“The Girl Who Faded Away” Wins a Telly Award
Executive Producer George Daly and Director Brent Heise Bring Attention to the Musical Genius of Tom Guernsey
By Brent Heise, Director, Brent Heise Productions
“The Girl Who Faded Away” is a film project that united remarkable elements to pay homage to the musical genius of Tom Guernsey. Tom left this world too soon with Lou Gehrig’s disease before telling his story, but time has not diminished his brilliant musical achievements. At the pinnacle of his band’s success, the single, “What a Girl Can’t Do,” topped the charts, knocking The Beatles out of the top slot in the Washington, D.C. market in 1966. This project concerns the lesser known yet unmistakably poetic and captivating flip side to that famous 45 RPM record: “The Girl Who Faded Away.” It's beautifully sung by Tom's favorite vocalist and co-composer, the sweet-voiced Joe Triplett, lead singer of the famed Rosslyn Mountain Boys.
Sharing my appreciation for the sensibility of this more obscure B side was former bandmate George Daly; upon hearing of the project, he signed on as the Executive Producer for this video. George is a music business icon who helped to galvanize the San Francisco music scene, and beyond, under the auspices of another industry titan, Clive Davis. George’s stewardship at several major labels garnered record sales of more than three hundred million, collaborating with artists and groups of significance and cultural impact. A shortlist of his collaboration includes names like Janis Joplin, The Cars, Tool, Huey Lewis and Carlos Santana. A simple Google search on George Daly will show immediately that his interest in Tom’s song has significance, and is why the film had such a powerful back story.
The poet Allen Ginsburg considered Tom’s music one of his favorites. Just check out this article enshrining the kinship shared between these artistic luminaries. Characteristic of such towering figures in San Francisco counterculture, George engaged in gregarious outreach for the greater good. Through selfless acts of kindness, George fostered the reclaiming of publishing rights of the song for Tom’s widow, leading the way with a sense of duty for Tom’s family and legacy, as well as nostalgia for the collaboration once shared with his former bandmate.
Consequently, George helped Tom’s widow to grant permission to share this video with the world. Guernsey Music was born, setting the stage for a revival of Tom’s music. While the creative torch handed from Tom to me has burned over twelve years since his passing, George has sought to ensure that the torch is not extinguished. Tom once directed the music videos that I produced for him; I was honored to direct in his stead with the full support of George Daly.
The cast of “The Girl Who Faded Away” include the beautiful, dancing phenomenon Theresa Hanson, a talent who has graced Portland’s thriving burlesque shows with flair and pizzazz, coupled with music composer Eric Schopmeyer. Eric, who dons the wry moniker DJ Powerless, operates hand-cranked phonographs at social gatherings when he is not busy as a musician, composer and music educator. (There’s a great example of this in the film itself!)
The film opens in an atmospheric prelude. The dreamy and ethereal elements along the protagonist’s walk inspire a sort of reverie. Once the needle hits the vinyl, the setting transforms into the grounds of a historic mansion, one incidentally once used as the Lebanese consulate in Portland, Oregon. The reclusive locale is a remnant of the gilded age; it is the last glimmer of the Roaring Twenties before the cataclysmic Great Depression. This is an exclusive glimpse into a monument from a bygone era and, as an aside, it is now in the hands of one of Portland’s premiere restoration experts after years of neglect.
In summary, this project renews attention to the growing US and world reputation of Tom Guernsey’s musical legacy. Music wrapped in a sublime, chivalric, and passionate romance. Concurrently, by way of an exotic location, it is a celebration of a Portland landmark imbued with imagination and intrigue. It’s a love story at its core, in service to several beautiful things.
