So, this has nothing to do with music, but while transcribing my notes from an interview I did with noted music promoter and industry veteran Dave Hart about Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band tour this summer, he talked about his relationship with acerbic comedian Lewis Black, undoubtedly the sharpest funny man out there at the moment.

Here's a little-known fact about Black: he didn't start off doing comedy.

"Well, I had the pleasure of managing Lewis Black in the '80s," says Hart. "Lewis Black came out of Yale as a playwright, and I had a job at Nederlander. We were running these concert venues and also owned 11 theaters on Broadway. I always thought Lewis was a fabulous playwright and was hoping that his career would head that way, and I produced a number of his theater pieces — one of them was a straight play; another one was a musical. Lewis went to the Capitol Theater, the venue that we ran in New Jersey and saw Rodney Dangerfield, and I think — I don't know this for a fact — but I think he was inspired by that, and since has left play writing — he's written a couple great books — and now is probably, in my mind, one of the most intelligent and funny standups there are in the business ... delightful man."

Hart's main claim to fame was his work as a concert promoter and agent, having worked with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Janis Joplin and others. He has ties to the early days of The Fillmore East and Bill Graham, and he has some great stories to tell. Do yourself a favor and head on over to our multimedia area. There, you'll find a podcast of my interview with Mr. Hart.