Tuesday 22 August 2017
In recent years there has been a distinct entertainment trend on the Las Vegas Strip. Some of music’s greatest stars including Mariah Carey, Lionel Richie and others have been putting… Continue reading "Richard Marx is Right Here Waiting at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino until September 2nd: Popstar/Singer/Songwriter Puts on Terrific Show"
Back in February, we had a wide ranging CYInterview with LaMonte McLemore [see here,] a co-founder of the multiple Grammy winning group, The 5th Dimension. Mr. McLemore has led an interesting and varied life as a singer, author, photographer and baseball player. He joins us again for another chat, this time to discuss some of the group's biggest hits. We discuss hits from The 5th Dimension music catalog including: Go Where You Wanna Go, Up, Up and Away, Medley: Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures), (Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All and Wedding Bell Blues. LaMonte also shares stories about fellow 5th Dimension members Billy Davis Jr., Ronald Townson, Florence LaRue and Marilyn McCoo.
LaMonte McLemore is the founder of the Grammy winning musical group The 5th Dimension. The group rose to fame in the 1960s with classic hits including Up-Up and Away, Stoned Soul Picnic and Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In. Though retired from touring and performing, LaMonte is still working on music today. He hopes his latest song, Cease Fire, will be used in peace marches around the world. Mr. McLemore, remarkably, is far more than an award winning musician, as if that is not enough. He has had a long and noteworthy career as a photographer. He was also signed to a major league baseball farm team, in his youth. In photography, Mr. McLemore was one of the individuals who contributed to the early days of African American celebrity media. Along with a partner, he founded a publication called Elegant, featuring rich and famous African Americans. After the magazine folded, he joined with Jet Magazine and for 50 years was the photographer for Jet’s Beauty of the Week feature. The Grammy winner would go on to work with Playboy, Ebony and other publications as well.
In recent years, the Grammys has returned to must see viewing status, owing to an emphasis on performances. Seemingly, people want a main course of big acts performing with a side dish of award show speeches, not vice versa. A good example of a big act making for compelling viewing would be Beyonce's performance at this evening’s show, televised from Los Angeles. Introduced by her mother, Tina Knowles, Beyonce’s performance reminded me of the kind of production that the late, great Michael Jackson would have staged. It was mysterious, unique and will go down in the pantheon of memorable Grammy moments. From what I saw, an instant positive reaction rippled through social media owing to Ms. Knowles performance of Love Drought.
The halftime show at Super Bowl LI at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas came just in time to give Coach Bill Belichick and Quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots time to regroup, their team having been unable to score a touchdown in the first half. At halftime, the score was Atlanta Falcons 21, New England Patriots 3. After scoring a field goal, New England kicked off to Atlanta with but a few seconds remaining. Time immediately ran out. Then came halftime. Making a daring entrance to the field via a cable from the roof, where she had just sung a mini-medley tribute to the United States, Lady Gaga began her Super Bowl set with Poker Face, followed by Born This Way, Telephone, Just Dance, Million Reasons and finally, Bad Romance.
Today, it was announced that three cast members of the hit Broadway show Hamilton will be appearing at Super Bowl 51 to sing America The Beautiful. Hamilton won multiple Tony Awards last year. Renee Elise Goldsberry, Jasmine Cephas Jones and Phillipa Soo will be singing that classic tribute to America. And of course, mega music superstar Lady Gaga is the year's halftime show entertainment. The songwriter’s performance is bound to be the most unique halftime show in Super Bowl history.
On the eve of the Presidential Election, entertainment legend Cher appeared before a crowd, at Hillary Clinton’s Wynwood campaign office in Miami. The Oscar/Grammy/Emmy/Golden Globe winner was on hand to thank supporters of Secretary of State Clinton’s campaign. During her speech, Cher said of Republican nominee Donald Trump, “When someone tells you who they are believe them.” The superstar was referring to the offensive and questionable things Mr. Trump has said during his campaign. Focusing on that subject, our article on the election, Vote No to Trump: The Trump Candidacy, A Cure Worse Than the Disease [see here] goes into some detail about Trump’s words.
Earlier this year we welcomed Grammy winner, singer/songwriter Toni Tennille for an in-depth CYInterview about her autobiography, Toni Tennille: A Memoir. Known for her Captain & Tennille hits like Love Will Keep Us Together and The Way I Want to Touch You, which she performed with “Captain” Darryl Dragon, our conversation with the vocalist is one to remember [see here]. With the audio version of her autobiography up for possible nomination in the Grammy category of Best Spoken Word, we welcome back Toni Tennille to talk about the latest news surrounding her book. Featured columnist Jay Bildstein joins us for this segment. As someone who grew up with Toni Tennille’s music, Jay gets in-depth with the singer about a variety of topics.
For his millions of fans, the death of multitalented music star Prince was a moment many did not expect. Prince passed away on April 21, 2016 at the age of 57. Musician Jason Tenner says he could not eat and barely slept for a few days after the Purple Rain singer’s passing. For over 15 years, Mr. Tenner has done his best to accurately represent Prince on stage. Now, he seeks to pay his respects to the now deceased artist, who so strongly impacted the music industry. On and off the Las Vegas Strip, Mr. Tenner has performed his Prince show titled Purple Reign, for more than a decade. The show comprises Jason Tenner as Prince, his band and various beautiful women. It certainly makes for a memorable evening. The show has a variety of Prince’s music, a few short humorous skits and a tribute that pays respect to the artist, now gone too soon. On the evening of Wednesday, May 25th, I attended Mr. Tenner’s Purple Reign Prince tribute show, which is now at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. The venue that evening was more than 95 percent full. Throughout the entire show, the performance received numerous standing ovations.
The year was 1975 and the Captain and Tennille song, Love Will Keep Us Together, was tearing up the charts. Toni Tennille and her husband Daryl Dragon aka the Captain were one of the most popular male/female music duos of the 1970s. The also titled album, Love Will Keep Us Together, went on to win the Grammy for Record of the Year. Her life with Daryl Dragon, left her longing to bring out the emotional side of her now ex-husband, but she says it was to no avail. In her new autobiography Toni Tennille: A Memoir, the singer shares the highs and lows of her personal and professional life. Worried what her fans would think of her divorce from Daryl, Ms. Tennille clears the air. From playing at a place called the Smoke House in her early days to performing at the White House, this is Toni Tennille’s story. Living today in Florida near her sister Jane, Toni is happy where her life is and wants to reassure her fans that she and Darryl Dragon are still good friends and speak often.
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