Songwriter, multi-media artist, set designer, kitsch collector, and director Allee Willis is one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met.
One might admire Allee simply for her dexterity in producing various multimedia projects under the title “Bubbles and Cheesecake,” via which she deftly handles composition (with singer-songwriter Holly Palmer of Gnarls Barkley), singing, drawing, animating, producing and directing. The lively songs and videos demonstrate Allee’s creative knack in full.
Of course, there’s always the fact that Allee’s songs — “September” and “Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind & Fire; “Who Let In The Rain” by Cyndi Lauper and “What Have I Done To Deserve This” by the Pet Shop Boys with Dusty Springfield — have sold over 50,000,000 copies. In addition to her hit singles, she also co-wrote — with Brenda Russell, Stephen Bray and Marsha Norman — the soundtrack for “The Color Purple,” a musical produced by Oprah Winfrey that opened on Broadway in 2005. In 1995, Allee won an Emmy for “I’ll Be There for You,” the theme song from the popular television show, “Friends.”
I met Allee several years ago at an event she held at her home after my dear friend and client, June Guterman of Looking Glass Films, produced a PSA campaign for Burma. The U.S. Burma Campaign entitled, “Burma: It Can’t Wait,” featured a number of celebrities advocating for democracy in Burma. Allee’s support of the campaign included hosting a party for those devoted to the cause, that could only be thrown by the wildly imaginative Allee herself.
The New York Times recently ran a full-page story on Allee for the front of the Home section. Upon reading the article about Allee, my spirit was immediately lifted, as I am always delighted to see that creativity and artistic freedom is alive and well in the form of this wonderful person.
The article focused on Allee’s historic L.A. home, built by William Kesling, a successful architect who gave modern-style homes mass-market appeal in Southern California during the 1930s to 1960s. The big windows, colorful contemporary furniture, kitsch-covered walls and tiled floor — that evokes something of an underwater musical — have decorated the site for numerous famous Hollywood parties since Allee’s arrival, similar to the one where I was first introduced to Allee in all her brilliance (color and talent included).
Allee is an imaginative and creative-thinking individual whose ways have led her to explore different artistic avenues. Her keen interest in art — and creations that include paintings, furniture and motorized sculptures — is no surprise, as she lives her life artistically and completely fulfilled. She is the kind of individual who is happiest when she is experimenting with new ideas and creating new projects. RA’s mantra – Be loved. Be feared. Be known – is about more than notoriety; it’s about fearlessness. Truth be told, you can’t be feared unless you’re fearless. A heaping dose of courage will scare the shit out of anyone who gets in your way.
In 1985, Allee held her first exhibit, “Wear The Right Clothes Even At Home,” that showcased many of her sculptures. Her love for art and design has since expanded to designing sets.
Allee’s zealous fascination with 1950s atomic kitsch, which has prompted her to assemble a vast collection of the colorful items that she proudly displays around her home in Los Angeles, also portrays the kind of person Allee is. She is original, creative, fun, lively and most of all she is the personification of a Raging Artist.
In addition to those noted above, Allee has worked with Bob Dylan, James Brown, Herbie Hancock and countless other musicians. She has explored the deepest areas of her creative capacity and clearly she has much more in store. So here’s to you, Ms. Do-It-All-With-Grace-Creativity-And-Charm, you’re our Featured Raging Artist this month!
