May Pang to speak at university music programs

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May Pang to speak at university music programs
Shelley Germeaux
John Lennon Examiner
July 21, 2015

May Pang, music executive, confidante and companion of John Lennon, will give lectures at music programs at universities around the U.S. beginning this fall, she has told the John Lennon Examiner in a phone conversation this week. She is well known for her relationship with John Lennon during the infamous "Lost Weekend" in the mid 70s. But she was not just an ordinary girlfriend, she worked in the studio with Lennon as well, and was his personal assistant. She also honed her skills as a photographer, capturing many iconic images that document that time period.


Photo by Shelley Germeax 2015

Pang has given engaging talks at various events across the country, most recently Seattle’s Krab Jab Studios where her photos of John Lennon were being exhibited. (See You Tube video on this page.) “I really enjoy doing these lectures and artist talks,” said Pang. “I have witnessed a great deal of music history and I hate to see it lost to the ages." She continued, "I love sharing my experiences with audiences who are eager to get a behind-the-scenes look at the industry and some of its most influential artists."

Background

May Pang’s career in the music industry spans over 40 years, beginning with Allen Klein's company, ABKCO Industries, who managed the Beatles, The Rolling Stones and many other iconic artists. May was first hired by Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1970 as their personal assistant, later becoming their production coordinator, playing a key role in records by Lennon, Ono and Harry Nilsson.

In 1974, Pang was awarded an RIAA Gold Album Award for her work on Lennon's Walls and Bridges. The album, which reached number 1, included his first and only number 1 single in his lifetime, "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night." She also sang on "#9 Dream," the second single from the album. She also coordinated the albums of other huge stars, including Robert Palmer, Third World, and Bob Marley and the Wailers. By the early 1980s, she was one of the leading professional managers in the music publishing industry.

During the last two decades, Pang has appeared in every major news and magazine publication worldwide, and has been a guest on such national TV shows as Good Morning America, Howard Stern, Good Morning LA, CBS Sunday Morning, Court TV and Entertainment Tonight.

Other recent appearances have been the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she also lectured the John Lennon Songwriting class; The Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp in Las Vegas, and several public libraries. In August, she will also be a guest speaker -- along with Donovan, Peter Asher, Pattie Boyd and others -- at The International Beatles Week 2015 in Liverpool.

She currently has a weekly internet radio show with co-host Cynthia Neilson called Dinner Specials on BlogTalkRadio.com. Pang also does consulting work on music for films. She is an advisory board member of Women In Music and, along with Julian Lennon, serves as an advisory board member at the Amazon Conservation Team (ACT) organization.

Published books and CDs

“Loving John” (1983, Warner Books, co-written with Henry Edwards); After John’s death in 1980, Pang wanted to set the record straight about their relationship. The book focused on their personal and working relationship, and also shed light on his relationships with his first son, Julian, as well as fellow Beatles Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison.

“Instamatic Karma” (2008, St. Martin’s Press); A book of Pang's personal photographs of John Lennon, and includes a brief history of their time together. Fine art prints of these portraits have been exhibited in major galleries across the country.

John Lennon & May Pang, Another Love (2014, Cindigo Books), revisits their love affair. It was released only for the German market, which received widespread press coverage in Germany’s largest newspaper publications.

“All About Bullies…Big and Small”, (CD, 2012) Pang was a featured artist on the CD, which won a Grammy for The Best Children’s CD category in 2012.

If you are interested in having May speak for your organization, please contact her through her website.




May Pang displayed her photos of John Lennon from the mid 70s, the time known as 'the lost weekend', at Krab Jab Studios in Seattle recently in May of 2015. She also gave an artist talk the 2nd day of the exhibition. Play
May Pang displayed her photos of John Lennon from the mid 70s, the time known as 'the lost weekend', at Krab Jab Studios in Seattle recently in May of 2015. She also gave an artist talk the 2nd day of the exhibition.
Photo by Shelley Germeaux 2015, Krab Jab video from You Tube