11/16/2024
Our friend, radio legend, and 2024 ELL presenter, Terri Hemmert interviewed music legend Nile Rodgers at Elmhurst University.
Yesterday was an amazing day for your “semi-retired” DJ. I went home. To Elmhurst University. It was Elmhurst College when I graduated in 1970. Four of the best years of my life, and lessons learned in class and in the dorm and on that campus….it was a perfect fit. I love when they invite me to visit the campus and yesterday was a day I’ll never forget. First on the to do list was a sound check at the chapel for an evening program. A young man opened the door for me. He was wearing an LA jacket. I asked if he was a Dodgers fan. Yes was the answer. I asked if he knew that Roy Campanella’s daughter and son went to Elmhurst. Well Joni and I still keep in touch, and we had a chat today about our alma mater. She bleeds blue so she was happy to know there was at least one Dodgers fan on the campus. Then I sat for an interview with a student for an article for the school newspaper. He did a great job. Then I went to the campus radio station, where I got my start at the age of 18. Did a live interview with a student who surrounded the feature with some Beatle songs. We had a great chat about radio and college and life. She did a marvelous job. Then I was taken to a reception (taken by a woman who was outstanding about getting me around the campus.) There I met a lot of folks connected with the school, and some students. (BTW….when I was going from one place to another, I was approached by students who wanted to say hello. If any of you think “kids these days” you need to hang out with me and see how amazing they are. Smart. Kind. Involved. Aware. And they made me feel very welcome.). And then at the reception I was introduced to our guest of honor…Nile Rodgers. Yes. THE Nile Rodgers. What a beautiful soul. This man has made a major influence on a lot of music you have in your collection. Google it. All the songs he has written, produced, and played guitar on……as we would say when I was a student….the list will blow your mind. We were supposed to talk for 45 minutes. We more than doubled that. He brought his guitar and a bunch of great stories. And his electric smile. And his heart and soul. When you get to meet one of your heroes and find out they are not only talented, but they are good people, with a generous heart….that’s an encounter you’ll never forget. I introduced him with a story that as a student in Stanger Hall (next door to the chapel where we were) my senior year, I got a lot of slips of paper….a dorm notice….for playing my records too loud and too late. I posted them on my door like a trophy case. Many citations for The Beatles (duh), Oh Happy Day by the Edwin Hawkins Singers and the Stand album by Sly & The Family Stone. And if he had been working in 1970, I would have had some notices with Chic on my door. He’s a lovely man. Lots of great stories. Played the guitar for us. A man of humor and grace. He wrapped it up sharing with us that the most important thing for him is to make music that brings us joy and love…music that makes us dance…and smile. His purpose is to make people happy and to make it a better world. Don’t have a direct quote, but that was the essence of the man. And all of us in the chapel (and there were a lot of you) left there a little bit richer. And smiling. Thanks to the staff that took such good care of this alum, thanks to all the students that wanted to connect, thanks to a great audience (you folks were so present and interactive), and thanks to a very talented soul…a gentleman…a genius…and someone we will never forget…Nile Rodgers. Thanks to everyone that made it a day I’ll never forget. One of the songs he wrote and produced early in his career for Sister Sledge…We Are Family…he and his music brought us together and for one fine evening we were family. Music can do that. Can connect us. And Nile does it so well.
