Rory Markas, remembered well

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The Anaheim Angels hosted a celebration of the life of broadcaster Rory Markas on Thursday night at the Diamond Club. Markas died suddenly Jan. 4 of causes still undetermined, though the Angels and USC basketball announcer had a brain aneurysm in 2008.

The stories lasted for nearly two hours. There was even a two-song concert by singer Johnny Rivers.

Rivers met Markas many years ago when Markas was broadcasting Clippers games. Rivers, best known for his versions of ‘Poor Side of Town,’ ‘Seventh Sun’ and ‘Secret Agent Man,’ played his guitar and sang ‘Blue Suede Blues’ and ‘I’ll See You in My Dreams.’

Rivers said he wrote ‘Blue Suede Blues’ to honor Carl Perkins, who had famously recorded ‘Blue Suede Shoes.’ He said he admired Markas for both his broadcast voice and for his modesty. ‘He interviewed me once when he was the Clippers broadcaster,’ Rivers said. ‘We just hit it off. He’d come to my concerts when he could.

‘Honestly, I thought Rory might speak at a memorial for me. I didn’t expect this.’

For more on the celebration, see www.latimes.com/sports later.

-- Diane Pucin