The Ludmila Confessions

Maestro Aldemaro Romero and me celebrating the success of Onda Nueva in ALejandro’s Bar, (Penthouse)

At this party at Reny’s house, Jack and I met some people that were talking about holding the First World Festival in Caracas, called Onda Nueva. They suggested that we might like to help, especially since I was in show business and rubbing elbows with lots of stars and knew lots of interesting people. So Jack decided to send me with mama to Caracas to organize things. By now William was living in Sausalito and I was married and apparently happy, there was no reason to go home except for business.

We arrived in Venezuela at Maiquetia Airport and  my sister  husband picked us up. As  we drove to Caracas, he wanted to thank me for “that wonderful introduction to that pilot with Alitalia airlines,” because he was very helpful to him in Rome. The pilot took him to his home for lunch and escorted him to many places, This Italian handsome pilot, Giovanni, showed Valery great hospitality; he was not my lover or anything, but he was a good friend that liked me very much.  So that was very nice of him two take care of Valery Chechelev, my ex brother in law.

Mama and I arrived at the Tamanaco Hotel and I had invitations to the Penthouse of my friend Sr. Alejandro Rodríguez, where I had been before.  I went by myself and mama stayed in our room on the hotel with some Russian lady friends of hers. There at the party was everybody I needed to meet for the Onda Nueva festival: the President of the show and creator Aldemaro Romero in person. Maestro Aldemaro was a great Venezuelan composer, musician and director of the Symphonic Orchestra of Venezuela. So officially we were the people to be contacted for the invitations for The first world music festival Onda Nueva.

This was the most exciting thing happening in the whole of the music industry, there would be artists from all over the world and I got to invite famous friends from Los Angeles and Hollywood. One of the famous at that time was Peter Graves, since his Mission Impossible TV show was playing everywhere in the world. My dear niece went with us a day before, and the preparations began from our part to the staging and financing probably the greatest musical event Venezuela ever had.

We were back again at my favorite Hotel Tamanaco, where almost every one of our guests was staying. Just entering the elevator you might encounter Manzanero or Daniel Rio Lobos or Peter Grave’s wife Joan Or Aldemaro himself. It was just great, the energy of the atmosphere was electrifying, alive, gay, happy, smiles on every face, flowers everywhere and full preparations for the quests, every salon, dining room everywhere was a magical atmosphere.

The fantastic energy the Opening night was indescribable, we were all in formal dress, and we walked on the red carpet at the entrance of Teatro Municipal, where the event was taking place. The theatre was full of celebrities and people anxious to hear the new sound call Onda Nueva (New wave), after the acknowledgement to everyone present, very briefly and applause (yes Jack and I were mentioned!)  Many thanks were given to all of us that were part of this magical night,  the first night was powerful, glorious, strong and every one love it,. When the music started playing everyone stood up!  It was electrifying, indescribable, fabulous sounds blaring at our ears., with Aldemaro at the piano, playing music of then unknown composers like Manzanero and others. They were playing the rhythms of Onda Nueva and the festival made many artists and composers very famous overnight.

Afterward, everyone was invited to the hotel to celebrate the great success of Onda Nueva, and then on into the wee hours of the morning some of us were still partying at Alejandros Penthouse, as this picture shows!