The Time I Played at Cher’s House

A Malibu wedding I’ll never forget

Many years ago, I found myself working in Malibu, California, teaching piano lessons to celebrities and their children. It was a busy and fascinating period of my life, one that involved long drives between sprawling oceanfront homes and hillside estates, each one more impressive than the last. My days were full, often finishing my final lesson around eight in the evening, and by the time I got home, I was usually exhausted.

At the same time, I was serving as the organist and director of music at a church in Beverly Hills. It was through this role that one of my clients approached me with an unexpected request. She asked if I would be willing to play for a wedding in Malibu, which was not unusual in itself. However, she then casually mentioned that the ceremony would be held at the home of Cher, and that it was for her mother’s wedding.

I immediately accepted, although I would be lying if I said I wasn’t slightly nervous.

When I arrived at the house, I was greeted at the door by Cher herself. That in itself was unusual, as I was normally let into these large homes by housekeepers or assistants. There wasn’t much time for conversation, and I didn’t get the chance to tell her that I admired her work, as everyone was already preparing for the ceremony.

The setting was quite something. The wedding was to take place at the foot of a grand staircase, beautifully decorated with flowers, creating a scene that felt both intimate and cinematic. The piano, however, was placed in a room just off the main foyer, which meant I was slightly removed from the ceremony itself. It was an unusual arrangement, but I could hear everything clearly and catch glimpses of what was happening through the doorway.

What made it even more memorable was that Cher herself gave me my cues. At the right moment, she would appear in the doorway and give a clear, unmistakable wave of the arm to signal when I should begin. At her gesture, I launched into Wagner’s Bridal Chorus, followed later by Mendelssohn's Wedding March as the ceremony concluded. It was both amusing and surreal to be taking musical direction from one of the most famous entertainers in the world in such a simple, human way.

After the ceremony, she handed me a cheque with an enormous, unmistakable signature. I remember thinking that it was far too interesting to simply deposit without a record, so I made a photocopy before taking it to the bank. I still have that copy somewhere, a small but tangible reminder of a very unique day.

Although I didn’t regularly listen to her music, it happened to be the time when her hit Believe was everywhere. You could hardly turn on the radio without hearing it, and that only added to the sense that this was one of those moments where life briefly overlaps with something much bigger than your own world.

It was an experience that stood out, not just because of who was involved, but because of how unexpectedly normal it all felt once the music began. At the end of the day, it was still just a wedding, still about timing, sensitivity, and supporting the moment with the right music, but it was certainly one I will never forget.