Happy Birthday, Bill Hayes Remembering… James Arness… and this day in music history! ay in music history!

"Dare to be naive"
R. Buckminster Fuller, American inventor and philosopher (1895-1983)

Happy Sunday! Today is the 86th birthday of Bill Hayes. I knew Bill growing up as a soap opera star along with his gorgeous wife, Susan, on Days of Our Lives. What most people of my generation don't know and/or remember is that Bill is also a great song and dance man!
William "Bill" Foster Hayes III, born on June 5, 1925 in Harvey, Illinois) is a long-time American actor and Billboard Hot 100 #1 artist.

Following a 20 year-long career as a musician, he achieved fame once again when he began playing Doug Williams on NBC's long-running Days of Our Lives in 1970.

Hayes originated the character of Doug and is the only actor to ever play that role.
At this time, 41 years after his first appearance, he is still appearing in the same role on Days Of Our Lives.




He had a number-one hit in 1955 with "The Ballad of Davy Crockett," outselling a version by Fess Parker, star of the Disney movie. Coonskin hats were big that year.


"My freshman year at DePauw was all flux and transition," Bill Hayes, longtime star of daytime television's Days of Our Lives and 1947 DePauw University graduate, writes in Like Sands Through the Hourglass. A memoir, the book was co-authored by Hayes' wife and Lives co-star, Susan Seaforth Hayes. Bill Hayes came to DePauw as a freshman in the Fall of 1941. "As time wore on all the men either enlisted or got drafted into the service," he writes. "The music of the serenades changed drastically as families and couples were being torn apart by war.
A double major in music and English and a Rector Scholar at the University, Hayes himself enlisted in the Navy and served three years, returning to DePauw after the war to complete his studies. He writes of his many DePauw friends and memories, noting, "My Lambda Chi Alpha pledge class was outstanding.
Out of a dozen, three became doctors, one an attorney, two became nationally syndicated cartoonists, and one a very successful political writer in Washington. They were high-quality people who taught me courtesy, generosity, how to study, how to be responsible, and the meaning of true brotherhood."
After graduating from DePauw, Bill Hayes was an original regular on Your Show of Shows, the pioneering TV variety show.
His resume includes numerous Broadway productions and his version of The Ballad of Davy Crockett was America's #1 record in March and April of 1955, selling more than three million copies. He has played the role of Doug Williams on Days of Our Lives since 1970 appearing in more than 1,900 episodes.
Happy Birthday, Bill Hayes!

We lost another TV Icon this past week with the passing of James Arness. Although he had not been in the spotlight for sometime, I was saddened by his passing. When “Gunsmoke” premiered in 1955, it was considered a new breed of “adult western,” with well-drawn characters and complex plots that, despite its name, took the show beyond outlaws and gunfights.
Losing James Arness is almost like losing a family friend. I grew up in a TV household and there were certain shows that we shared as a family. My dad loved westerns as did my paternal grandparents.
Many Monday nights were spent at my grandparents watching Gunsmoke and if my dad was generous, we could stay another 30 minutes and watch HERE'S LUCY and eventually MAUDE.
Anness died of natural causes at the age of 88 in his Brentwood home in Los Angeles, California. Arness was best known for portraying 6-foot-7 Marshal Matt Dillon for 20 years on one of the longest running weekly episodic television dramas in history, which aired from 1955-1975 for a record-breaking 635 episodes.

After his appearance on the hit CBS drama came to an end, he then appeared in made-for-television Gunsmoke movies in the late 80s and early 90s.“Gunsmoke” benefited from some of the best writing in the history of television and from years on radio before that. By the time Dillon and company made it to the small screen, the characters were already well established and beloved. Yet they continued to develop over the 20-year TV run from 1955 to 1975, and James Arness was Matt Dillon for all that time.



In 1970's he said "I'm 6-6 and weigh 225 pounds", although he also said in 2005 TV.com, "I was 6 feet 7 when I started and I've shrunk up a little bit. I'm probably 6-5 or so now. But up here at 82 I feel pretty good"

Whereas Dillon appeared to have no interests besides keeping the streets of Dodge City quiet, chasing down bad guys and having an occasional beer with Doc Adams and Miss Kitty at the Long Branch Saloon, Arness was a fun-loving rogue.

John Wayne was initially offered the part of Marshal Dillon, but he turned it down and recommended Arness.And history was made! Rest in peace, Mr. Arness. Thanks for the memories!Well, Arness was under contract to Duke's company for two years before "Gunsmoke" came along. He had been in about four pictures for his company with him. When the "Gunsmoke" offer came in, Wayne said, "I wouldn't be able to do it, but I have a young man here under contract who I think would maybe fit the bill." So he very graciously offered to introduce the first episode. And it was great. It was a wonderful thing. He was a one-of-a-kind guy. There just was never anybody else like him. He just did his piece in the studio. He did the introduction, and then the show went on.

Arness is survived by his second wife Janet Surtees, whom he was married to since 1978, and his son Rolf, age 59. His son Craig, a photographer for National Geographic, died in 2004, and his late daughter Jenny died back in 1975 at the age of 25 as a result of suicide. Arness’ death comes just after a year after his brother Peter Graves of Mission Impossible fame died in March of 2010. Both were born and raised in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area.

He was a great electrified carrot in "The Thing" too. Bette Davis, who I wrote about yesterday, even appeared in a very classic episode of Gunsmoke and also on Perry Mason." set."

No gentle giant, he pursued adventure with zeal. He spent his youth hunting, camping, sailing and hopping rides on freight trains, skipping school as often as he could get away with.

Matt Dillon was all about following the rules and making sure everyone else did, too. Jim Arness was all about pushing the envelope.

Can you imagine Matt Dillon, the fictional, hard-fisted marshal of Dodge City, Kan., in the 1880s, on snow skis? On a surfboard? Piloting a plane? Singing in a Methodist choir?
When Matt Dillon walked into the Long Branch and demanded to know what a stranger was doing in town, you knew that stranger would soon be either on the floor, behind bars or in a grave. Challenged by some trail tough, he didn’t waste any words; he just ground a fist into the punk’s face. Any man fool enough to go for his gun was as good as dead. Matt Dillon was a one-man justice-delivery system.

Yet, there was much of Jim Arness in Matt Dillon, and much of Matt Dillon in Jim Arness. Dillon’s punching, shooting and riding were authentic Arness. So were his devotion to fairness, his concern for protecting the innocent and punishing the guilty, and his humor.

With so many fists and bullets flying in “Gunsmoke,” the occasional punch line was welcome comic relief. Arness got to deliver them about as often as other members of the ensemble cast, and when you saw his eyes twinkle, you know one of his friends was about to get zapped. Doc, Chester, Festus, or even Miss Kitty, he treated them with equal respect. Any one of them might be the target of Matt’s one-upsmanship, but they were just as likely to aim a zinger at him.For most of us who watched “Gunsmoke,” he remained Matt Dillon until the day he died, and will forever be Matt Dillon.
“What made us different from other westerns,” Mr. Arness told the Associated Press in 2002, “was the fact that ‘Gunsmoke’ wasn’t just action and a lot of shooting; they were character-study shows.
By the time Dillon and company made it to the small screen, the characters were already well established and beloved. They continued to develop over the 20-year TV run from 1955 to 1975.



The actor was in relatively good health but had “just been fading” in recent years, Fazer told Reuters. “No disease, nothing untoward, he just got tired, I guess,” she said.He enjoyed his life, he treasured his fans and he loved his country.
On a train home to recuperate from a leg wound he received at Anzio in World War II, he wrote in his autobiography, “We traveled through the heartland of America, the Southern states and the mountains of Appalachia, and beautiful countryside everywhere. I felt such joy — I just got this marvelous feeling, thinking about America and all it meant to me. I was proud to have fought in a war to save my country.”










On this date in 1997, "Oasis" songwriter Noel Gallagher married girlfriend Meg Matthews in a private ceremony in Las Vegas.
The couple had previously called off wedding plans in London after being besieged by the media. They divorced in 2001.


On this date in 1956, Elvis Presley made his second appearance on "The Milton Berle Show."
His hip-twitching gyrations during his performance of "Hound Dog" provoked howls of outrage. When Presley later appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show," he was shown only from the waist up.


In 1960, Brenda Lee's "I'm Sorry" entered the pop charts, eventually making it to Number One.
The flip side, "That's All You Gotta Do," was also a sizeable hit.

In 1964, David Bowie, under his real surname Jones, released his first record, "Liza Jane."
It was not a hit.


On this date in 1993, country superstar Conway Twitty died in a Springfield, Mo., hospital at 59. Twitty was returning home to Tennessee from a concert in Branson, Mo., when he collapsed on his tour bus. He died of complications after surgery for a ruptured blood vessel in his stomach. Twitty, whose real name was Harold Lloyd Jenkins, began in the late '50's as a pop songwriter and performer, scoring a Number One hit in 1958 with "It's Only Make Believe."
After a dozen or so pop hits, including "Danny Boy" and "Lonely Blue Boy," Twitty ignored the advice of practically everyone in the business by switching to country music. That shrewd decision led to more than 30, Number One country hits over the next two decades, including "Hello Darlin'," "Tight-Fittin' Jeans" and "Linda On My Mind."


In 1993, singer Mariah Carey married her boss, Sony Music president Tommy Mottola, at a Manhattan church. Celebrities in attendance included Robert DeNiro, Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen, and Billy Joel and his then-wife Christie Brinkley. Carey and Mottola ended their marriage after only four years.


On this date in 1993, a protest in New York City against explicit rap lyrics sort of ran out of steam. Reverend Calvin Butts rented a small steamroller to drive over some offensive CD's and tapes in front of his Harlem church. But he abandoned his plan after crushing only a few cassettes when some counter-demonstrators stood in front of the pile of rap music.


SOURCES: Today in Music History - June 5



Farewell to Marshal Dillon


SCV NEWSMAKER OF THE WEEK:
James Arness


James Arness, tall, quiet Marshal Dillon of TV’s ‘Gunsmoke,’ dies at 88


‘Gunsmoke’ star James Arness dead at age 88


Thanks for being a loyal reader of my blog!


GO SEE A LIVE SHOW TONIGHT!
Become A Facebook friend of mine!
Follow me on Twitter
If you've seen one of my appearances/shows, add your thoughts to my guestbook at www.RichardSkipper.com



Tomorrow's blog will be about YOU TELL ME!! I'm open to suggestions

Please contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING & HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS: http://www.carolchanning.org/foundation.htm

TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED SUMMER!
Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com

Happy Birthday, Clint Eastwood and Pete Yarrow and Joe Namath...and more!

" They that approve a private opinion, call it opinion; but they that dislike it, heresy, and yet heresy signifies no more than private opinion.'
-Thomas Hobbes, English political philosopher (1588-1679)

Go ahead, make my day!
Today is the 81st birthday of the former mayor of Carmel, NY. A mayor who although he has had a major Hollywood career and still manages to do so has never been involved in a scandal!
His first leading lady and screen kiss was with Carol Channing!
Happy Birthday, Clint Eastwood!
"'Clint Eastwood: A Life in Pictures," edited by Pierre-Henri Verhlac (Chronicle Books, $40), a new book documenting legendary actor Clint Eastwood's life.

Clint started trying out for bit parts in B-movies, and was signed as a contract player for Universal. He found work as an actor with brief, uncredited appearances in Tarantula (1955) and Revenge of the Creature (1955)

.
Revenge of the Creature is the first sequel to Creature from the Black Lagoon.
The film is notable as being the only sequel to a 3-D film to be also shot in 3-D. It is also the first screen role for Clint Eastwood, who appeared as an uncredited lab technician early in the film.
He is shown having a discussion with the professor, accusing a test subject cat of eating a lab rat. However his character had in fact accidentally put the lab rat in his lab coat pocket. The movie was released May 11, 1955, in the United States. In 1997, it was aired as an episode of the comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000, which mocked the film.
Having survived being riddled with bullets at the end of the first film, the Gill-man is captured and sent to the Ocean Harbor Oceanarium in Florida, where he is studied by animal psychologist Professor Clete Ferguson and ichthyology student Helen Dobson.
Helen and Clete quickly begin to fall in love, much to the chagrin of Joe Hayes, the Gill-man's keeper. The Gill-man takes an instant liking to Helen (as he did to Kay in the first film), which severely hampers Professor Ferguson's efforts to communicate with him. Ultimately, the Gill-man escapes from his tank, killing Joe in the process, and flees to the open ocean.
Unable to stop thinking about Helen, he soon begins to stalk her and Ferguson, ultimately abducting her from a seaside restaurant where the two are at a party. Clete tries to give chase, but the Gill-man escapes to the water with his captive. Clete and the local law enforcement must now try to track down Helen and her amphibious abductor.
John Agar was also in this film!

John G. Agar (January 31, 1921 – April 7, 2002)ANOTHER AQUARIAN! He and Carol Channing were born on the SAME DAY! John's birthplace: Chicago, IL.
Location of death: Burbank, CA
John was an American actor. He starred alongside John Wayne in the films Sands of Iwo Jima, Fort Apache and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, but was later relegated to B movies, such as Tarantula, The Mole People, The Brain from Planet Arous, Flesh and the Spur, and Hand of Death. He also starred with Lucille Ball in the 1951 movie The Magic Carpet.

REVENGE OF THE CREATURE led to credited supporting roles in Francis in the Navy

(1955), The First Traveling Saleslady (1956), Lafayette Escadrille (1958)

and Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958).
He got his breakthrough at the end of the decade with the TV series "Rawhide"

(1959), where he was a cast member for six years.
As Rowdy Yates, he made the show his own and became a household name around the country.

Perhaps the icon of macho movie stars, and a living legend, Clint Eastwood has become a standard in international cinema. Born in San Francisco, he is the son of steelworker Clinton Eastwood Sr. (1906-1970), and factor worker Ruth Eastwood-Belden (nee Runner, 1909-2006). The family moved around Northern California before settling in Oregon.

After graduating high school, he moved to Seattle and worked as a lifeguard before training as a lifeguard for the military in 1951. After completing his service, he moved to Los Angeles where he found work digging swimming pools.

Funny, Carol Channing was born in Seattle and moved to San Francisco.
But Eastwood found even bigger and better things with A Fistful of Dollars (1964), and For a Few Dollars More (1965). But it was the second sequel where he found one of his trademark roles: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

. The movie was a big hit and he became an instant international star. Blondie (The Good) is a professional gunslinger who is out trying to earn a few dollars. Angel Eyes (The Bad) is a hit man who always commits to a task and sees it through, as long as he is paid to do so. And Tuco (The Ugly) is a wanted outlaw trying to take care of his own hide. Tuco and Blondie share a partnership together making money off Tuco's bounty, but when Blondie unties the partnership, Tuco tries to hunt down Blondie. When Blondie and Tuco comes across a horse carriage loaded with dead bodies, they soon learn from the only survivor (Bill Carson) that he and a few other men have buried a stash of gold in a cemetery. Unfortunately Carson dies and Tuco only finds out the name of the cemetery, while Blondie finds out the name on the grave. Now the two must keep each other alive in order to find the gold. Angel Eyes (who had been looking for Bill Carson) discovers that Tuco and Blondie meet with Carson and knows they know the location of the gold... (Source: Jeremy Thomson)
Eastwood got some excellent roles thereafter. He starred in Coogan's Bluff (1968), the western Hang 'Em High (1968) and the musical Paint Your Wagon (1969). Eastwood went in an experimental direction again with Kelly's Heroes (1970) and Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970), both of which combined tough-guy action with offbeat humor.
1971 proved to be his best year in film, or at least one of his best.
He directed his first movie, the thriller Play Misty for Me (1971), in which he played a man being stalked by a crazed female admirer whose obsession with him turns from seductive to violent. That same year, he played the hard edge police inspector in Dirty Harry (1971) that gave Eastwood one of his signature roles and invented the loose-cannon cop genre that has been imitated even to this day. Eastwood also found work in American revisionist westerns like High Plains Drifter (1973), which he also directed. He had constant quality films over the next few years, teaming up with Jeff Bridges in the buddy action flick Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974), and starring the "Dirty Harry" sequels Magnum Force (1973) and The Enforcer (1976/I), and the quintessential western The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), the action flick The Gauntlet (1977), and the hugely successful comedy Every Which Way But Loose (1978) with Clyde the orangutan.Eastwood found even more solid work with the fact-based thriller Escape from Alcatraz (1979). The sequel to "Every Which Way but Loose", Any Which Way You Can (1980), was also a blockbuster despite negative reviews from critics. It was the fourth 'Dirty Harry' sequel, Sudden Impact (1983) (the highest grossing film of the series) that made him a viable star for the eighties. Clint also starred in Firefox (1982), Tightrope (1984), Pale Rider (1985), and Heartbreak Ridge (1986), which were all big hits but did not become classics. His fifth and final "Dirty Harry" movie, The Dead Pool (1988), was a minor commercial hit but severely panned by critics. Shortly after his career declined with the outright bomb comedy Pink Cadillac (1989) and the disappointing cop adventure The Rookie (1990). It was fairly obvious Eastwood's star was declining as it never had before.
Happy Birthday, Clint Eastwood!

Today is also the 73rd birthday of Pete Yarrow. Peter Yarrow, Bethany Yarrow, and Rufus Cappadocia perform a beautiful rendition of the international classic "Puff, the Magic Dragon."

Joe Namath is 68 today!

Joseph William "Joe" Namath (born May 31, 1943), nicknamed "Broadway Joe" or "Joe Willie",is a former American football quarterback. He played college football for the University of Alabama under coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and his assistant, Howard Schnellenberger, from 1962–1964, and professional football in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) during the 1960s and 1970s. Namath was an American Football League icon and played for that league's New York Jets for most of his professional career but finished his career with the NFL's Los Angeles Rams. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1985.

Namath retired after playing in 140 games 62 wins, 63 losses and 4 ties. In his career he threw 173 touchdowns, 220 interceptions, and completed 1,886 passes for 27,663 yards.
During his thirteen years in the AFL and NFL he played for three division champions (the 1968 and 1969 AFL East Champion Jets and the 1977 NFC West Champion Rams), earned one league championship (1968 AFL Championship), and one "world championship" (Super Bowl III).In 1999, he was ranked number 96 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. He was the only player on the list to have spent a majority of his career with the Jets.
He is known for brashly telling the media that he guaranteed that his team would upset Don Shula's NFL Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III in 1969, and then delivering on his promise.
Namath's Hungarian-born grandfather, known as A.J. to his family and friends, came to Ellis Island and worked in the coal and steel industries of the Pittsburgh Metro Area.While growing up, Joe was close to both of his parents, who were divorced. Following his parents' split, Joe lived with his mother, Rose.

Remembering Vicki Sue Robinson on her Birthday.She was instrumental in defining the "disco era". [May 31st 1954-April 27th 2000].Our dance queen, Vicki.


Camille Savitz's birthday today!

Happy Birthday, Danny Goggin!

Judy Garland concert headed for theaters
Mark Marino -- Special to CNN

Justin Bieber

.Canadian Justin Bieber become famous via YouTube and ever since he has gathered millions of fans all over the world. Four of Bieber's pre-album singles 'One Time', 'One Less Lonely Girl', 'Love Me' and 'Favorite Girl' (was he referring to Selena Gomez?). They all were in Top 15 hits on the Canadian Hot 100 and Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. This made Bieber the only artist in Billboard history to have four singles from a debut album chart in the Top 40 of the Hot 100 before the album's release.
Since last year, Bieber is also a constant presence on Twitter. In early February, he spent an entire week at the top of the Trending Topics list. Just imagine how many people will look for information about him today!"On March 1st, 12:56am. A baby boy was born, the most gorgeous, kind hearted, beautiful person in the world. That person is Justin Bieber", one fan wrote on the Twitter. "A few years ago 'justin' meant timberlake, and now it means bieber", another one said.
The Bieber Mania is fueled by Justin himself, who, once in a while, uses to post messages for his fans. "Surrounded by great friends and my birthday is almost here. thanks to everyone for the well wishes", he wrote for his fans on his birthday.

Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers have all seen their tours get transferred to the big screen, and now an unlikely star is getting the concert-film treatment: late Hollywood legend Judy Garland.
According to the L.A. Times, Garland's historic 1961 Carnegie Hall concert will be turned into a documentary courtesy of filmmakers Steven Lippman, Jeffrey Friedman and Rob Epstein. Though Garland's comeback performance earned critical raves, countless standing ovations, and spawned a chart-topping double album, no footage exists of the actual event.
"The concert is a cultural touchstone, something I remember vividly as a kid," Friedman tells the L.A. Times. "It's a magical moment in theatrical history. And yet there's almost no record of it."
Until now.
The filmmakers hope to re-create the Carnegie Hall experience with "Stay All Night," a documentary that will combine music snippets and recently uncovered backstage footage of Garland with new interviews of people who witnessed the show. The movie will focus on the connection between Garland and her audience that evening, and the team hopes to evoke that same feeling for those seated in theaters.


GO SEE A LIVE SHOW TONIGHT!
Become A Facebook friend of mine!
Follow me on Twitter
If you've seen one of my appearances/shows, add your thoughts to my guestbook at www.RichardSkipper.com



Tomorrow's blog will be about YOU TELL ME!! I'm open to suggestions

Please contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING & HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS: http://www.carolchanning.org/foundation.htm
TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED SUMMER!
Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com

Count Down to : 5 Nights from Tonight! The 26th Annual Bistro Awards are honoring HILARY KOLE, FAYE LANE, and COLLEEN McHUGH!

As those of you who follow my blogs know, this week I'm focusing on the recipients of the 26th annual Bistro Awards taking place Tuesday night at The Gotham Comedy Club. I hope you have your tickets. Over the past three days, I've written about Liz Larken Brown, Nate Buccieri, Carole J. Bufford, Carol Channing, Anthony Cochran, Tyne Daly, Kevin Doxier, Michael Feinstein,Janice Hall, Sean Harkness, Allan Harris, and Dionne Warwick...all recipients! Today, I'm going to focus on Hilary Kole, Faye Lane, and Colleen McHugh.
Some of the Bistro’s special honorees have included Mitzi Gaynor and Elaine Stritch (2010), Charles Aznavour and Liza Minnelli (2009), Marilyn Maye (2008), Betty Buckley (2007), Steve Ross (2006), as well as Dame Cleo Laine and Sir John Dankworth, Bobby Short, Eartha Kitt, Barbara Cook, and many others.
Take a look at some of the recipients from 2009:
I first heard Hilary Kole sing when we did a memorial together a few years ago and I was instantly smitten. Hilary is receiving her Bistro for her Recording
"You Are There". Vocalist Hilary Kole's current release "You Are There," (Justin Time/JVC Japan) is a compilation of piano and vocal duets with some of the greatest artists in the history of jazz piano including Dave Brubeck, the late Hank Jones and many more. It is a follow-up to her debut recording produced by John Pizzarelli, "Haunted Heart" (Justin Time) which was released to critical acclaim in April of 2009, winning the Gold Disc Award in Japan, and receiving 4 stars in Downbeat Magazine. Both recordings are testaments to Hilary's musicianship and versatility as an artist in a career that started in a slightly different vein:

After studying composition at Manhattan School of Music, Hilary began performing as a vocalist at the legendary Rainbow Room as the youngest singer ever to grace the stage. From there, she debuted at the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel as the co-writer and star of the critically acclaimed, Off-Broadway reviews, "Our Sinatra," and "Singing Astaire." She made her concert hall debut at Lincoln Center as part of the "American Songbook Series" with Jonathan Schwartz. In June 2007, she appeared at Carnegie Hall in a Tribute to Oscar Peterson, a performance reprised in January 2008 at the Canadian Memorial to Dr. Peterson at Roy Thompson Hall alongside Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock and Nancy Wilson.
Here are some upcoming appearances after Tuesday night's Bistro Awards
Spring Japan Tour Celebrating the release of Hilary's newest CD- TBA

EVERY SUNDAY NIGHT IN MAY- Hilary will be performing at the Bemelman's Bar, Hotel Carlyle, NYC. 8:30-11:30. www.thecarlyle.com

May 6th- private event

May 7th- Pt. Washington, NY "A Tribute to Mel Torme" with Billy Stritch, Hilary Kole and Friends. www.landmarkonmainstreet.org

June 25th- Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga Jazz Festival. www.jazzfest.louthompson.com
"You Are There marks the second album on Justin Time for Hilary Kole, the New York based jazz singer (and pianist, arranger, and composer). Even though hundreds of singers are releasing what seems like hundreds of CDs these days, it's fair to say that no vocalist - in either the classic or the contemporary era - has done an album like You
Are There. This is a set of voice-and-piano duets, and though that fact by itself may call to mind Ella Fitzgerald's famous meetings with Ellis Larkins and the iconic Tony Bennett-Bill Evans collaborations, no one has done what Hilary does here: she has
teamed up with eleven different great pianists - each of them true legends of the keyboard - and recorded thirteen spontaneous piano-vocal duo tracks with these amazing musicians.
The project got underway when Hilary met the late keyboard colossus Oscar Peterson in 2005. She was, then as now, singing frequently at Birdland (then as always, "the Jazz Corner of the World," and her New York base of operations) . The
two became friends, and on one set, to her astonishment, Peterson invited her to sing
with his quartet . . ."Ms. Kole's poised, sultry ballad-singing has always been easy on the ears. But her smooth melodic lines have never been so consistently infused with literary subtext, which spells the difference between sounded pretty, and having something to say." --Stephen Holden New York Times
Contact Information for Hilary Kole

Birdland Worldwide Management
(212) 581-3080
gv@birdlandjazz.com
ll@birdlandjazz.com
315 W. 44th Street
New York, N.Y. 10036

North American Orchestra Bookings:
Eric Hansen
Tree Lawn Artists
PH: 215-248-LAWN (5296)
Email: Contact Tree Lawn Artists
(Content from http://www.hilarykole.com) Please visit Hilary's website and congratulations Hilary!
A little over a year ago, Faye Lane and I had breakfast and she was telling me about a concept she had for a new show. Well, folks, she followed through! She has had a very successful run at The Soho Playhouse and on Tuesday night, she will be going home for a well deserved Bistro Award and possibly a MAC Award next month for Musical Comedy
"Faye Lane's Beauty Shop Stories"
Soho Playhouse!We may know her as Faye Lane; she is a writer and performer living in New York City. But on the inside she's still Rhonda Faye Gunnels, who grew up in her mama's beauty shop in Texas. Casa Vale Beauty Salon was an old A-Frame house that was converted into a salon, with big mirrors and swivel chairs in the front room and shampoo bowls in the old back bedroom. And on the front porch? A fat little girl in a glittered-up Burger King crown, practicing her beauty queen acceptance speech and dreaming of being a star of the stage!
Praise for Faye Lane
and Beauty Shop Stories

She had them gobbling from the palm of her hand… they were howling, crying, falling in love with her.
– New York Magazine

I would go see it, by all means. It's a great show!
– Time Out New York

Endearing and soaring voiced – a real standout
– Backstage

A glorious evening of one-woman theatre that blazes it's way across the cultural highway.
– NightlifeExchange.com

Lane relates her journey with extraordinary wit, charm, and subtle power, resulting in a performance that's unforgettable.
– Hy Reviews
Faye Lane is a writer and performer who lives in the Chelsea Hotel in New York City. Her unique blending of story and song moved New York Magazine to gush, “She had them gobbling from the palm of her hand. They were howling, crying, falling in love with her."
Congratulations, Faye! I'm so proud of you! To find out more about Faye, please visit http://www.beautyshopstories.com

COLLEEN McHUGH is receiving her Bistro Award for Entertainer
The Duplex
This is Colleen's year!
2011 Nightlife Award Finalist

2011 Bistro Award Winner

2011 MAC Award Nominee
In 2008, Colleen McHugh set off on a daunting project: to present a completely different cabaret show each month, for one night only, without losing her mind in the process. More than three years later, she's not only sustained the effort, she's received rave reviews along the way. The Calendar Girl Project has featured shows ranging from a musical tribute to the subtext of the color green, to an exploration of Karen and Richard Carpenter's songbook. Along the way, she's explored 'Tales of Revenge and Regret' and 'Songs of Self-Delusion.' She's tackled (not literally, mind you) Cole Porter's French connections and feted Judy Garland in honor of the anniversary of Stonewall.
You can take Colleen home with you! COLLEEN MCHUGH

SONGS OF SELF-DELUSION

All of your friends think that you've lost your mind--except for the imaginary ones. Thank goodness you have Colleen McHugh to help you. Colleen McHugh's debut album songs of self delusion is wonderfully entertaining, as well as being highly theraputic. Oh, did we mention that it was selected as an' iTunes Essential?'"Arts & Entertainment" April 12, 2002
CABARET REVIEW: 'Songs' takes you high, low in one-woman show
by Howard Reich, Tribune Arts Critic

"Delusion is a great survival technique," Chicago cabaret singer Colleen McHugh cheerfully tells her audience at the outset of her intriguing new show at Davenport's.

She then sets about proving the point, launching into an evening's worth of songs about troubled souls who revel in their self-deceptions.

By turns emotionally stark and wickedly satirical, McHugh's "Songs of Self-Delusion" proves that a night at the cabaret need not be an entirely light-hearted affair. For though McHugh shrewdly punctuates the proceedings with comic songs and casual patter, she also probes into the darker sides of the psyche.

Better yet, she does so by drawing upon a remarkably far-flung songbook, which spans material by everyone from Broadway veteran Jerry Herman to modern-day Chicago troubadour Robbie Fulks. The ingenuity with which McHugh interweaves these vignettes helps give this show its dramatic heft.

McHugh opens her homage to self-delusion, for instance, with not one song but two, merging sections of Herman's "I Don't Want to Know" with Amanda McBroom's "Dreaming." In this haunting introduction, McHugh hints at both the comic and tragic sides of the set pieces yet to come.

Somehow, she switches easily from the absurd, black humor of Jill Sobule's "Mexican Wrestler" to the dripping irony of Jim De Wan's "You Wouldn't Do That to Me," from the clever wordplay of Phillip Namanworth's "Avoid" to the self-loathing laments of Francesca Blumenthal's "The Lies of Handsome Men."

Every song makes a point, though few more searingly than Fulks' "I've Got to Tell Myself the Truth," which McHugh sings to the accompaniment of a lone guitar.

To her credit, McHugh also brings some beguiling bits of stage business to the proceedings, particularly in Herman's "A Little More Mascara" (from "La Cage Aux Folles"). As the protagonist sings the glories of heavy makeup, two attendants hand her a tiara, white gloves and other ornaments with which to mask her insecurities.

With evocative musical direction from pianist Andrew Blendermann and expert backup vocals from Allison Bazarko and [Anne Smith], McHugh has conceived a bittersweet cabaret show as original as it is meaningful.

And that doesn't happen very often.

(c) 2002 Chicago Tribune. All Rights Reserved.Go here to buy tickets: http://www.bistroawards.com/buy-tickets/ticket-information.html

Please click on the banner ads on our Bistro Award site and support our advertiser.

Tomorrow's blog will feature THE RESCIGNOS, JOHNNY RODGERS BAND, and SONDHEIM UNPLUGGED!

Please contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING & HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS: http://www.carolchanning.org/foundation.htm

TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED WEEK!


Richard Skipper, Associate producer of the 26th annual Bistro Awards , Richard@RichardSkipper.com

Count Down to : 6 Nights from Tonight! The 26th Annual Bistro Awards are honoring JANICE HALL, SEAN HARKNESS, and ALLAN HARRIS!

If the game is designed for you to lose, don't play that game. Play a different one. -- Seth Godin

As those of you who follow my blogs know, this week I'm focusing on the recipients of the 26th annual Bistro Awards taking place next Tuesday night at The Gotham Comedy Club. I hope you have your tickets. Over the past two days, I've written about Liz Larken Brown, Nate Buccieri, Carole J. Bufford, Carol Channing, Anthony Cochran, Tyne Daly, Kevin DoxierMichael Feinstein,and Dionne Warwick...all recipients! Today, I'm going to focus on Janice Hall, Sean Harkness, and Allan Harris.
The guidelines that Bob Harrington originally set up for himself to determine the first winners have become the basic philosophy behind the Bistro Awards, which recognize achievement in a wide variety of categories — from outstanding performances to outstanding contributions by members of the cabaret community. The object is not to choose the “best” of anything of the year, but to recognize and congratulate the accomplishments of those who have done something special. Accordingly, categories can easily be created from year to year as they best fit the year’s distinguished work. Loli Marquez-Sterling performs "Rie Llora" and receive her Bistro Award in "The Gotham Comedy Club". New York City. April - 2010

JANICE HALL will be receiving her award for her Tribute Show
"Grand Illusions: The Music of Marlene Dietrich"
Metropolitan Room, Urban Stages. I have been a fan of Janice for some time. She was/is a regular at Wednesday Night at The Iguana and ALWAYS delivers!
Janice Hall's international opera career has taken her to the Vienna State Opera; the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; the Salzburg Festival; the Komische Oper Berlin; the Lyric Opera of Chicago; and the Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center, to name a few. Her roles have ranged from the Verdi heroine Violetta in the New York City Opera’s Emmy-winning telecast of La Traviata, in the "Live from Lincoln Center" series on PBS, to multiple roles in the operatic version of Tony Kushner’s play Angels in America, with the BBC Symphony in London.
After living in Europe for many years, Janice returned to the U.S. three years ago, and has since divided her time and attention between opera, theater, and cabaret. She was one of five finalists in 2010’s Metrostar Talent Challenge at the Metropolitan Room; writing about that contest, Beatrice Williams-Rude of Broadway After Dark remarked, "[A]ll the performers are sterling, some glitteringly; but one is pure, unalloyed gold: Janice Hall. She's sleek, chic and elegant in appearance as well as in the presentation of her songs."

In November, 2010, Janice unveiled her first New York solo cabaret show, Grand Illusions:The Music of Marlene Dietrich, at the Metropolitan Room. Peter Haas of Cabaret Scenes magazine wrote: “Many performers have “done” Marlene Dietrich, but none has offered her songs more richly, more movingly and with lovelier singing than a newcomer to cabaret, petite and elegant Janice Hall.”
Roy Sander wrote: "...a glorious hour...Some of her interpretations achieve a status beyond merely wonderful; they are memorable, unique, standards against which other renditions should be compared...When the show was over...I realized that I was responding to three forces, all working together: the enduring power of Dietrich, the strength of Hall's performance, and the brilliance of this show and all of its elements."
Grand Illusions was chosen as one of four shows to be presented at Urban Stages Theater in Feb-Mar 2011, as part of their “Musical Legends” series
In May, Janice travels to Salt Lake City to perform a one-woman show about Hollywood, at the Pygmalion Theatre Company.
Video by Corrine Cohen

Congratulations, Janice!
And a great big congratulations to SEAN HARKNESS as well! I'm also a huge fan of Sean's! Sean is receiving his award as an outstanding instrumentalist.At home in New York City, guitarist Sean Harkness recently garnered in addition to the Outstanding Instrumentalist of 2011 Backstage Bistro Award, two nominations for MAC Awards; one for his New York Debut solo shows, and another for Musical Director.

In addition to featuring Sean on the cover of their 2011 product catalog, Walden Guitars is releasing a Sean Harkness Signature 12-string guitar in Europe, Asia, and North America.

Along with numerous compilations, TV, and film soundtracks, Mr. Harkness now has five commercial releases as an artist:

* Aloft [Windham Hill] -1999
* Trio Of One [independent release] -2001
* Urakaji solo guitar [Rinken Records, Japan, USA] -2004
* Harkness Knight w/saxman Eric Knight and great drummers -2009
* and brand new: H2 Flights: Volume One w/fab Canadian trumpeter Mike Herriott on Canadian Brass‘ label ODEG -2011

Each year Sean performs in concert halls around the country with other Windham Hill artists such as Liz Story, Will Ackerman, Barbara Higbie, Jim Brickman, Tuck & Patti, David Arkenstone, and Samite.

Mr. Harkness is a first-call guitarist who compliments an exhaustive client list of artists, instrumentalists, Broadway productions, and corporations nationally and internationally. He is the go-to guitarist for duets and ensemble work with singers from Broadway and television such as Alison Fraser, Susan Egan and Carole Demas.

Sean has appeared as an artist and sideman extensively in New York’s finest jazz venues including the Blue Note, Smoke, Small’s, the Jazz Standard, Birdland, Iridium, Feinstein’s, Edison Ballroom, Mile’s Café, the Metropolitan Room, St. Nick’s, and Top Of The Rock at Rockefeller Center.

Mr. Harkness also appears regularly in any of New York’s folk and rock singer/songwriter clubs such as the Bitter End, Mercury Lounge, Rockwood Music Hall, the Living Room, Bowery Poetry Club, P&G, and Shrine.

Sean was the guitarist in Contemporary Jewish icon Debbie Friedman’s band until her untimely passing in 2011. He continues to perform regularly with Craig Taubman and Josh Nelson in major congregations nationally.

Mr. Harkness also provides a House Concert SeriesThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for personalized, private, in-home, concert-like performances. The up-close intimacy brings a unique impact to each event.

* * *

Sean Harkness’ first guitar arrived on his eleventh birthday. Within six months, he had a weekly theater engagement in Bridgeport, CT. High School bands, studies with Stan Kenton Band’s guitarist Sal Salvador, Berklee College of Music, ‘busking’ in Europe, Vermont’s Green Mountains, 5 years assisting master guitar builder Chip Wilson, extensive world travel, and NYC’s vast music scene have all contributed to forming the seasoned professional Sean is today.
Congratulations, Sean! Well deserved!!
And my final honoree for today is ALLAN HARRIS for Ongoing Achievement in Jazz. I'm thrilled to be discovering Allan for the first time. Allan Harris sings it's only a Paper Moon at the WLRN Radio Studio, Miami, Florida Januray 5, 2007 (Video by Dave Hogerty www.myspace.com/davehogerty)Allan Harris is a world-class singer, guitarist and songwriter. Perhaps best known for his interpretations of jazz standards, Allan’s smooth vocals and guitar-styling easily crosses genres, from jazz to rock to blues.


Three-time winner of the New York Nightlife Award for "Outstanding Jazz Vocalist”, Tony Bennett calls Mr. Harris "my favorite singer" and The New York Times' Stephen Holden raves about "the protean talent that is Allan Harris." Allan has cultivated a global following, playing for packed audiences and received outstanding reviews throughout the United States, Europe, Russia and the Far East. He is regularly featured at the world’s great music festivals, e.g. Jazz Aspen, Wien Jazz Festival in Austria and the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy.


Allan’s Harris’s artistry transcends his diverse vocal performances. Harris has composed “Cross That River”, a full-scale musical celebrating the Old West as told through the words and music of a black cowboy, and has received a prestigious Chamber Music America Grant for that work. The theatrical production of “Cross That River” played to rave reviews during the 2009 New York Musical Theater Festival and is currently in pre-production for a long-term run in early 2011. Several original songs from “Cross That River” are also frequently featured in The Allan Harris Band’s concert performances.


In addition to music, Allan is passionate about giving back. He is a long-time supporter of the Children’s Miracle Network (helping to raise funds for children’s hospitals), and has performed many times alongside Vince Gill and Amy Grant at the Challenge Aspen Gala, an annual charity concert/golf tournament to benefit military service people who have sustained disabilities.


As a Gibson Guitar featured artist, Allan and Ruby (his constant 4 lb. canine companion and the first dog music critic) can frequently be found rehearsing at the Gibson Hit Factory, and along with The Allan Harris Band, enjoy playing the top music clubs in his hometown of New York City.
See how exciting these ENTERTAINERS ARE!?!?! Hope to see you Tuesday night as we celebrate ALL of our recipients!
Go here to buy tickets: http://www.bistroawards.com/buy-tickets/ticket-information.html

Please click on the banner ads on our Bistro Award site and support our advertiser.

Tomorrow's blog will feature HILARY KOLE, FAYE LANE, and COLLEEN McHUGH!

Please contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING & HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS: http://www.carolchanning.org/foundation.htm

TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED WEEK!


Richard Skipper, Associate producer of the 26th annual Bistro Awards , Richard@RichardSkipper.com

Count Down to : 1 week from Tonight! The 26th Annual Bistro Awards are honoring CAROLE J. BUFFORD, ANTHONY COCHRAN, and KEVIN DOZIER!

Success comes to those who dare to get it! As those of you who follow my blogs know, this week I'm focusing on the recipients of the 26th annual Bistro Awards taking place next Tuesday night at The Gotham Comedy Club. I hope you have your tickets. Over the past two days, I've written about Liz Larken Brown, Nate Buccieri, Carol Channing, Tyne Daly, Michael Feinstein,and Dionne Warwick...all recipients! Today, I'm going to focus on Carole J. Bufford, Anthony Cochran, and Kevin Dozier.The BISTRO AWARD was established by Bob Harrington in 1985 in his “Bistro Bits” column in the trade weekly Back Stage, then under the editorship of Sherry Eaker. For the first few years, the awards were merely listed in Harrington’s column as notable performances he had seen during the calendar year.
The first formal presentation of the awards was held in 1990 at Eighty Eight’s, a popular cabaret venue in the West Village. From there, the show moved on to The Ballroom in Chelsea, and then relocated to the Supper Club in the Broadway District, where it remained for many years. This year marks the fourth year at Gotham Comedy Club. Here is the post card design for this year's Bistro Award:The guidelines that Harrington set up for himself to determine the first winners have become the basic philosophy behind the Bistro Awards, which recognize achievement in a wide variety of categories — from outstanding performances to outstanding contributions by members of the cabaret community. The object is not to choose the “best” of anything of the year, but to recognize and congratulate the accomplishments of those who have done something special. Accordingly, categories can easily be created from year to year as they best fit the year’s distinguished work.Here are is a video montage thanks to Russ Weatherford from the 2009 Bistro Awards
The first recipient that I am writing about today is Carole J. Bufford. I'm excited as I get to know Carole. I really wasn't very familiar with Carole's work before her Bistro win. She is receiving this award as a vocalist for her shows in the past year at DON'T TELL MAMA and THE METROPOLITAN ROOM. What's Next?
11 O'Clock Numbers at 11 O'Clock
Appearing weekly at Feinstein's
Next Show- 4/21 at 11:00PM
Carole J. Bufford made her entrance on the New York cabaret stage in the Metropolitan Room’s MetroStar Talent Challenge. Immediately following, she was asked to perform at the 2009 Cabaret Convention presented by the Mabel Mercer Foundation where she received specific praise by Stephen Holden in The New York Times. In addition, Carole was featured in Broadway By The Year, Musicals of 1927 and Musicals of 1966 at Town Hall where she was singled out for praise in numerous reviews.Carole recently debuted her cabaret Carole J. Bufford sings Randy Newman at Don’t Tell Mama which received rave reviews. She also enjoyed a run of her cabaret intro at the Metropolitan Room. Roy Sander of Bistro Awards said, “The small "i" in the title of her show, "intro," is the only thing lower-case about Carole J. Bufford. She can deliver a song with more force and drive than a speeding locomotive…Combine that with a voice that is both powerful and attractive and you get a performance that can thrill an audience.”

Regarding her appearance in Broadway by the Year, Musicals of 1966, Carole received the following review:

“A last-minute addition to the show was the young cabaret singer Carole J. Bufford, making her second Broadway By The Year appearance to sing "What Makes It Happen?" While still at an early stage of her career, Bufford is a captivating song interpreter whose confident vocals are matched with strong story-telling skills and interesting lyrical shadings.”
–Michael Dale, Broadway World.com

To get on Carole's mailing list, go here: http://www.carolejbufford.com/mailinglist.htm

For all performance inquiries:

ARTHUR SHAFMAN AAAArtists International
163 Amsterdam Ave #121
New York, NY 10023-5001
212-799-4814 - ASHAFMAN@AOL.COM
WWW.ARTHURSHAFMAN.COM

Again, Carole, congratulations on your Bistro Award!
I first became familiar with Anthony Cochran when Daryl Glenn brought him to The Iguana to sing in WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE IGUANA. I promptly became a fan! Anthony Cochran is probably one of the unlikeliest looking guys to be singing a mix of gospel, country/western, blues and Dolly Parton that you are ever to come across. Slightly bearded, black shirt sleeves rolled up and wearing a vest he comes across as that real nice guy next door. He has a pleasantness and calmness about him that is contagious. A confiding, soft spoken husky voice that transforms a lyric into a thing of beauty as his voice strengthens and then lifts into a clear and easy falsetto. I guess you could say I was impressed.

Anthony is receiving his Bistro Award for Theme Show/"Elvis Lives"
Metropolitan Room
Earlier this past year, I went to see Kevin Dozier at Feinstein's with Alex Rybeck. I predicted a MAC Award and a Bistro Award for that show. He is receiving The Bistro Award for his shows at Laurie Beechman Theatre, Feinstein's at Loews Regency, Don't Tell Mama. I also predict a MAC Award! 2011 Bistro Award winner for Outstanding Vocalist and 2011 MAC Award Nominee for Male Vocalist, Kevin Dozier, had a wonderful 2010 year, as he made his critically acclaimed Feinstein's debut, and had sold-out runs at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, and Don't Tell Mama's under the musical direction of Alex Rybeck with direction by Lennie Watts. 2010 also brought his second feature appearance at The Mabel Mercer Foundation's Annual Cabaret Convention at Rose Hall in Lincoln Center and he was featured in 2 editions of the Bistro Award winning, Phil Bond production of "Sondheim Unplugged". In addition he was chosen as a contestant for the 1st Annual Cabaret Competition held by The Noel Coward Society and was honored to be a featured performer with Steve Ross at The Noel Coward Society Annual Luncheon.Kevin Dozier's "Love-Wise" is a lovely, lovely, love-filled listen. Projecting a gentle soul, even a butterfly-fragile one, and with a rhapsodically romantic spirit, his voice is an exceptionally pretty one, and very musical...Kevin projects thoughtful intelligence as he and Marlowe set and sustain a mood, knowing the value of a pause. This album is worth the pause in any day to relish the honeyed and wise Love-Wise." ~ Rob Lester, Talkin' Broadway

You truly are Wonderful, Wonderful Kevin and I am looking forward to seeing you perform at The Bistro Awards NEXT TUESDAY NIGHT!

Go here to buy tickets: http://www.bistroawards.com/buy-tickets/ticket-information.html

Please click on the banner ads on our Bistro Award site and support our advertiser.

Tomorrow's blog will feature JANICE HALL, SEAN HARKNESS, and ALLAN HARRIS!

Please contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING & HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS: http://www.carolchanning.org/foundation.htm

TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED WEEK!


Richard Skipper, Associate producer of the 26th annual Bistro Awards , Richard@RichardSkipper.com

Count Down to The Bistro Awards: 1 week from Tomorrow! The 26th Annual Bistro Awards are honoring MICHAEL FEINSTEIN, LIZ LARK BROWN, and NATE BUCCIERI

It's hard to believe that one week from tomorrow is the Bistro Awards!
I remember when they first began and, here we are 26 years later. The Bistros are my favorite award night because the recipients and the audience already know who the winners are. AND THEY EACH PERFORM ONE SONG!

The tension and anxiety are devoid from the evening except for Sherry Eaker who, of course,is anxious to make sure that everything stays on course and falls into place as planned. (I'm knocking on wood as I say this)...It always does. Thank God for Sherry carrying on the tradition of the Bistros and keeping this going.
Some of you may recall, it used to be called THE BACK STAGE BISTRO AWARD. At least that is what it was called when I won it in 1998. 13 years ago!The Bistros started when Bob Harrington, who until his untimely death, was the Bistro Bits columnist for BACK STAGE. For the first couple of years, his pics were just listed in his column. Then, he and Sherry decided to make it an actual awards ceremony. The Award winners are decided upon by a committee of critics who pick those they feel have created outstanding work within the past year and deserve recognition.
You also can only win once in a particular category. They also have a limit to the number of recipients...otherwise this would become at least a 5 hour event! The first couple of years, the recipients received a certificate, THEN it became an actual award, and has moved on to be a very beautiful award for those who receive it.
BACK STAGE changed hands several years ago. Sherry is no longer affiliated with the paper, but she carries on this tradition because of her love of the medium. She deserves a special award alone for this! Supporting this evening not only honors our winners but keeps this tradition going. Yesterday, I wrote about three of our recipients this year: Carol Channing, Tyne Daly, and Dionne Warwick.
Today, I'm focusing on three more of our recipients...MICHAEL FEINSTEIN, LIZ LARK BROWN, and NATE BUCCIERI.




A Special Award will be given to Michael Feinstein for his three-part documentary series “Michael Feinstein’s American Songbook,” (written, directed, and produced by Amber Edwards) shown on PBS and now available on DVD, which celebrates and explores the history of the Great American Songbook, and for the other work the Michael Feinstein Foundation does to promote and preserve our musical heritage. I am a HUGE fan of Michael's. I also am a huge fan of Amber Edwards' work! Kudos to you, as well, Amber!

Michael Jay Feinstein is a singer, a pianist, music revivalist, and an interpreter of, and anthropologist and archivist for, the repertoire known as the Great American Songbook. In 1988 he won a Drama Desk Special Award for celebrating American musical theatre songs.Feinstein was born in Columbus, Ohio, the son of Florence Mazie (née Cohen), an amateur tap dancer, and Edward Feinstein, a sales executive for the Sara Lee Corporation and a former amateur singer.
At the age of five, he studied piano for a couple of months until his teacher became angered that he wasn't reading the sheet music she gave him, since he was more comfortable playing by ear. As his mother saw no problem with her son's method, she took him out of lessons and allowed him to enjoy music his own way. The following is from THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER: Feinstein brings 'Songbook' to Kennedy Center


Emily Cary 04/16/11 8:05 PM
Special to The Washington Examiner
Michael Feinstein returns to Washington for a solo concert in the Kennedy Center celebrating the songs he recorded for the Sinatra Project and other favorites.

"The project was my way of thanking Frank Sinatra for his kindness to me at the start of my career," he said.
"His professionalism was a great influence on me and I've tried to emulate his ability to present a song."

Feinstein grew up in Columbus, Ohio, enamored by the popular music he began playing in local piano bars. He was only 20 when he made his way to L.A. and soon met pianist Oscar Levant who introduced him to Ira Gershwin. He accepted Gershwin's invitation to become his assistant and, for the next six years, archived the published and unpublished songs by Ira and George. Along the way, he met and became caretaker of music by other major composers. Today he serves on the Library of Congress' National Recording Preservation Board.



This past February, the Feinstein's work began making its way to the new Center for Performing Arts in Carmel, Ind., a multimillion-dollar complex holding a museum and library with interactive displays and online access around the world. The 1,600-seat Palladium Theater, opened in February, will host guest artists.
"The museum and library will be completed in about two years," Feinstein said. "It will grow incrementally as we transfer in the many orchestrations, original sheet music and artwork. In the meantime, I continue sifting through my collection and occasionally make important discoveries. Several years ago during my research I found a lost song by Cole Porter written for 'The Gay Divorcee.' Last year, I found an unknown Johnny Mercer song."


This year began with another success for Feinstein, a duo CD with Broadway legend Barbara Cook. Titled "Cheek To Cheek," it alternates their harmonious duets with solo interpretations of timeless pop standards like "Without A Song," "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "There'll Be Some Changes Made."

Never standing still, Feinstein has projects aplenty underway, including writing the score for "The Gold Room," a musical about the heiress Barbara Hutton set during the period of her life in the 1950s when she gave up her residence to the U.S. government.
He is also composing the score for a musical based on MGM's "The Thomas Crown Affair."

"I love composing, performing and sharing this wonderful music with my audiences," he said. "In looking back at all I've managed to accomplish and ahead to future opportunities, I feel very lucky."

Take Michael home with you: Michael Feinstein - Remember: Michael Feinstein Sings Irving Berlin (Available on Amazon.com)The first of Feinstein's theme albums, and one of the best. He captures the simple (and at times deceptively clever) sentiment of Berlin with an unadorned approach that brings out the sturdiness of the melodies as well. ~ William Ruhlmann, Rovi

Our next recipient is LIZ LARK BROWN for her outstanding debut, TARNISHED, at The Metropolitan Room.On Monday August 31,2009 Liz Lark Brown eked out a win in the exciting finale of the second annual "MetroStar Talent Challenge" at The Metropolitan Room, beating out Danielle Grabianowski (the first runner-up...who won a Bistro Award last year) and Carole Bufford...another Bistro Award winner this year!, who was chosen as the second runner-up. Brown, who, in a sweet twist of fate, was 2008's grand prize winner Anne Steele's back-up singer, combined both understated charm and a flair for the dramatic that earned consistently high marks during the eight-week jury and audience-voted singers' competition. The two other finalists, who went head to head against the three top ladies, were the competition's highest-achieving men, Cornelius Bates, and the late great David Gurland.
Liz has paid her dues and now it is time for her to shine in the spotlight! Liz is also nominated for a MAC Award (May 10th) for her debut show.

NATE BUCCIERI is receiving a Bistro Award as outstanding musical director this past year."A skilled sight-reader, not to mention a highly accomplished player and versatile, resonant singer, Buccieri wins over his Wednesday audience/ participants with a mixture of talent, wit and the sort of infectious good humor that makes you feel like you really can step up to the mike and turn that song." - Metroland Best of..., 2003 (Again, another recipient who has paid his dues!)

Go here to buy tickets: http://www.bistroawards.com/buy-tickets/ticket-information.html

Please click on the banner ads on our Bistro Award site and support our advertiser.

Tomorrow's blog will feature CAROLE J. BUFFORD, ANTHONY COCHRAN, and KEVIN DOZIER

Please contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING & HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS: http://www.carolchanning.org/foundation.htm

TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED WEEK!


Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com