Celebrity
The Glorious Corner
Kal Rudman with Bee Gees
KAL’S HAS LEFT THE ROOM — There was a major blip on the music-industry radar screens last week (yes, and it wasn’t even remotely about the Grammys), legendary Kal Rudman, of the Friday Morning Quarterback, retired. After 52 years of leading one of the most influential tip sheets in the business, Kal has left the room.
Kal was often referred to as the Man with the Golden Ears.
I remember going with an artist to the revered Friday Morning Quarterback offices in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, eons ago ago and as we got closer and closer to the door, I realized that not only was the door made of metal -or, at least something resembling metal- there was a guard right outside.
Knowing how influential the sheet was, it didn’t surprise me at all. There was a time in the music business, when records were promoted with things like cash or illegal substances, so there was a rhyme to the reason of it all.
Now, I’m not inferring anything here, a lot of good was done as well, but it was indeed distinctly ominous often back then. Once we entered, it was a jovial atmosphere inside and Kal treated my artist with tender-loving-care. He really did believe in the industry and took the care and time to greet the artists who visited him there; be it Bruce Springsteen or Boy George or Mariah Carey.
That’s where this whole thing gets a bit spooky; the music industry back then was such an infectious one, that everyone wanted to be in it. And, that said, along the way, it picked up some rather notorious figures.
As times changed; labels folded; creative people passed and the Internet reared its head; intimate visits to tip sheets and trade papers became a thing of the past.
I remember trade sheets like Joe Loris’ IMPACT and Sidney Miller’s Black Radio Exclusive being must-reads. I also loved Record World and Cashbox, which ultimately lost the trade-papers wars to Billboard. But, Billboard, owned by the Hollywood Reporter these days, isn’t even the same as it was.
Names like Irv Lichtman; Bill Wardlow; Radcliffe Joe; Bob Austin; Marty Ostrow; Mike Sigman; John Sippel; Nelson George; Brian Chin and Vince Aletti all gone.
Still FMQB was a standout trade of the times. Well down Kal!
LET IT BE — Director Peter Jackson previewed a few minutes of his upcoming documentary based on the Beatles’ Let It Be movie over last weekend.
Variety reports the screening took place at Universal Music’s annual showcase that coincided with the Grammy Awards. Jeff Jones of Apple Records said because of the perception that the 1970 movie was a depressing look at the Beatles coming apart, Jackson was brought in to digitally clean up old footage, removing what reporter Jem Aswad described as the “murky, shadowy atmosphere” of the original. It’s a process similar to what the director did when colorizing the World War I footage in They Shall Not Grow Old.
“We have created a brand-new film that will attempt to bust the myth that the Let It Be sessions were the final nail in the Beatles’ coffin,” Jones said.
According to Aswad, Jackson succeeded based on what was shown. “An amazing counter-narrative to [the] Let It Be film has ensued,” he wrote. “It’s brighter both visually and spiritually, with many, many shots of the Beatles joking around, making fun of each other, singing in silly accents and generally indulging in vintage mop-top hi-jinks. It also features many scenes of the group rehearsing songs from the Abbey Road album — their true swan song, which would be recorded over the following summer — and even rough versions of songs that would appear on solo records. On the basis of this clip, Beatles fans will lose their minds over this film.”
Jackson’s film was announced almost exactly one year ago, saying he was given access to 55 hours of video and 140 hours of audio in order to create the “ultimate ‘fly on the wall’ experience” about the sessions. He called it an “amazing historical treasure trove. Sure, there are moments of drama – but none of the discord this project has long been associated with.” He added that the material was “funny, uplifting and surprisingly intimate.”
While the title and release date of Jackson’s project haven’t been announced yet, it’s believed it will be called Get Back — the album’s original title — and coming out in October, based on an pre-order listing for a companion book that showed up on Amazon earlier this month.
I very clearly remember seeing the original Get Back movie when it first came … and, I loved it. It showed the group working and was a true cinema-verité project. I honestly don’t know if I want to see a happy-go-lucky documentary. What was the pitch to Jackson? make a happy-go-lucky Beatles movie?
Whatever truly happened – and, no whitewashing will ever really work – was something historic and I think I want it to remain that way.
SILVERMAN PASSES — Fred Silverman, the legendary television producer and executive behind such groundbreaking shows as All in the Family, Soap and Hill Street Blues, and the only executive to creatively run CBS, ABC and NBC, died Thursday at his home in Pacific Palisades, LA. He was 82.
Silverman’s knack for identifying hit shows in the making and programming them into memorable prime-time nights led Time magazine to crown him “The Man with the Golden Gut” in 1977.
“There are a lot of things that I can point to that I think are proud achievements,” Silverman said in a 2001 interview with the TV Academy Foundation. “Most importantly, I had the opportunity to kind of stretch the medium a little bit, to do some things that had never been done before.”
Born on September 13, 1937, in New York City, Silverman’s master’s thesis at Ohio State University examined ABC’s television programming. He started his career at WGN-TV in Chicago — where he created such programs as Zim-Bomba, Bozo’s Circus and Family Classics — and WPIX in New York City. The young Silverman so impressed the top executives at CBS that he was named head of CBS daytime programming at 25.
He rose to VP Programming at CBS and was responsible for a new wave of hit comedy, drama and variety series. Amid the famous “rural purge” of the early 1970’s, the likes of Green Acres, The Beverly Hillbillies, Mayberry R.F.D. and Petticoat Junction were replaced by socially conscious fare including All in the Family, spinoff Maude, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and M*A*S*H.
Other CBS series launched during Silverman’s tenure included The Waltons, The Jeffersons, Good Times, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, Kojak, Cannonand the animated — and later iconic — Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
“I had always thought that kids in a haunted house would be a big hit, played for laughs, in animation,” he said in a 2001 interview. “[I] developed a show with Hanna-Barbera, and there was a dog in there, but the dog was in the background; it was much more serious. … [CBS President] Frank Stanton says, ‘We can’t put that on the air, that’s just too frightening.’ I booked a red-eye and I couldn’t sleep. I’m listening to music and as we’re landing, Frank Sinatra comes on, and I hear him say ‘Scooby-do-be-do.’ It’s at that point I said, ‘That’s it, we’ll take the dog — we’ll call it Scooby-Doo.”
After a successful run at CBS, Silverman was named President of ABC Entertainment. He green-lighted hit primetime series including Happy Days spinoff Laverne & Shirley — which was the No. 1 show in all of primetime for the 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons — Charlie’s Angels, The Love Boat, Family, Donny & Marie, Three’s Company, Eight Is Enough, The Bionic Woman and Good Morning America.
Another popular Happy Days spinoff of the late 1970’s was Mork & Mindy, which dropped Robin Williams’ oddball alien into his own series and launched the future Oscar winner’s career. Williams called out the executive in a Roots-themed bit on his manic 1979 comedy album Reality … What a Concept, shouting, “I found you, Fred Silverman! I found youuuuuu!”
Silverman reinvented the television miniseries with the Peabody and Emmy-award winning Roots, which drew massive ratings over multiple nights in January 1977 and fueled a golden era of the format. He also reintroduced game shows to the network’s daytime slate, including The Price Is Right and Family Feud, which still are on the air today.
Under Silverman’s watch, ABC quickly moved from third to first place in the network ratings wars.
In 1978, joined NBC as President. There he greenlighted the influential cop drama Hill Street Blues, supervised the launch of the miniseries Shōgun and gave David Letterman his first series as a host. He scheduled series including The Facts of Life, Diff’rent Strokes, Gimme a Break! and reality forebear Real People and also was credited with revitalizing NBC’s news division.
Silverman memorably was spoofed by John Belushi in a 1978 Saturday Night Live sketch about TV programming. It wasn’t the only time SNL would poke fun at the veteran exec.
After decades as a television executive, Silverman turned his attention to production. He moved to Los Angeles to begin his own production company, quickly churning multiple hits including two series aimed at older audiences that brought back stars from 1960’s CBS hits: Andy Griffith in Matlock and Dick Van Dyke in Diagnosis Murder.
He also produced two other dramas that starred former Eye Network series frontmen: the Carroll O’Connor-led In the Heat of the Night and Cannon star William Conrad’s Jake and the Fatman, from which Diagnosis Murder was spun off. Silverman also revived CBS’ Perry Mason as a TV movie series that again starred Raymond Burr. Paul Sorvino and later Hal Holbrook stepped into the lead of those telepics after Burr’s 1993 death.
He went on to produce a number of TV movies into the new century, his last being Drive Time Murders in 2006.
Silverman never was even nominated for an Emmy or Golden Globe as a producer, but in 1995, he received the Women in Film Lucy Award, which recognizes excellence and innovation in creative works that have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television.
Silverman loved television — as a medium and as a profession. At age 21, he applied for his first job in TV, saying later: “An employee in the industry should treat his job not just as a means of earning a living but as a challenge, always looking to better that which has been done in the past. Most important of all, such an individual must have a sincere interest and love for the profession.”
SHORT TAKES —ABC’S Emergence ended its first (and, hopefully not last) season last week with a finale that was good, but left a myriad of questions. As far as I’m concerned, this show was the best new show of the fall season …
Robert Miller’s Project Grand Slam is in the studio recording their next album. Not yet titled, expect it the spring. Remember their debut Long Island performance at My Father’s Place is February 21. Here’s a terrific article from Markos Papdatos in Digital Journal on them: http://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/music/project-grand-slam-to-make-long-island-debut-at-my-father-s-place/article/566165 … Celebrity-writer Mark Bego is off to LA next week for Elton John’s yearly Oscar-event at the Pacific Design Center. He’ll attend with Supreme-Mary Wilson. This year, however, EJ has to be at the Dolby Theater, where he’s nominated for Best Song from Rocketman. And, yes, he’s performing.
Speaking of Bego, we were leaked some fabulous news for one of his books. As soon as we can reveal it, we will … Actress Jennifer Westfeldt was simply terrific as Sophie’s mom Claire, who passed, on last week’s This Is Us. This NBC-show still has it with compelling performances and aces-on writing. Bravo … And, Harry Harrison, one of the legendary “Good Guys” of New York AM rock and roll radio, then later a member of talk radio’s so-called “All Americans,” has died. His death was announced on WCBS/101.1 FM, where Harrison ended his career, with a posting on its website which read: “Today we say so long to former American radio personality WCBS-FM and ‘Jack’ FM DJ Harry Harrison. He has passed away at 89 years old after battling health issues.” Over a 40-year span in New York, Harrison was once as familiar as the first cup of coffee or the drive to work. His “Good Guy” moniker — eventually shared with WMCA personalities Jack Spector, B. Mitchel Reed, Dan Daniel, Joe O’Brien and Dean Anthony — had indeed been earned. Harrison’s style was genial, non-combative and approachable, in sharp contrast to those who would come after, notably Don Imus and Howard Stern. How sharp? Best to recall Harrison’s famed sign-offs for that answer: “Stay well, stay happy, stay right here” or “Harry Harrison wishing you all the very best, because that’s exactly what you deserve.” And of course, “Every day should be unwrapped like a precious gift.” Or this: In 1965, he recorded a spoken-record hit called “May You Always,” with lines like “may you find a little island of time … to visit that lonely friend on the other side of town,” or “may that long and lonely night be brightened by the telephone call you’ve been waiting for.” Unashamedly sentimental, “May You Always” became both holiday staple and Harrison’s “Good Guy” validation. In tribute, the station posted a recording of “May You Always” on its website.
NAMES IN THE NEWS — Tom & Lisa Cuddy; Mark Simone; Jim Kerr; Randy Alexander; Richard Branciforte; Race Taylor; Jane Blunkell; Jodi Ritzen; David Criblez; Fred DiSipio; Herb Rosen; Fred Deane; Curtis Urbina; Abe Wald and ZIGGY!
G.H. Harding
SO LONG, FAREWELL — I’ve been a TV-guy for decades; from Mary Tyler Moore; MASH; The X-Files and Seinfeld on down; I’ve seen great shows fall low with just terribly written finales, but the final-Ted Lasso episode this week was nothing short of brilliant. The acting, the writing, the joie de vivre off the charts.
Joie de vivre literally translates into the joy of living and the three seasons of Ted Lasso were all just sensational in every way. Sure, there were some standout episodes (Beard After Hours), but Jason Sudeikis and gang were always just wonderful. Some pundits said that this third season ran off the rails a bit, but this last episode neatly tied them all up. And I’d be remiss in not mentioning the brilliant music that accompanied each and every episode; from The Monkees’ “Sometime In The Morning” to the new Ed Sheeran record which debuted in this last episode. Just so neatly done.
Hannah Waddingham
I’ll tell you what I really liked from the get-go was the fact that this episode began after Ted clearly told Rebecca he was going home in the last episode. The fact that they didn’t show it, made it a lot easier to digest. Hannah Waddingham is a star and she had her moment with Ted, in the seats, asking him one more time to stay.
She’s going to be as huge star, so get ready to see a lot more of her.
Brett Goldstein too (Roy Kent) was just tremendous. He’s huge already!
Roy Kent became the new coach of AFC Richmond with Nate as an able assistant. Ted Crimm (James Lance) finished his book originally titled The Lasso Way, but Ted after reading it and loving it, wanted a new title. Hence, The Richmond Way.
Just a great episode; a tad longer at 76-minutes, but richly written and acted. I am going to miss this show tremendously.
Utterly brilliant in every way.
Milli Vanilli
MILLI VANILLI — (Via Deadline) A feature doc about controversial pop group Milli Vanilli has been picked up by Paramount +.
The eponymous doc, which tells the story of the duo who were forced to return their Grammy Award for Best New Artist after it was revealed that they didn’t sing on any of their records, is premiering at the Tribeca Festival.
The streamer will launch the doc in the U.S. as well as in Canada, the U.K., Australia, Latin America, Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
Produced by MRC and MTV Entertainment Studios, Milli Vanilli tells the story of Robert Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan, who became fast friends during their youth in Germany. With Rob coming from a broken home and Fabrice having left an abusive household, they shared a similar upbringing, as well as a future goal: to become famous superstars. In a few short years, their dreams came true. Their first album went platinum six times in 1989, and their hit Girl You Know It’s True sold over 30 million singles worldwide. Rob and Fab became the world’s most popular pop duo in 1990. However, their ascension to success came with a devastating price that ultimately led to their infamous undoing.
“For over 30 years, the story of Milli Vanilli – in particular Rob and Fab – has been reduced to sensational headlines,” said director Luke Korem. “With this documentary, we pull back the curtain on pop music. Featuring interviews with the real singers, record executives, the producer mastermind behind the deception and exclusive interviews with Rob and Fab, we unveil the truth of this complex, exciting and dramatic story. I’m thrilled that Paramount+ shares our vision and will bring this film to audiences around the world.”
“Finally – the true story of Milli Vanilli has been told,” added Fabrice Morvan. “I’m thankful Luke Korem and his team went to the lengths that they did. The journey I returned to during the filming of this documentary didn’t leave any stone unturned. At last I can close this chapter in peace… Get ready to take a walk in our steel-toe boots.”
Flatiron Building
SHORT TAKES — Nomad’s Flatiron Building looks to be turned into a residential house. Not a bad idea at all. Great address (175 Fifth) and a great location … Brian Lowry, who used to cover TV for Variety, now is at CNN. Great writer and he did a fantastic book on The X-Files years back. Congrats …
Donnie Kehr at Steve Walter’s CuttingRoom Sunday performing his Beautiful Strange album live … As you can well imagine, the reviews for Succession’s finale were just tremendous; both pro and con for certain, The Washington Post ran an interesting piece on the show as well; from a more medical-point of view. I loved it; take a look: https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/05/30/succession-wealth-family-life-psychologists/ …
Slade
Daryl Easlea: a brilliant writer from the U.K. has a book coming out on Slade entitled Whatever Happened To Slade?Remember them?
A Bronx Tale
Here’s the cover … To close this year’s Tribeca Festival, there will be a special 30th anniversary screening of the film, A Bronx Tale, Saturday, June 17. After the film, Robert DeNiro (who directed the movie), Jane Rosenthal, and Chazz Palminteri will participate in a live conversation with David Remmick, editor of the New Yorker. Definitely one of the major highlights of this year’s fete … (Via Showbiz 411):
Billy Joel
Billy Joel is wrapping it up. The Piano Man will end his record-breaking run at Madison Square Garden in July 2024. It will be his 150th monthly show. The whole run has been an incredible success, allowing Billy to stay mostly close to him and bring all his fans to him. At times, he’s strayed to other cities and countries, but every month like clockwork he’s been at the Garden playing his hits to very happy fans. The sold out residency began back in 2014, believe it or not. Billy has outlasted dozens of Broadway shows, some mayors, governors, presidents, etc. The run has been a phenomenon and a stunning success. Joel will turn 75 next May, so that plus the magic 150 number and it all makes sense … Happy Bday Melani Rogers; Ronnie Wood; and David Keeps.
NAMES IN THE NEWS — Daryl Easlea; Tony King; David Geffen; Ed Rosenblatt; Glenn Friscia; Jim Burgess; Kent Denmark; Mikael Wood; Lester Bangs; Anne Leighton; Vince Aletti; Fred Goodman; Mark Bego; Mike Greenblatt; Ken Dashow; Jane Rosenthal; Robert DeNiro; Tom & Lisa Cuddy; Markos Papadatos; and ZIGGY!
G.H. Harding
FAMILY’S A BITCH-THE END OF SUCCESSION — Sunday’s finale of Succession (HBO) was a mixed bag. I’ll be honest: At first I thought the finale was totally underwhelming, but after some additional thought and reading some other excellent reviews, I’ve come to the point where I now believe it was, pure and simple, how it had to end.
Joss Stone
None more so than Joss Stone on “I Put A Spell On You.” What a voice. I’m amazed she’s not bigger; very Janis Joplin.
Gary Clark
Also, Gary Clark delivered a blistering, amazing performance on Stevie Wonder’s “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers.” No question that he’s the next guitar-wizard. Here they both are: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvO2_noxaXQ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO2BLAXveVo …
The Flash
I watched all 9 seasons of the CW’s The Flash and the first 5 were pretty terrific. The remaining ones got poorer and poorer as the original cast disappeared one by one. Grant Gustin, The Flash, was there the whole time, but their finale last week was terribly confusing – save for a song by Tony Award winner Jesse L. Martin (for Rent) – a key member of the original cast. The last two seasons had a myriad of costumed villains, some from the comic, some not, but just wildly messed up. The CW was sold to Nexstar last year and big changes are in their future. Sad … and, CNN is reporting that Universal Music is close to snapping up the rights to the Queen-catalog for $1 billion-plus. Good for them.
Queen
Disney had it previously, but Queen’s music is more popular than ever before. It’s a real shame Freddie is not her to share in it. If you wondered the record for the biggest previously was for Bruce Springsteen’s catalog at $500 million.
Ramon Hervey has earned global recognition as a highly regarded entertainment manager, brand consultant & publicist who has represented Richard Pryor, Bette Midler, Paul McCartney, the Bee Gees, Muhammad Ali, Caitlyn Jenner, Quincy Jones, Vanessa Williams, The Commodores with Lionel Richie, the Jacksons with Michael Jackson and a whole lot more A Listers. He is the author of the book…The Fame Game: An Insider’s Playbook for Earning Your 15 minutes.
After having invested 4 decades in playing the fame game, Ramon and I sat down to talk on The Motivation Show podcast.
Ramon, why do you call fame a “game” and why did you choose that word for your book title? “Fame is unpredictable, just as are the results in a game. Everyone has failures. You hope to win, but it is not guaranteed. Only .0065% of over 7 billion people in the world are famous. There are a lot of successful people in the world that never become famous. Fame and success don’t come with a warranty.”
What does Ramon feel about luck playing a role in success and fame? “I think there is a certain amount of luck in what I do. A lot of it is timing. Timing is a form of luck.” One example Ramon gives is when Starbucks started to introduce music in it’s cafes. The first one was Ray Charles, who died shortly thereafter, which skyrocketed sales of his music. That sales surge is what Ramon attributed to luck.
The pursuit of fame…is it mostly a positive goal? “Most people don’t know what fame is til they already become famous. A lot of stars change their mind about what they thought fame was going to be. A lot of people don’t like all the baggage that comes with being famous. The lack of privacy. In my time on the planet, it has definitely changed dramatically over the past ten years.” Ramon points to Social Media and it’s impact on more people having an opportunity to become famous in different ways than were available previously.
Why did Richard Pryor, at the height of his fame, attempt suicide & what was the famous incident which almost killed him that he later confessed to as a suicide attempt? “I managed all of Richard’s missteps. He was probably the #1 black entertainer in the world at that time. It’s not my fame. It’s their fame. I think Richard always felt guilty about his fame. He didn’t think he could live up to the level of fame that he achieved. That created an albatross around his neck. It made him rely on more substances to sedate him and calm himself. He reached the point that he did not want to become that person anymore. For the longest time he said that he didn’t (try to commit suicide), he said it was an accident. Richard always found a way to market his vulnerability. All of his comedy focused on all of his missteps. He had shot all four tires on his Mercedes and told his wife during a fight that you are not going to leave in that car. He put that into his comedy. He did it the exact opposite way of what we would advise which would be to put the incidences behind you. I don’t know anyone else that was as successful as him in marketing all of the things he did wrong.”
When asking Ramon about what type of confident personality one has to have to become famous he says, “I do believe you have to have a big ego and a certain amount of self confidence to be successful. Every famous person I met took a different path to get it and they all loss some level of fame at some point.”
Can you give us an example of someone you managed very well? “I am very proud of my relationship with Bette Midler. She helped to blossom my career. I was never her manager, but I was her publicist. I did work in a management capacity…she didn’t have a manager. I have a great appreciation and fondness for her. Also, working with my ex-wife Vanessa Williams on her crisis management. I did not know her at the time she was embroiled in the Miss America controversy. She resigned here title and I am glad she did. We got married and had three kids together and I managed her career. It took ten years for her to get her life back after she resigned from the Miss America pageant where she was just called Vanessa Williams without alluding to any prior controversy.”
In discussing his earlier years, Ramon shares two musical giants that helped shape his career. “In my book, I try to enlighten people about the trajectory of my own fame. My first client I got to work with was Paul McCartney. My initial task was to put together a press kit. That shaped my next 4 or 5 years when I got an opportunity to work with Quincy Jones who is the first client I brought to Rogers & Cowan who I was working with at the time. He was someone I treasured to be in his presence because he had so many great stories and so much great insight.”
Ramon muses in his book about fame, that the more you get, the harder it is to manage. I asked him if there are any other examples like that. “Probably the worst case scenario was Rick James. He had a very troubled childhood. For him, fame meant he put himself above people. He created a lot of bad blood. The way that he treated people. A lot of people did not want him to win. He always had a great fan base, but I think his fame was toxic for him. He self-destructed. He was obsessed with fame and all the hoopla and perks. He loved being the king of everything. He was very demanding. He did not know how to manage his fame.”
In closing, I ask Ramon, what he is most proud of. “I am proud of my reputation. I have never been sued. I’ve always approached business with a great deal of integrity. I’ve always worked really hard. I’ve always tried to be honest with my clients. Authentic and transparent. I think that is much better than being a yes man.”
So when I think of fame, I think of getting the best table in the best restaurants. I think about people idolizing me. I also think about people interrupting my conversation and my meal for photos and autographs. Do I really want that…or do I just want a nice, quiet, peaceful meal. Hmmm…some food for thought. How about you? Do you want to be part of the Fame Game?
You can listen to Eli’s podcast The Motivation Show on any podcast listening app or use this Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NVmTDAvGbzooN8TCW7tuN. To contact Eli or to have him speak at your event, email motivatea2z@gmail.com.
G.H. Harding
LASSO’S MOM CITY — I believe that the best ever episode of Ted Lasso was dropped this week, entitled Mom City. It started off innocently enough with Ted leaving for work and walking right past his mother! He realized it and turned back to her. Turns out she had been in London for a week and was just now seeing Ted.
Harry Nilsson
Also, Harry Nilsson’s “Puppy Song” was a key musical moment in the EP. Harry, we love you!
Joel Diamond
SHORT TAKES — The #1 iTunes song currently is Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do with It.” Much deserved … Producer Joel Diamond used to live at 220 Central Park South in NYC. His building was torn down and re-built. It is now part of what they call Billionaire’s Road. WSJ-reporter Katherine Clarke’s new book is about just that.. Via Random House, Billionaire’s Row is out on June 13 …
Sasha Prendes
We dropped the name of new Latino-artist Sasha Prendes last time; we just saw a teaser clip for her new video “Shake This.” Check it out here: https://www.sashaprendes.com/video … Micky Dolenz headlined at this week’s Abbey Road On The River and delivered his usual high-octane performance.
James Burton
He leaves for England this week for the James Burton & Friends/One Night Only event June 4 at London’s Palladium … Terry Jastrow interviewed by Brad Balfour for his podcast this week …
Whoopi Goldberg
ENDQUOTE: Via Deadline: The View’s Whoopi Goldberg Claims ‘American Idol’ Led To The Downfall of Society. Ouch! Check it out here: https://deadline.com/2023/05/the-view-cohost-whoopi-goldberg-claims-american-idol-led-to-downfall-society-1235380500/ … Happy Bday Buddy Blanch and Bobby Shaw!
G.H. Harding
TINA TURNER — Talk about a voice of a generation … my generation for sure. I think one of the first records I ever listened too was one from Ike & Tina Turner and Tina immediately caught my ear and eye. 1973’s “Nutbush City Limits” and later “Proud Mary.” Tina was simply dazzling. She passed Wednesday in Switzerland after a lengthy illness and surviving a stroke.
12 Grammys; 3 Grammy Hall of Fame awards; a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award; the first Black artist and the first female to be on the cover of Rolling Stone; and, in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. And she had her biggest hit when she was in her 40’s. Tina was a ground-breaker in every sense of the word.
From “Nutbush City Limits” to her stunning album, Private Dancer, she was a fierce innovator.
Tom Cuddy with Tina Turner
Author Mark Bego who did two tomes on Tina said: “The passing of rock legend Tina Turner is truly tragic. She was an amazing force of nature as a singer, performer, actress, and international inspiration. Having started out with ex-husband Ike Turner, as part of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in the 1960’s, Tina broke free from an abusive marriage with Ike, and became a solo legend on her own. I was privileged to tell her story in the books Tina Turner: Break Every Rule in 2003, and a German language update in 2009 called Tina Turner: Die Biografie. Her story, her legend, and her timeless music will live on.”
For those in the know: British-singer John Miles (“Slow Down”) toured with Tina in 1987. I knew Miles … great, great talent. Here she is with WOR’s Tom Cuddy, back when he was running WPLJ.
Paul Simon
SIMON OF THE TIMES — (Via Deadline) Singer-songwriter Paul Simon, who at 81 has just released his 15th studio album, titled Seven Psalms, has revealed a recent hearing loss in his left ear and says the condition has left him doubting he’ll tour again.
In an interview with UK’s The Times, Simon said the hearing loss struck while he was writing the new album. “Quite suddenly, I lost most of the hearing in my left ear, and nobody has an explanation for it,” he told the publication. “So everything became more difficult.”
The Graceland singer said he was more frustrated and annoyed than angered by the hearing loss “because I thought it would pass, it would repair itself.” The condition, however, has not improved, and he now has doubts that he’ll perform live again, a decision reinforced by both a 2020 bout with Covid and his lack of enthusiasm for singing some of his old songs.
“The songs of mine that I don’t want to sing live, I don’t sing them,” he told The Times. “Sometimes there are songs that I like and then at a certain point in a tour, I’ll say, ‘What the f*ck are you doing, Paul?’ Quite often that would come during ‘You Can Call Me Al.’ I’d think, ‘What are you doing? You’re like a Paul Simon cover band. You should get off the road, go home.’”
Simon, who lives on a large Texas ranch with wife Edie Brickell, reflected on the recent losses of Gordon Lightfoot and Jeff Beck, noting, “It’s just the age we’re at…My generation’s time is up.”
SHORT TAKES — Brutal review of HBO’s The Idol in Roger Friedman’s always prescient Showbiz 411. Friedman goes to great length to say that the machinations of the music business are not accurately portrayed in the show at all. Truth be told: They’ve never been accurately portrayed. To me, the closest they even came was in Martin Scorsese’s brilliant Vinyl. Euphoria’s Sam Levinson is the force behind this one and I didn’t have any desire to watch it. After reading Roger’s take on it, I probably never will. Check it out here: https://www.showbiz411.com/2023/05/22/cannes-hbo-unveils-the-idol-starring-the-weeknd-abel-tesfaye-and-lily-rose-depp-in-vulgar-gross-outsiders-take-on-pop-life…
Q1043 in NYC giving away DVDs of the recent Neil Bogart-inspired movie Spinning Gold. Sadly, when Justin Timberlake stepped away from portraying Bogart, this movie was DOA. It came out with nary a whisper, terrible reviews and was literally over in three days. I knew Bogart and this could have been a great, great movie. Sad for sure
Eppy; Robert Miller; and David Salidor
We wondered about Robert Miller’s Project Grand Slam (seen here with Eppy from My Father’s Place and PR-pasha David Salidor) and emailed him? No response so far. We’ll keep you posted … NBC just announced that The Blacklist finale will air -two hours- on Thursday, July 13. Suffice to say, it was a sensational show …
Bob Dylan
Happy BDay to Bob Dylan; Mike Myers; Cillian Murphy; and Frank Oz.
NAMES IN THE NEWS — Tony King; Mark Bego; Michael Leon; Adriana Kaegi; Tom & Lisa Cuddy; Mark Knopfler; Daryl Easlea; Russ Titleman; Donnie Kehr; Cori Gardner; Benny Harrison; Steve Walter; Jeff Smith; Vinnie Zuffante; Marion Curtis; Angela Tarantino; Michael Fuchs; Sasha Prendes; and ZIGGY!
My View: Clint Holmes Is In Town!
Golden Moments – Grand Weekend at Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic
Theatre News: Doubt: A Parable, Here Lies Love, Prayer for the French Republic, Eisenhower and Hell’s Kitchen
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Out of Town2 days agoMonty Python’s Spamalot Finds its Grail Hilariously at the Stratford Festival 2023
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Broadway5 days agoThe New Dramatists’ 71st Annual Benefit Luncheon and You are There
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Events3 days agoShakespeare Loose and Rollicking in Bryant Park
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Events5 days agoThe 2023 Excellence in Theatre Education Award
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Uncategorized4 days agoThe New Dramatists’ 71st Annual Benefit Luncheon With Josh Groban, Suzan-Lori Parks, Ban Platt and More
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Events5 days agoSummer of June
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Out of Town2 days agoStratford Festival’s King Lear 2023 Struggles in the Controlled Column of Rain
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Events5 days agoA Golden Night at InterContinental New York Barclay