HELLO AMERICA!—Happily our country is changing for the better, especially when we have determined, gifted artists such as Robert LaCome aka Bobby Bell who is a celebrity clown. He’s performed all over delighting audiences wherever he lands. He’s Latino who also knows what it means to be accepted as well as respected.
MSJ: Many of us grow up watching the magic of carnivals, the circus and those whimsical images of fantasy on early television, how were you affected by these things?
BOBBY: I never went to a circus or carnival as a child but I watched BOZO the clown on TV and CLARABELL the clown on HOWDY DOODY. I was thrilled and very entertained.
MSJ: What was it like performing before your very first audience? Did you have every move planned or was I simply a moment to moment experience?
BOBBY: My first performance was as the class clown in school. Acting the “fool” made me popular. Actually, the first time I performed was actually instinct only. It was a party for some rich children, all white, spoiled as could be. They knew all the tricks I did. I was totally unprepared for that. It was the longest hour ever. I just wanted to escape and even not caring about getting paid. However, I stuck it out and vowed it would never happen again. I began doing parties in the Mission District of S.F. and most of the parties were for Latinos, Afro-Americans and Filipinos.
That’s when I was a hit and things got better every time. At one of the performances, a young boy looked me in the face and asked, “You’re a Ghetto Clown.” I asked if that was bad or good and he quickly replied ‘Yes, it was good!” And that’s how I got the name THE GHETTO CLOWN.
MSJ: What was your first major exciting booking as an entertainer and who was it with? How much did you learn?
BOBBY: My first major booking was with James Byrd aka Bobby Day. He was known for such hits as “Rockin’ Robin,” “Over & Over” as well as “Bitty Pretty One” and so many more hits. I convinced him to be on my show in San Francisco and he agreed. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. We did many shows after that. That guy never came alone. He had a white stretch limo and always brought someone with him. At one appearance he brought Pierre, the guy who played the flute on Rockin’ Robin. And the guy, who drove the limo, actually sang back-up. He also brought along Jewel Akins who sang his hit song “Birds and the Bees,” even Eugene Church known for “Pretty Girls” and lead singer Elmer Hopper for Paul Robe’s PLATTERS. And Bobby paid all of them. Sadly, when he passed I was one of his pallbearers.
MSJ: How easy was it to fit in with such high-powered groups such as the PLATTERS and other highly successful DOO-WHOP acts through the years?
BOBBY: I guess because of my personality and the way I easily related to all the entertainers, made everybody comfortable. It was easy to fit in no matter who it was or circumstances.
MSJ: What was the biggest disappointment about this aspect of the entertainment industry? How did it affect you?
BOBBY: My biggest disappointment was the discrimination issue by many people in the business. I remember one time when spending my good money with a radio station and later requested they do something for me, their response was “If you were Bill Graham we could help you.” My retort to this was, “If I was Bill Graham, I wouldn’t need you to do anything for me. From that day on, I never gave a dime to another radio station. I’d rather give away a thousand dollars in tickets then give anything to a radio station.
Once, I went to Los Angeles to sign a contract as well as see a show. I was riding with a group of four Afro-Americans. There were police coming from the opposite lane; they looked at us. Immediately, stopped us and inquired where we were headed. Once we told them, they allowed us to move on. It was UNBELIEVALBE! This was during the 1980s
MSJ: Have your view of the business changed very much from those early days and how have your personal reality changed?
BOBBY: Oh sure. Back in the day many of the guys with whom I worked were not able to eat or sleep in certain restaurants or hotels. Today, they not only can eat and sleep in a hotel; they can buy the damn place.
MSJ: When you are alone and look in the mirror, what do you see and how does it make you feel?
BOBBY: To be honest I say ‘GOD, WHY HAVE YOU MADE ME LOOK SO UGLY?! Hey, I’m just kidding. I’m pretty proud of myself, especially without the support of my family. I also wish that I had been able to pursue a better education but I’ve decided to go back to school. This time I’m determined to do it right. And be a CONTENDER!
