Leontyne Price, Robert Wagner, Roberta Flack...and MORE!

Leontyne Price

Accomplishments have no color.
-Leontyne Price, Celebrating Black History Month

Happy February 10th, 2016!
Your Inspiration For Today!
Research has shown that thse who are happiest in old age are the ones who have dealt most successfully with the changes in their lives. Learning to accept and adapt to change is the skill of a lifetime.-Rick Frishman

February 10 is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. 
There are 325 days remaining until the end of the year. 
If you are trying to learn Japanese then this day of the week in Japanese is Getsuyōbi.

Today, I celebrate all that this day holds with a special emphasis on this date in 1964. Where were you? For me, it was the day before my 3rd Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Roberta Flack! 
Internationally hailed as one of the greatest songstresses of our time, GRAMMY Award winning Roberta Flack remains unparalleled in her ability to tell a story through her music. Her songs bring insight into our lives, loves, culture and politics, while effortlessly traversing a broad musical landscape from pop to soul to folk to jazz.
She kills me EVERY TIME I hear THIS song! 

We all remember hearing ‘Killing me softly’ at least once in our lives. And today is the birthday of the voice behind the classic. African-American singer Roberta Flack.
Read MORE

On this date in 1964 – The aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne collides with and sinks the destroyer HMAS Voyager off the south coast of New South Wales, Australia, killing 82.
On February 10th 1964, after breaking American television ratings records with their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show the night before, the Beatles again met with the American press. (See MORE)

The reviews of the Beatles’ Ed Sullivan appearance brought everything back down to earth. The boys paged through a stack of them with feigned indifference early the next morning, Feb. 10, over breakfast in their Plaza suite. The table was strewn with dailies that featured their TV debut prominently. They were delighted at first by the extent of coverage, but their faces soon collapsed into furrows and wrinkled brows reflecting the off-key tone of the criticism. (See MORE)

This ran on February 10th, 1964

Click HERE to see what was happening in the world. There are some special birthdays today. Happy Birthday, Leontyne Price, one of the greatest singers who has ever lived. Mary Violet Leontyne Price is a soprano. Mary Violet Leontyne Price was born February 10, 1927, and raised in the black section of Laurel, Mississippi. Her mother, Kate, was a midwife, and her father, James, worked in a sawmill. She was nurtured under the watchful eye of the community, which extended even to her aunt's employers, The Chisholms, a family who lived in a white, affluent section

of town. Her musical talents were encouraged, and her voice frequently was heard at area social events. One critic characterized Price's voice as "vibrant", "soaring" and "a Price beyond pearls", as well as "genuinely buttery, carefully produced but firmly under control", with phrases that "took on a seductive sinuousness." Time magazine called her voice "Rich, supple and shining, it was in its prime capable of effortlessly soaring from a smoky mezzo to the pure soprano gold of a perfectly spun high C." 
It is also the birthday of Robert Wagner and Roberta Flack, both of whom I love! 

Art is the only thing you cannot punch a button for. You must do it the old-fashioned way. Stay up and really burn the midnight oil. There are no compromises. - Leontyne Price

I would like to tell you about a very special guest who attended my graduation recital. It was none other than the opera star, Miss Leontyne Price . I wrote her a letter asking her to come, but never in my wildest dreams did I think she would attend. After the very last guest had greeted me, you can imagine my surprise when Miss Price came up to me, grabbed me, and said, "Darling here I am". The next day, the president of the Manhattan school of music asked me how I got Leontyne Price to come to my recital. I said simply, "I just asked her and she came" We have been friends ever since. I just want to say to you Happy Birthday, dear Leontyne, From Peggy Eason, Chocolate Diva

 A lirico spinto (Italian for "pushed lyric") soprano, she was considered especially well suited to the roles of Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini, as well as several in operas by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
After her retirement from the opera stage in 1985, she continued to appear in recitals and orchestral concerts until 1997. (Source: Wikipedia)

10 February 1964, Plaza Hotel, New York City

Nine years ago today, President Obama stood on the steps of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois, to announce his candidacy for President of the United States, and today, Carly Fiorina, the former chairwoman of Hewlett-Packard, suspended her presidential campaign,announcing her decisions on social media after poor showings in the New Hampshire and Iowa nominating contests.  (Read MORE) AND New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will suspend his presidential campaign also today, less than 24 hours after a poor finish in the 2016 New Hampshire primary, CNN, Fox Business and the AP report.

To all of my Catholic friends, thinking of you all on this Ash Wednesday. 


In Entertainment News 

I'd like to thank Jeff Macauley for this:

Dinah and Lucy
Lucille Ball, of course, would have to be the undisputed Queen of Television but Dinah Shore was the reigning queen of TV in the late 50s and early 60s and will always be one of broadcasting's immortals. The two women were good friends and appeared on each other's programs, with Dinah having a memorable guest spot on Here's Lucy in 1971.

Their most memorable TV outing, though, would have to be this title number from Dinah's 1969 special "Like Hep," with the added excitement of Miss Diana Ross.
You really should watch THIS.

Feb 24
March 2nd FEINSTEIN'S/ 54 BELOW

Anita Gillette and Penny Fuller return in a sequel to their critically acclaimed, Sin Twisters! This is Sin Twisters, Too! Directed by the incredible Barry Kleinbort with great musical direction by Paul Greenwood. They will take all of us on a great musical romp through their Broadway careers, which have criss crossed from time to time, resulting in confusing the two!...even though they don't look a thing alike! 
This show WILL sell out!
So reserve today and be a part of their star studded audience! Check out this special preview when they dis Sin, Twisters!
And from Sandi Durell
And Stephen Sorokoff 

Every year fans of actress/singer/animal do-gooder Doris Day make the pilgrimage to Carmel (more precisely Carmel’s Cypress Inn—co-owned by Day, Danny and I and our former dog, Chip, stayed here!) to celebrate her birthday on April 3. This happy occasion has become a weekend extravaganza, raising money for the Doris Day Animal Foundation, a non-profit Day started in 1978 that gives grants to other non-profits that “directly rescue, care for, and protect animals.”
Here’s the scoop on what’s happening for her 92nd birthday and how you can be a part of it. Take Doris home with you: Click HERE

Musical Director Herb Bernstein, Linda Amiel Burns (President), Bill Boggs, Richard Skipper, Sandi Durell

Last month, I was lucky enough to present Julie Budd and Bill Boggs to the American Popular Song Society. I am equally excited about the program I am presenting this weekend. Details are below. I hope to see you there.  

Thank you, all of the artists mentioned in this blog ,for the gifts you have given to the world and continue to give! 

Laughter is much more important than applause. Applause is almost a duty. Laughter is a reward.

-Carol Channing

With grateful XOXOXs ,

 

 

Check out my site celebrating the legacy of Jerry Herman's 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!   

       

Happy Birthday, Robert Wagner!

Here's to an INCREDIBLE tomorrow for ALL...with NO challenges!

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Keeping Entertainment LIVE!
 

TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED DAY

Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com

at the American Popular Song Society

Sarah Rice, Broadway's original Johanna of Sweeney Todd, will sing a Valentine's Day concert of songs from the operetta, classical and musical theatre repertoire, with Paul Jackel, in upstate New York, Feb. 14. - See more at: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/kiss-me-sweeney-todds-sarah-rice-sings-of-love-with-paul-jackel-feb.-14-111546#sthash.bYCP2Q2p.dpuf

February 13th, Peter Filichia in conversation with Richard Skipper at American Popular Song Society 

Local 802 AFM 322 W 48th St, New York, New York 10036  AT 1:30PM!

with Musical Director Michael Lavine

MichaelKostroff

 and an all star cast
join  Peter Filichia and Richard Skipper
to celebrate the 1963/64 Broadway Season

Talk/Performance/Book Signing

http://www.americanpopularsongsociety.org 

Call Richard Skipper Celebrates at 845-365-0720 if you need more details.

Many surprises are in store. 
Please contact me if any questions.

Please LIKE Richard Skipper Celebrates on Facebook

Admission is Free for Members/$15.00 for Non-Members .

Doors open at 12:30 for those who want to buy sheet music Also members can take tables and sell their stuff. 2:30 -1:30 "Flea Market" 1:30 seating - showtime: 2:00PM - 3:30.

Michael Kostroff