Topping was storekeeper, activist, music impresario By GEORGIA PABST Posted: May 11, 2007 http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=604600
http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/news/img/may07/topping051107.jpg Nick Topping The son of Greek immigrants, Nick Topping ran an imports store on Milwaukee's south side for more than 50 years, and also spent much of his time working for peace and social justice. He marched with Father James Groppi over the 16th Street Viaduct during Milwaukee's civil rights struggle. He belonged to the NAACP and became an early local protester against the Vietnam War. But the colorful and congenial Topping secured his place in modern Milwaukee history when he brought the Beatles to town for their one and only concert here on Sept. 4, 1964. Topping, 89, died Wednesday at Mitchell Manor nursing home in West Allis, where he had lived for the last year, said his daughter Alexandra Topping. One of nine children, Topping was born Nick Topitzes. His parents ran a grocery store at S. 4th St. and W. National Ave., and he and his brother, Memo Topitzes, and their family became south side institutions in a growing community of immigrants. At about 18, he changed his name because of discrimination Greeks faced at that time, his daughter said. He attended Vieau School, Bay View High School and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he earned a degree in history and communications. During World War II, he was drafted and served in Army intelligence. When he returned, he followed in the family footsteps with a store named Topping and Co. International House, which stocked Greek and Middle Eastern food and books and records from all over the world. In the 1950s and 1960s he started promoting ethnic and folk music concerts, bringing to town singers such as Miriam Makeba, from South Africa; Pete Seeger; Josh White; Peter Paul & Mary; Bob Dylan; and Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis, who wrote the music for the movie "Zorba the Greek." He was also the local representative for Chicago-based Triangle Productions. "They called him and asked him if he would like to book the Beatles here after their appearance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show,' " said his daughter. The concert at the Arena quickly sold out, according to accounts of the time. The top ticket sold for $5.50. "We didn't know what the Beatles were all about," he said in a 1993 Milwaukee Journal interview with William J. Dowlding. But "we saw what love there was for the Beatles. . . . I'll always feel grateful they turned out to be peaceful people." Active in Milwaukee's civil rights movement, Topping took his daughters along on the marches with Groppi, Alexandra Topping remembered. He was also active in the growing south side Latino community and in the Chicano rights movement, she added, and helped Greeks, Latinos and others fill out their income tax returns. "Growing up in an immigrant family, he saw the poverty and hardship his parents had and felt he should work for social justice," she said. "He instilled those values in us." He was active in the NAACP and protested the war in Vietnam. His store became a gathering place for progressive and leftist causes, she said. He was stabbed during a 1995 robbery there but refused to leave the store or the south side. In addition to Alexandra, he is survived by his wife of 56 years, Harriet; another daughter, Adele Fatemi-Topping; a brother, Agamemnon (Memo); and a sister, Sandra Topitzes Brown, all of Milwaukee. Alexandra Topping said that in keeping with her father's wishes, there will be no funeral or memorial service, and his body has been donated to the Medical College of Wisconsin. Memorial contributions are suggested to Wisconsin Peace Action, the NAACP, the Southern Poverty Law Center or Esperanza Unida. -- King Daevid MacKenzie. No brag, just fact. http://myspace.com/kingdaevid http://groups.google.ca/group/hateradioboycott "You're only entitled to your informed opinion." HARLAN ELLISON BritInvasion archived at <http://www.escribe.com/music/britinvasion>, <http://www.mail-archive.com/britinvasion%40onelist.com>, and <http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=britinvasion>. Home page: <http://home.hiwaay.net/~emilyj/britinvasion/>. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BritInvasion/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BritInvasion/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
