Quote:(05-13-2014 01:53 PM)voodo Wrote: [To see links please register here]
Boy I would of liked to have met Gary Halbert a real Marketing GENIUS unlike the so called guroooo's of today which are just a bunch of pri*ks.
RIP Gary Halbert - Peace.
The first time I was introduced to Garys work was back in 1983. I ordered a copywriting manual from him from the back page of some classified ad.
It arrived at my house in a brown manilla envelope, handwritten address, with about 8 stamps all mixed up. It got instant attention in my mailbox. I still have it in my library, original envelope and all. Maybe I'll sell it on Ebay one day for a million dollars.
It was the crappiest put together Kinkos type of copy you'd ever seen. From the minute I started reading I couldn't put it down. I stayed up all night till I finished reading what this crazy guy had to say.
His language was filth, he talked about having sex with all these women, drinking, cars, etc...
At first I thought it was a joke, but then I realized this guy is for real. Crazy brilliant.
In the 90's I was fortunate to attend a live event with Gary, he was just as colorful in real life as he was in his writings.
When the seminar ended he headed for the bar and got drunk. He didn't care how big you were, how tough you thought you were, nor what you had to say. Gary was going to tell it to you like it is whether you liked it or not.
On the day he died I was devastated. I couldn't believe Gary had died, he was only 68.
Gene Schwartz (another mentor of mine) passed away at 68.
But in the end it really wasn't shocking. Gary lived a rough, hard life. Lots of drama to say the least, not excluding being busted by the Feds (FTC and IRS) and going to jail for a while.
Gary made more Millions and lost more Millions than probably any man alive. He drove a pink-like Rolls Royce and dressed like a bum, lol. Yet, he turned away millions of dollars from taking on more business.
I feel the same way about Dan Kennedy. I hope he sticks around a while.
Gary was the ultimate bad-ass copywriter. One of the best.
R.I.P. my friend.