Hairvelution

My journey had an unexpected turn.

I was so proud that I worked corporate jobs for close to 40 years with long hair. OK, so they were creative, entertainment or higher ed jobs that tend to me more flexible than most.

The only time I ever was given a hard time about my hair was in 1987. I was chosen to be the first sound intern for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (the Emmy® Award people) in Hollywood. I was based out of Ryder Sound Services and the owner, we the legendary Leo Chalukian. Leo loved me (as did his awesome son Dale) but every day, every day, “When are you going to get your haircut!” He meant it. :)

But now, here I am. Why? Well, it’s not what you think. The chemo is not making me lose my hair. The radiation is not making me lose my hair (well, a small circle of it). What happened was that after being in the hospital for a week and then not being able to wash my hair after two more weeks, my hair was beyond rastafarian style. It was impossible. I also knew that I’d be in a full head mask to keep my head still and having all that hair would be challenging and uncomfortable.

So, one day, when Lisa was out, I just did it. No ceremony. No tears. Really, nothing. Just gone. I think the last time I had my hair cut was in 1987, again, during that internship. They were filming a commercial for the internship program and the make up artist said she was either cutting my hair or you couldn’t be on the commercial. I’m a Hollywood pushover, so they cut it. I had a small trim before my wedding in 1995 but I can guarantee that it’s been 30 years between a time when my scissors touched my hair.

Now of course, I had the Jewish curse that my Dad had (that my brother never did) of having a “high forehead”. Some people even called it a 5 head. God was taking my hair a little at a time. Even though one of my former guitarists said I looked like the crypt keeper, I didn’t care. My bald spot was more like a bald crop circle and it was pretty much meeting my forehead. I would have kept it though… I would have.

So here is the brief Hairstory of my head. Many of my coworkers on Zoom were a bit shocked, but they all gave me love and kidding - which to me was even more important. Here I am, lightheaded. Given what I’m up against, it truly doesn’t bother me.

• Photo 1 (Top Row, Left): 1971 - My sister’s bat mitzvah on the stage at the Jewish Community Center in Newburgh, NY. My first time playing music on stage. Pretty much the same haircut I have now.

• Photo 2: 1973 - 7 years old - New Windsor Elementary School 1st Grade - Early 70s hippie

• Photo 3: 1979 - 13 - South Junior High School, Newburgh, NY. Looks to be the same shirt but I was styling with turtlenecks between my Levi’s shirt. Probably from Alpern’s on Broadway. I did not cut my own hair.

• Photo 4: 1984 - Senior Prom - Parted in the middle and feathered back. Round brush and a blow dryer fought my curls and won!

• Photo 5: 1986 - Went to University of Miami, gave up the blow dryer and the JewFro™ exploded.

• Photo 6: 1987 - That commercial I mentioned. My last official haircut until the trim of my wedding in 1985.

• Photo 1 (Top Row, Left): 1988 - University of Miami Graduation - I recovered quickly from that last haircut!

• Photo 2: 1989 - We had a very serious meeting in the floor of our rehearsal studio for the band “Violator”. We had booked our first show and needed pictures. I thought the band was going to fire me, but they told me I had to shave my mustache or I was out. They specifically said, “We are NOT Lynard Skynard” - even though both guitarists were from the deep South!

• Photo 3: 1990 - FM Station, North Hollywood, CA - the most out of control and awesome hair ever!

• Photo 4: 1995 - Our wedding. I got an official trim. Best hair day every

• Photo 5: 2018 - Suck, Bang Blow and the spotlight illuminated well my 5 head.

• Photo 6: 2026 - Here I am, bald, gray and happy.