Don’t wait for a date night, ‘Disco Uber Eddie’ will add lighthearted fun and song to your need for a lift in L.A.
One look at John Travolta strutting his stuff in “Grease,” and 11-year-old Eddie Burga knew exactly what he wanted to be when he grew up. That guy up on the screen — an entertainer you couldn’t take your eyes off, someone who made you smile and laugh and have a good time.
“I always wanted to be a rock star,” he said Wednesday night, April 19, on his way to Hollywood with his audience of four singing disco songs with him. “In this car, I am a rock star.” Eddie “Disco Uber Eddie” Braga with his his 2021 Toyota Corolla that is his stage for his ride-share passengers. As a kid he saw John Travolta in Grease, and wanted to be an entertainer. That became his dream. His reality at 50, though, was cleaning out septic tanks for a plumbing company. He was miserable. His family suggested while he was trying to figure out what to do with his life he should make some money as an Uber driver and “Disco Uber Eddie” was born.
So, after digging ditches during the day, Eddie became an Uber driver at night. He didn’t like the job his first few weeks. Driving people around in silence wasn’t entertaining. He had more to offer than just getting them to the airport or the Hollywood Bowl on time. It was a hard sell for some, Eddie admits. “About 10% of the people were in shock when I pulled up. They’d request another car,” he said.
They can turn mean real fast, and Eddie doesn’t do mean. Sometimes people can surprise you, like the 85-year-old, sweet, little old lady who met him at the curb in front of her house in Thousand Oaks, and walked slowly around his car, examining it.
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