The Day I Met Steve Jobs Personally In San Francisco by Jon Hammond

The Day I Met Steve Jobs Personally In San Francisco by Jon Hammond Jon Hammond San Francisco CA -- Let me preface this post by saying I am deeply saddened by the too-young death of Steve Jobs, but I am very thankful to have met him personally and I am one of the beneficiaries of his incredible body of work. Thanks Steve! As follows: On January 11th 2005 I attended The MacWorld Expo Keynote given by Steve Jobs at Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. Just prior to MacWorld my first album re-release digitally remastered "Late Rent" went on to the iTunes Store so I was very excited about the whole concept of being able to offer my music through the iTunes platform and I brought along one of the CD's in my pocket. The Keynote was really great, although I wasn't really sure that Steve was there live because he was projected up on to the big screen throughout the presentation. I thought it might be possible that it was a prepared film, but he occasionally made references to the day's weather (rain predicted) and some other things that made it current. Near the end of the presentation he brought out a surprise guest, President of Sony Kunitake Ando and they pledged a commitment to work together on HD video. John Mayer came out and played at the end, the presentation was over and so I went in to the exhibits directly afterwards. I was speaking with one of the Apple black shirt guys when all of a sudden I saw Steve. He saw me and I know he doesn't like to be approached but he must have thought he either knew me or recognized me and he came right over to meet me. I saw him coming so I reached in my pocket and pulled out my CD Late Rent fresh copy still in the shrink wrap. I introduced myself and thanked Steve for the wonderful opportunity for all the composers and musicians to get our music out through iTunes (I am a member of ASCAP) and I told him I would like to give him my Late Rent album if he would take it. He said "Sure!" He then (this showed me how intense he is, I will never forget) I handed it to him and right away he looked at the cover art work and then looked straight at me to verify it was indeed me on the cover. He then said "Thanks!" and I told him it was great to meet him...Steve walked away holding the CD in both hands still studying the artwork intensely as approx. 50 people were following him like the Pied Piper, shouting out Steve Steve...over here!. Steve was absorbed in the art work, and there is plenty to look at and copy to read, Michael August aka ILLUSTRATORP who designs my album covers so fantastically made sure of that! http://www.cityhallrecords.com/catpics/webpics/large/HBF105Lg.jpg The cover Steve Jobs was studying as he walked away:

Late Rent Album Info iTunes Album Link Late Rent http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/late-rent/id30945539 http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jon-hammond/id4308313 After I met Steve Jobs it seemed that everything I did with Apple had been blessed by him, and maybe it has / had been! Thanks for everything Steve Jobs, sincerely, Jon Hammond Member AFM Local 6 and Local 802 Musicians Union ASCAP Composer Publisher - Jon Hammond International ASCAP Network Behind The Beat Late Rent http://ascap.com/network/audioportraits/Jon_Hammond_Rent/ re-issue of Jon's 1995 European release "Late Rent." Never before available in the U.S., it contains a collection of recordings featuring Bernard Purdie and Steve Ferrone on drums, as well as Todd Anderson and Alex Foster on sax, Barry Finnerty and Graham Hawthorne, Ray Grappone, Jim Preston and Chuggy Carter. The record is a swinging and funky compilation of original tracks written by Jon Hammond, as well as some anecdotal asides and a guest apperance by Jazzbeaux Collins. Lots of great solos and organ sounds, as well as melodies and groove. Includes "Late Rent," "Pocket Funk," "Lydia's Tune," "White Onions," "Head Phone" and "Hip Hop Chitlins." http://laterent.blogspot.com/ Steve Jobs, Apple Inc, iTunes, Late Rent, MacWorld, Kunitake Ando, Sony, John Mayer, Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco, R.I.P., Jazz, Blues, Jon Hammond