Forrest George
http://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/interview-with-versalite-artist-van-dyke-parks
Once, when a Japanese group (“Happy End”) came to Los Angeles, to visit me at a studio, Lowell and I were making up a tune called “Sailing Shoes”. The group walked in, unannounced. They wanted me to make them “The California Sound”. I wasn’t sure what they were talking about, and thought they should leave. I told them I was too busy (with my own album “Discover America”). We were in the control room, and it was out of control. Lowell walked over to their briefcase, next to their manager. It was opened, and filled with brand-new $100 bills.
Lowell walked over to the briefcase, fondelling it tenderly, and announced “….I think we can make music out of this!”
So we did. Lowell and I wrote a tune on the spot called “Sayonara America”. It became a number one hit in Tokyo, and established the group.
