Dreier, Ali Ahlstrand, and Donna Reeves.

I last saw Peter a year ago when we had lunch together at Ca’Dario on Coast Village Road to talk about a future project. But sadly, it was not to be.