Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!
Dr. Seuss
I hope this finds you well. The theme of my blog today is family. If my father had lived, he would have been 80 this week. He passed on when he was 67.
I also found out yesterday in a chat with Debbi Bush Whiting, daughter of Margaret Whiting, that it was four years ago on January 10th that her mother had passed on.
It is hard to believe. When I first came into the cabaret community, Margaret was a very open welcoming presence.
There wasn't a time that I met her that she didn't treat me as if we had known each other all our lives.
Even after a stroke, she would light up a room when she entered.
I don't think there is a day in which I don't hear Margaret's voice on the radio. Thanks to the work of Debbi, she has devoted her life to preserving the legacy not only of Margaret, but also Margaret's father, song smith Richard Whiting. There are many things in the works that I am sworn to secrecy on! Let me just say this, Margaret Whiting lives on.
I am a great admirer of Debbi. How wonderful that she has taken on this labor of love celebrating the legacy of Margaret Whiting. We are ALL the better for it!
Debbi posted this on Facebook this AM: January 10, 2015 marks the 4th year of my mom's passing. January 10, 2015 marks the 4th year of my mom's passing. The past year has been so incredible for preserving her memory. We have doubled Margaret's friends on Facebook, we have archived her sound recordings, we are introducing her to a younger generation of music lovers, there are awards given in her name and memory, and the most extraordinary event
was on June 23 when the MIM team and The Mabel Mercer Foundation produced a most loving celebration to Margaret for what would have been her 90th birthday. WELL FOLKS, MARGARET LIVES ON!!!!!! I am so proud to announce that with the success of the Weill Recital Hall concert, we have decided to take Margaret on the road. We have downsized the show and it's available for bookings...SONGFULLY YOURS, MARGARET WHITING (Mom's favorite signature ) is our new title of show! Click on the link below for all the information. We are also being represented at APAP this coming week. Thank you everyone for all your love and support!
I had a quick chat with Debbi this morning. She was on a train on her way into the city for the New York Sheet Music Society.
I have to get this finished within the hour so I can meet her there!
I asked about Margaret as a mom. Although Debbi gives Margaret an A+ for trying, she admits that her MOM wasn't really mom material, although she tried very hard. Her career really came first. For years, Debbi was kind of angry about that, but she totally understands it now. Look what happened! Her career is now Debbi's first concern. Things just happen for a reason. Debbi did have a wonderful father who took over raising Debbi. It all worked out. He was Lou Busch. He was Margaret's second husband. She was also his second wife.
Debbi realized that her mom was MARGARET WHITING at a very early age. They had done so many commercials and press events. Debbi knew there was something special going on with all the music.
Going to the recording studios as a very young child, she knew she was living an existence that was different from her friends that she played with during the day. She had play dates and when she went to their homes, the homes were so quiet that Debbi thought someone was sick. There was no music playing! In Debbi's home, music was a constant presence. Debbi now realizes that there are homes that don't play music.
She knew there was something kind of "special" in her world.
There are two things that Debbi misses most about her mom, her stories and especially her singing.
Debbi was mesmerized by her mom's voice.
There was a period in Debbi's life, when her mom sang, she would just fall apart. It would literally just tear her apart and she would weep and weep.
On New Year's Eve, Debbi was watching Julie and Julia.
Richard Skipper, Carol Woods, Peggy Eason, Debbi Whiting, producer Tanya Moberly and host Mark Janas at The Salon 1/11/15
She and her mom spent a lot of time together watching movies. It hit her that her mom was not physically with her. It happened after the Carnegie Hall concert in June to commemorate what would have been her mom's 90th birthday. She even got a little verklempt during this interview.
Although Debbi says she misses her mom's voice, it is a constant presence in our lives.
I hear her voice every single day on Siriously Sinatra on Sirius Radio. Debbi loves it when her mom's voice pops up unexpectedly. She doesn't take anything for granted.
with Kathy Brown
Today on her way to the train station, she heard Peggy Lee's Ain't We Got Fun? That is Debbi's grandfather's composition. She took a picture of the radio in the car and sent it to Peggy Lee's granddaughter and said, "Look, Holly! Grandmother is singing Grandfather." Debbi still gets excited over those moments when mom is singing or grandfather's music is being played or anything having to do with her father or Allan Sherman.Allan Sherman and Debbi's grandfather collaborated together.
The one thing about Debbi's mom that most people may not know was that she was a deep thinker.
She was very articulate. She didn't walk around with a book in her hand quoting from the great writers, but she did have this wonderful sense of wonderment and love of knowledge. She was a very sensitive woman, but didn't share that aspect of her. She kept her cards very close to her chest.
Aside from the fact that Margaret Whiting was Debbi's mom, preserving the legacy of her mom and family is tremendous therapy for Debbi.
Walking around for years as an only child from a divorced family with a kind of strange atmosphere, Debbi always tried to reconcile her reason for being here and HER purpose in life. Why was she born? As time went on, she realized that it was to carry on the torch and legacy and she is really enjoying it. She knows her mother so much better now than she ever did.
Debbi says there are not too many similarities between her and her mom. She is more like her Aunt Barbara. Everyone used to say, especially her mother, "Oh my God! You remind me of my sister", or Aunt Meg who was a vaudevillian comedienne. Debbi is much more the clown while her mother was much more reserved, but always with great sense of humor. Debbi does have a striking similarity to her mother. People look at her and immediately say, "I know you're Margaret's daughter." Once in a while, Debbi will have a "snobbery" moment and say, "I just did a Margaret!" There are certain traits one picks up when living with someone!
Margaret was not a big abuser with drugs and alcohol. As a matter of fact, Debbi can only remember her mom being a little "tipsy" once in her life!
with Tex Arnold and Celia Berk
As stated above, she loved to read. She loved magazines. She loved movies. She loved the theatre. She loved the arts. When Picasso exhibited in New York at MOMA, Debbi and Margaret stood in line for two hours to see the exhibit. She introduced Debbi to Frank Sinatra by taking her to her first Frank Sinatra concert in the sixties, when most girls her age were going to rock concerts. She wanted Debbi to experience the arts. Debbi ended up loving him. There were certain things she HAD to see.
Debbi desires more than anything for her mom to be recognized as one of the top vocalists of her generation. Debbi wants her to "get in the sandbox with the kids" who are her peers and to be recognized. It is getting harder and harder as time goes on. There was a recent thread on Facebook
Lou Busch and daughter, Debbi
after someone posted "Who is Paul McCartney?" If it's getting to be that bad, the Great American Songbook is in a lot of trouble. Debbie wants people to say, "Yes! I know who Margaret Whiting is"...as well as Rosemary Clooney, Peggy Lee, and others of that genre. Debbi has been working on this most of her life. When Margaret stopped performing, this is when it kicked into high gear.
Debbi is doing exactly what she SHOULD be doing at this point in her life. She has never been happier with herself and the decisions she has made. At 64, she considers herself a late bloomer. She is glad that she is on the track that she is now. She is doing what she was put here to do. Please visit the official Margaret Whiting Facebook page. Please hit the LIKE button and SHARE it.
Thank God Debbi is doing the same with her mom and family legacy.
Thank to ALL mentioned in this blog for the gifts you have given to the world and continue to give!
With grateful XOXOXs ,
Check out my site celebrating the first Fifty Years of Hello, Dolly!
NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!
Please do what YOU can to be more aware that words and actions DO HURT...but they can also heal and help!
Here's to an INCREDIBLE tomorrow for ALL...with NO challenges!
with Michael Feinstein and Marcy Heisler
Richard Skipper Celebrates at The Salon! TOMORROW NIGHT! Celebrating Broadsway and the film Life Inside Out on January 11th
Please join Us on January 11th if you are available!
Richard Skipper Celebrates at The Salon! Celebrating Broadsway and the film Life Inside Out on January 11th
I would love for YOU to help me kick start 2015 with this show that I am very excited about.
I co-hosted The Salon on January 5th of this year. This is my comeback! I cannot wait to experience it again!
The Salon (see their website – http://markjanasthesalon.com)… Multi Award winning weekly open mic.
This edition will also feature Broadsway (http://thebroadswayshow.com/), I have also asked Stephen Sorrentino to drop in to preview a number from his upcoming show at The Iridium.
The Theme for the night is Life Inside Out to celebrate the New York Premier of this delightful film that I encourage all to see. http://www.lifeinsideoutthemovie.com
There are a lot more surprises in store!
This all takes place on the 11th of January.
If you wish to entertain yourself, sign up starts at 6:15 PM
I am also taking requests! What would YOU like to hear ME sing?
7-10:30 PM
Etcetera, Etcetera
252 West 44th Street
Tickets are $10 cash at the door, $15 food or drink minimum
Would LOVE to see you!
Let’s toast the past year and the promise of the next.
With grateful XOXOXs for your support,
Richard 845-365-0720
Cost: Tickets are $10 cash at the door, $15 food drink minimum
IF you like this blog, please leave a comment and share on Twitter and Facebook
A SWINGING BIRDLAND CHRISTMAS Klea Blackhurst Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch ,Marcy Heisler and Monica Corton.
Photo courtesy of Mark Lee: Nick Ziobro works with Michael Feinstein in a master class at the singer's boot camp in Indianapolis
If you will it, it is not a dream!
-Theodore Herzl
Nick heard the above quote in an interview with Henry Winkler. When
Nick was younger, his dad had a favorite quote that he imparted to Nick, “At
211 degrees, water is very hot. At 212 degrees, it boils. Boiling water can
create steam. Steam has enough power to power a locomotive. “That is the extra
degree of effort that you can put into anything. Nick puts that extra degree of
effort and passion into everything he does.
If Nick had any sway into the future of the entertainment industry, he
would like to see new music written that captures the feel of the Great
American Songbook that was written forty, fifty, sixty years ago.Music back then, he feels, had incredible artistry to
it. Lyrics would inter mingle with the music beautifully. Nick thinks that if
that artistry could come back and find its way into new music for generations
to come, we will be quite alright.
Originality is what draws Nick to a particular artist’s work. He loves
seeing something in someone that is larger than they are as a person. He is
turned off by copy cats or when someone takes something that has already been done
by someone and tries to be someone else.
Two Great Artists!
An artist is true to who they are.
That is what makes them an artist and that is what makes them great. Originality
is also the key to longevity in this business. Find something special that is uniquely
YOU and share that with other people. That is what makes people love you and
that is how you build a career that can last.
As you read this blog, please take into consideration that Nick is
sixteen (16)! In five years, he will be 21! He hopes to be a working actor at
that time. He desires to keep singing. He wants to do it all. That includes
Broadway, cabaret, film, and television.
Nick has been acting, dancing, and singing since he was very young. He
has always known that is what he desires to do with his life, so he has made a
career out of it.
Feinstein, Zibro, Marilyn Maye
Michael Feinstein is definitely one of Nick’s heroes. Not only has Nick
been lucky enough to meet Michael and work with him, he has also been quite an
incredible mentor to Nick. The two of them have worked closely together over
the past year. Nick is really grateful getting to know him. Their collaboration/friendship
began because of Feinstein’s Great American Songbook Initiative.
The Great American Songbook Initiative is limited to high school youth.
There are a great many singers who started out early in life. Yet, opportunities for
older singers are getting harder and harder to find. Nick is not sure if this Initiative should be expanded to include that larger demographic. The Initiative is actually two
fold. One aspect is the archives in which Michael is working to preserve our
rich musical heritage. They have an active board that helps to organize events.
They take in a lot of artifacts and store them at The Palladium in Carmel,
Indiana. Part of what they do is hold a high school vocal competition to make
sure the music stays alive. They educate these kids with master classes. People
of Nick’s age group are falling in love with Michael Buble, for instance, and
those songs are becoming popular again. Some of the kids aren’t even aware that
some of these songs were written seventy and eighty years ago. That’s what the Initiative
is really doing ; making sure that this next generation is really educated on
this music. It is important for it to stay alive. Nick thinks that older generations
know this music already. A lot of them love it. There are other programs. In
November of 2012, the Initiative did a movie music appreciation month. Showing these
movies, the theater is packed and spans several generations. Grandparents are
bringing their grandchildren to share in this experience. Nick doesn’t know if
they will expand to include an older competition as well.
The day that I auditioned Nick, it was around 12:30 in the afternoon. I
asked him what he had done THAT DAY to be a better artist. He had auditioned
for the school musical. He gave it his best. He learned from watching the other
kids. He observed what they did and what was working and what was not. He uses
that to his advantage to make him a better entertainer.
Beyond Michael Feinstein, Nick had a piano teacher, Tom Reitano. He
started teaching Nick when he was in the sixth grade. It was at that time that
Nick’s family moved to Syracuse. Nick had been studying classically prior to
that. Tom continues with that but he was
mostly a jazz pianist. He knew that Nick wasn’t really that into the classic
repertoire. He started introducing Nick to the standards and he actually brought a
huge selection of songs into Nick’s repertoire.
September 23, 2012
Singing the National Anthem at Lucas Oil Stadium
Tom would accompany Nick and Nick
would sing. Nick doesn’t feel that he would be where he is today without Tom. Nick attributes most of who he is to Tom.
This is only the beginning! I’m convinced things are going to pick up
from here. His schedule is fast filling
up for the year. Let’s watch what happens!
I asked Nick how he defined bravery. Bravery is not running head first
into the fray. He believes that everyone has bravery within them. He thinks
that the way to connect with that bravery is to find out who you are as a
person. Find out what you are most afraid of. Then you can begin to look at
what you are most afraid of in the face. Once you surpass that, you conquer your
fear. Once you do that, you can do just about anything. Nick is pretty much not
afraid of anything anymore.
Nick is too young to have created any vices in his life! He hates over
thinking or analyzing too much. Sometimes he just does what he does. Sometimes, that can
work against him and that can be a vice and a virtue!
Nick’s favorite TV show is The Office.
Photo courtesy of Mark Lee
I asked Nick what he needs around him when he is working. When he is
rehearsing, he prefers to be alone. When others are around that are not directly
involved, he easily gets distracted. He is a very social person. He likes to
talk to people. When he is performing, he needs good energy from the audience
who has decided to be there. If he is not getting that, he works harder to
create that energy from them.
We even touched upon the AIDS crisis and awareness which is very much
on the rise in Nick’s age group.
There are more health programs in schools to
discuss these issues than there was twenty five years ago. Nick feels that once
our economy starts to get a better footing, funding NEEDS to go towards more
research, not only for HIV/AIDS, but also towards mental health, especially in
light of all of these mass shootings that have been occurring. Legislatures
need to address that more. Both of these areas should not be touchy subjects.
It is a fact that they exist and it is a horrible thing. It needs to get
better.
Last year, an uncle of Nick’s passed away at the age of 49 unexpectedly.
It was very hard on Nick’s family. His uncle had had some heart issues. No one
really expected this. Because he died unexpectedly, Nick’s dad went and got
checked by a doctor. They found that his aorta was twice the size of what it
should be. He had to have open heart surgery this past January. It was really
hard to get through this for the family because he is such a strong guy. Seeing
him go through all that pain was really tough. If Nick’s uncle had not passed
away, his father could have easily had a heart attack and died and the family
would have had no idea.
They got through it. They can hear his father’s heart
ticking because of the metal valve they put in. It was a really hard time for
the family but they came together and stepped up. My hope is that this is the biggest
challenge Nick ever has to face.
Nick is very connected with his family. They are very supportive of all
he does.
Photos Credit: Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative
Nick believes that there is a life after death. He is not sure if we
come back to “this” life as a different person. He believes in Heaven and Hell.
He definitely does not feel that we die and that’s that. He believes there is
more. No one knows what that more is. Nick certainly does not know what that is
but he believes something happens.
Nick is pretty humble and considers himself a paradox. He is proudest
of his humility!
The biggest surprise for me about Nick Ziobro is his age. I cannot
believe that this astounding guy is only 16! He not only wants to make sure
that the music of the great American Songbook stays alive, he desires to have a
career as an entertainer to last the rest of his life. I’m betting he’s a
winner! He already is in my book!
Thank
you Nick Ziobro for the gifts you have given to the world and will continue
to give!
With grateful XOXOXs ,
Check out my site celebrating my forthcoming book on Hello, Dolly!
I desire this to be a definitive account of Hello, Dolly! If any of you reading this have appeared in any production of Dolly, I'm interested in speaking with you!
NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!
Please do what YOU can to be more aware that words and actions DO HURT...but they can also heal and help!
My next blog will be... My Exclusive interview with Mimi Hines on her experiences as Dolly Levi!
Thank you, to all the mentioned in this blog!
Here's to an INCREDIBLE tomorrow for ALL...with NO challenges!
Would you like to Be part of our
table for Lee Roy Reams’ star studded audience!
Lee
Roy Reams is doing a rare evening at 54 Below on
April 3rd! 7PM.This show WILL sell out so RESERVE TODAY! Maitre D' &
Reservations: (646) 476-3551. To purchase tickets visit TicketWeb.com or call
(866) 468-7619 54 Below - 254 W 54th St, Cellar - New York, NY Carol Channing. Juliet Prowse. Gwen Verdon. Bob Fosse.
Richard Rodgers. Lauren Bacall. Gower Champion. Those are just a few of the legendary performers about whom you'll hear
loving tales when Broadway royalty Lee Roy Reams steps onto our stage for one
special performance only. His ten Broadway credits run the gamut from Sweet
Charity, Applause, Lorelei, Hello, Dolly and 42nd Street to La Cage aux Folles,
Beauty and the Beast and The Producers. In Song and Dance Man, expect tunes
from those hits (including Lullaby of Broadway, Put on Your Sunday Clothes and
42nd Street), to gems such as Pretty Women and Real Live Girl. Come get the
theatrical tales from a fellow who was there to see it all, from Dolly's lashes
to Billy Lawlor's well worn tap shoes.
Please call me if any questions!
I hope to see you on April 3rd!
Richard Skipper 845-365-0720
Keeping Entertainment LIVE! Richard Skipper Celebrates
Happiness is not something you experience. It is something you remember.
-Oscar Levant
Michael Feinstein’s whole desire in life is to become more
connected with the trinity of mind, body, and spirit and to live a more
balanced life and to become a better person by expressing more love and
constantly being mindful of gratitude and putting something wonderful in the
world.
Feinstein spoke recently with me about the future of
Feinstein's, the club, as well as his public television and National Public
Radio programs, among other activities.
Michael Feinstein is one of my favorite entertainers. I
don’t think a day goes by that I don’t hear his voice. His CDS are on my Ipod
which is always on shuffle.
I never know when he’s going to pop up. I also
listen to Jonathan Schwartz on Sirius Radio every day from 12-3 EST (4PM on
Sundays) and as I sit down to write this I’m listening to Seriously Sinatra. I
always have music playing in the background as I write. The guest DJ today is
Petula Clark who I had the pleasure of meeting at Michael’s namesake,
Feinstein’s.
Petula Clark and Richard Skipper at Feinstein's
Feinstein’s, the club, sadly closed on December 31st of
this past year.
It is sad because it was like saying goodbye to an old friend. That
being said, don’t feel sad for Michael. He will bring a new club to us bigger
and better than ever. Interestingly enough, as I write this, Petula is singing
Seasons in The Sun. Feinstein’s served its purpose in its time and place. Now
it is time for the next chapter. I also am deeply indebted to Michael for his love and
respect for our rich musical heritage. As someone with such respect for the
history of the arts, I fear daily that it is being forgotten and negated. Thank
God for all the hard work Michael has put into preserving it.
Michael and I sat down to talk shortly before Feinstein’s
closed and to celebrate the release of his book, The Gershwin’s and Me, which I highly recommend. Those of you who
follow my blog know that I dig a little deeper into the subjects of my blog. I
desire to know what makes them tick and how they get from point A to point B
and beyond. I call it celebrating a person’s body of WORTH.
One of the greatest shows that I saw this year, which
happened to be at Feinstein’s, was Michael’s show with Marilyn Maye. I regret
that they did not record this. It truly was one of the best evenings I have
ever spent at any LIVE show! Michael ended the year AND Feinstein’s with
another of my favorite entertainers, Christine Ebersole. I regret that I missed
it. Over the years, Michael has done shows with so many great entertainers.
Cheyenne Jackson and Alan Cumming come to mind, and in the past, Rosemary
Clooney. A couple of years ago, The Bistro Awards honored Michael for his Duets
series.
Michael Feinstein singing Sinatra in 2012 at the performing arts center in Carmel,
Indiana, Credit: Zach Dobso
Michael and me
I asked Michael if there was anyone out there that he has
not sung with that he desires to and he said no. Recently, he got to work with
Andre Previn which was one of Michael’s great desires. To Michael, he is one of
the greatest musicians on the planet. They recorded a CD of Andre’s songs with
Andre at the piano. That was deeply fulfilling for Michael. It was something he
had dreamed about. Michael called him and he said yes. As of our interview, no
one else came to mind who Michael said he really desired to work with.
The afore mentioned Rosemary Clooney is someone whose
singing Michael had adored from the time he was a child. Her singing was
something that went to his heart in a way that made him feel that he knew her
and he desired to meet her. Fate conspired to make that happen when Michael
started working for Ira Gershwin. They met and she became like a second mom.
She always referred to Michael as her sixth kid.
Singing with Rosemary was one
of the most joyous experiences he ever had on stage because she was so
connected to everything she sang and such deep love in her music that it filled
Michael up and opened him up in ways that was very special.
Michael is very present and in the moment and is not able to
visualize where he will be in five years.
eason
Three of "Michael Feinstein's American Songbook" premieres on PBS in
April (Courtesy: Amber Edwards)
Courtesy Amber Edwards
He can tell me desires. One thing
that he still hopes to do someday is to write a musical. He has worked on a
number of shows. He worked on one show for five years called The Gold Room. There is talk that it
might be produced in England. He sees musicals on Broadway these days that are
so misguided in not recognizing the basic tenet of what makes a musical great,
which is a song comes a moment in the plot when that emotion cannot be expressed
in any other way. In the three or four minutes of that song, it should move the
audience forward emotionally in a quantum leap.When the words can’t be said, they should be sung. And when they can’t
be sung, they should be danced.
Michael misses that in musicals. He feels that
that is something he can do.
George Gershwin is one of Michael’s heroes in the arts,
George Abbott, also. Michael always admired Hugh Martin for his extraordinary
variety in what he wrote. His songs always had an unexpected quality to them.
They were not where you would expect them to go. They always had a lyrical or
musical surprise in them that Michael loved and yet they were extremely
accessible. The composer, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, is a favorite composer of
Michael’s. Michael tends to gravitate to the more romantic writer, a more
melodic and harmonic palate that is rooted in a romantic expression. Oscar Levant is a hero or an anti-hero! He had
such a tormented soul but still had such greatness in him that he was never able
to recognize.
His work inspires Michael.
On the set of Shall We Dance, 1936: (L
to R) Hermes Pan, Fred Astaire, Mark Sandrich, Ginger Rogers, George, Ira Gershwin
& Nat Shilkret.
PHOTO COURTESY Ira and
Leonore Gershwin Trusts (Thank you, Amber Edwards)
I asked Michael what work he had done the day of the
interview to make himself a better artist.
He meditated for forty-five minutes.
Working for Ira Gershwin for six years and one month changed
Michael’s life.
It was his college education. It was the turning point in
turning Michael towards what he does now. Rosemary Clooney was also important.
Liza Minnelli greatly changed Michael’s life. They first met in 1983.
Liza on the set of her mom's Summer Stock with Gene Kelly and Phil Silvers (Courtesy: Amber Edwards)
Liza
opened up musical possibilities to Michael that he had not experienced before.
Just watching how she creates an interpretation of a song or a performance and
the attention to details and the orchestrations and the movement of a hand in
the moment and making it seem so organic is one of the greatest lessons he has
ever had in interpretation and how to reach people.
Liza, Michael thinks in
spite of all of her extraordinary success, is greatly underestimated.
She is so
spectacular and she is so damned smart and so articulate. She is one of the
most brilliant people that Michael has ever encountered.
He just adores her.
There have been a lot of questions regarding the future of
Feinstein’s, the club. They are currently scouting new locations for it.
Hunter Hayes
Michael desires to open a larger nightclub and have a place for dancing and a backroom
with a piano bar, a nightclub truly in the classic tradition. Offers have
actually been placed on two separate locations. They are waiting to see how
negotiations go.
He suspects that by autumn, a new room will be opening. As far
as personal activities this year, Michael is preparing for his first engagement
as a conductor with the Pasadena Pops. He is taking over Marvin Hamlisch’s
post. It will be taking up a lot of his time.
He is also continuing programs
for his NPR series called Song Travels.
They began their second season this past January. They are one hour shows that
are half conversation and half music. He interviews artists, everyone from
Joshua Bell to Wynton Marsalis to Bette Midler to Eric Hutchinson to Gloria
Gaynor to Jake Shimabukuro, the ukulele virtuoso to Hunter Hayes, who just
turned twenty one and is one of the great musical luminaries of the County
scene. He’s got a great future ahead of him. He’s an amazing artist. This show
has been fantastic because it stretches Michael out of his comfort zone and
educates him a lot in different types of music. He often performs with these
artists on the show and loves doing that although it takes tremendous
preparation and work. He will continue to do those. Listen to guest Stephen Holden into "Tambourine Man" and "A Case of You" with host http://n.pr/URTWJn
How would Michael define bravery? Bravery is moving through
fear and trusting that the outcome will be correct regardless of what it is.
Michael’s biggest vice is probably food. He is a vegan. He
eats healthy in the sense that he has had no animal products for ten years and
his body reflects that as tests go. Heart disease and other issues run in his
family and every year his checkup is impeccable. However, he still binges on
vegan food which can be a lot of carbohydrates and causes him a lot of pain
sometimes for doing that even though he is very mindful of his weight and all
that.Nobody would necessarily know or see that. He believes there have been
times when it has been visible in the past.
with Jeremy Denk (Courtesy Amber Edwards)
Michael’s greatest virtue is to make people feel better or
happier through his music although he hasn’t spent much time thinking about
this. Michael’s secret to longevity is reducing stress in whatever
ways that are possible.
If Michael could go back to any year in his life, there are
several possibilities. His first impulse is to go back to the time he met Ira
Gershwin in 1977.
That was a very important year for Michael. He moved to
California and met Ira and was meeting a lot of other important people in Los
Angeles that changed his life.
Of course, he’d like to go back with the wisdom
he has now. He wishes that he made a few different choices at that time. There
were so many people that he met through Ira. He didn’t always ask the questions
he now wishes he’d asked. He didn’t always do what he wishes he had done. That
was such a magical time. Before he met Ira, he thought that his entire life
would be spent in piano bars which satisfied him but he would have missed a lot
of things that have happened since then.
When Michael is working, he needs to be completely alone. He
cannot be disturbed. He is a very solitary person and a very shy person.
with Stephen Sondheim
He
needs to stay focused. That is why he is not out a lot at night. That is time
when he can be alone without a lot of distractions.
Michael Feinstein's Great American Songbook High School Vocal
Academy and Competition is a celebration of the Golden Age of American Popular
music. This program is the only high school vocal competition in the U.S.
dedicated solely to the music from Broadway, Hollywood musicals and the Tin Pan
Alley era of the early to mid-twentieth century. The Vocal Academy &
Competition was created to provide an opportunity for young people to
experience firsthand this uniquely American music and its cultural
significance.
I spoke to Michael about expanding this program beyond high
school to different age brackets. He thinks it is a really great idea. He
agrees that there are many with extraordinary talents who haven’t had the
chance or the opportunity or the breaks to share it. It is something he will
truly think about. Of course, the fundamental challenge is that people are
inclined to get more enthusiastic about youth. Sadly, this is a youth oriented
worldand even in his own career,
Michael feels that he has been able to sustain because he has worked very hard
at reinventing himself and yet staying true to his musical ideals.
The Gershwins (Courtesy Amber Edwards)
Show
business is one of the hardest professions in that respect. Michael has
tremendous respect for talent and compassion for people who haven’t the
opportunity to fulfill that talent.
Michael is going to think about this and see if
there isn’t something he can create.
I asked Michael if he had been in despair over a project and
if so, how he overcame that despair.
He answered yes; he has been in despair
over a project. One of the things that he has had to work on through his life
is fear and he has had to push through that fear many times in his life with
varying degrees of success. Now he has become better equipped to do that. He
knows how to move through fear by focusing on the goal he wishes to achieve by
becoming as prepared as he can. He has learned to let go of the chatter in his
conscious mind. It is the conscious brain that sabotages the balance of not
being able to contemplate or meditate and it will take over and cause any of us
to crash and burn. So, for Michael, he understands that when a negative thought
comes into his mind on something that he is working on, that “it ain’t
necessarily so.” It is learning to move forward and focus on the work.
There are certain songs that Michael looks forward to
singing as he gets older, such as This is
All I Ask which is a beautiful song of maturity. It is a song of advanced
years. There are certain songs that should only be sung at certain periods in
our lives. Blame It On My Youth, Michael jokingly says he may have to stop singing
since he is fifty six! A singer can only sing the song Too Youngwhen they are too
young or close to that. There are a lot of Sondheim songs that Michael loves.
He adores Sondheim’s work, and yet, he hasn’t sung some of those songs because
he knows that Sondheim prefers, as he has told him, in a theater setting
EXACTLY as he wrote them. Because of that, Michael has become intimidated at
the thought of singing Sondheim’s songs because he might not like the way they
are interpreted.
Ira Gershwin and Michael Feinstein on Ira's 81st birthday...Photo courtesy Michael Feinstein
Karen Morrow in my interview with her had an interesting comparison
between Jerry Herman and Stephen Sondheim. She has done shows by each and
concerts honoring each.
She feels that Herman’s music is audience driven and
that Sondheim’s are character driven.Michael is not crazy, for example, about the song Send in the Clowns and yet he loved it the way Bernadette Peters
did it when he saw her in A Little Night
Music. Yet, for Michael, he doesn’t hear great emotion when he hears it. It
feels more clinical to him and that’s just an emotional or visceral response to
it. That can happen with a song.
Does Michael believe in reincarnation? It is a matter of
fact and course for him.
I ended the interview by asking Michael how he would like to
be remembered. This may seem odd but he doesn’t care if he is remembered.
To Michael, life is absolutely about living life in the moment.
We have no control on
what is going to happen after we die. He finds it destructive to think about
what he would like people to remember him for. That is an expression of ego
that will not serve him.Whether he
thinks about it or not, Michael WILL be remembered!
Season
Three of "Michael Feinstein's American Songbook" premieres on PBS in
April, as follows:
Show Tunes, featuring Stephen Sondheim, Angela
Lansbury, and Christine Ebersole: Friday, April 5, 9 PM
followed immediately by Let's Dance, featuring Liza Minnelli and rare
clips of Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire: Friday, April 5, 10 PM
McCarthy Radio (Courtesy Amber Edwards)
On the Air about the history of radio with
guest appearances by violinist Joshua Bell: Friday, April 12th, 10 PM.(Be sure to check local listings for your own
PBS station.)
Michael Feinstein appears at Modell PAC at the Lyric May 9 benefitting the Myerbeg Center in Baltimore Buy tickets HERE
Tickets for Michael Feinstein at the Jewish Community Center in San Franciso are sold out, but do not fear! Watch the live stream at http://jccsf.org/live on 3/3, 7pm.
Thank
you Michael Feinstein for the gifts you have given to the world and will continue
to give!
With grateful XOXOXs ,
Check out my site celebrating my forthcoming book on Hello, Dolly!
I desire this to be a definitive account of Hello, Dolly! If any of you reading this have appeared in any production of Dolly, I'm interested in speaking with you! Do you
have any
pics?
NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!
Please do what YOU can to be more aware that words and actions DO HURT...but they can also heal and help! My next blog will be... My
Exclusive interview with Nancy Opel about Hello, Dolly and her upcoming run at the Ford Theater in Washington, DC!
Thank you, to all the mentioned in this blog!
Here's to an INCREDIBLE tomorrow for ALL...with NO challenges!
I'm celebrating Justin Vivian Bond, Lainie Kazan and Jenifer Lewis on Monday, March 4th, 2013 at 6:30 pm The Bistro Awards
Hope you can make
it. It’s going to be a party!
Reserve today if
that date is available! Call me if any questions!
community, Margaret was a very open welcoming presence.
Sheet Music Society.
