R.I.P. to the legendary singer Barbara Cook.

R.I.P. Barbara Cook who had one of the most luminescent and distinct voices in the last 100 years.  And she was a master musical "storyteller".  I feel so privileged to have heard her live in concert since my twenties.  I have relished every single album she ever recorded (and they were numerous).  She covered so many to the famous composers in recent musical history.  I remember watching several television concerts (I think they were PBS--let us hope that future generation will not know and appreciate what PBS is and has done).

See the New York Times article from today:  https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/08/theater/barbara-cook-dead.html

I loved all of her portfolio.  She san all the standard Broadway composers, especially the brilliance of her voice in the 50's and 60's Broadway shows that she originated such Leonard Bernstein's Candide and The Music Man, the latter of which garnered her a Tony Award.  She struggled with alcoholism and successfully overcame it.  Gordon Cox, in Variety.com obituary date 8/8/17 shared a quote from Cook:  "For some reason, it occurred to me that if I could find a way to really learn who I am and put that into my work, then there could be no real competition — because there’s only one of me.”

She did.  Following her Broadway career she became a major cabaret/concert singer star for decades. Her voice was always an amazing instrument.  Cook was a deserved recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in 2011.  It appears that she continued to perform until 2010.

I will always be a devotee to the genius of this artist.

One of my favorite songs that she recorded and sang in concert was Janis Ian's, "Stars".   Her rendition truly breaks my heart.  You can see a youtube video of this song by clicking here here:  https://youtu.be/cuUjb9cHJiU

What an amazing life of contribution to art and music and entertainment for decades.  What beauty she brought to the world!

R.I.P. Elaine Stritch. A dame in the best and truest sense.

One of the most remarkable moments of my life was seeing Elaine Stritch in her show at the Cafe Carlyle a few years ago.  We sat literally at a table beneath this goddess's feet.  Every single second was pure magic.  Thank you, La Stritch.   

She gave us "Ladies Who Lunch".  She also gave us the best version of "I'm Still Here."  And so much more.


She may be gone, but she truly left an indelible impression on this world of moxy, humor, intelligence, fortitude and most of all originality.   

Elaine Stritch--LADIES WHO LUNCH--Stephen Sondheim, speaking of beauty

Okay, I admit it. I am crazy for Stephen Sondheim's work. So for those theater people, or otherwise, who find this to be uninteresting then you should move on to the next post. There is, after all, something for everyone on this blog.

Elaine Stritch originated this song on Broadway in Sondheim's musical Company. The song is Ladies Who Lunch. Streisand recorded it later and really did a disservice to the song.......Ladies Who Lunch isn't supposed to be a pretty song. It's beauty is in its anger and its grit. And no one ever sang the song more perfectly realized than Elaine Stritch. She originated the song/role on Broadway. And no one has ever come close to her original interpretation.

Here's a clip of Stritch doing the song in at the turn of the century 99/00 (many years since the she originated the song on Broadway).




I urge you to watch the following youtube excerpt which excerpts a documentary about the original cast recording of Sondheim's Company. This documentary film was done in the last few years and includes Stritch's narration of her own personal crisis during the making of the original cast recording.

Shelly Mullen and Patricia Bradley.....you must watch this clip. And pay particular attention to Stritch's statement about quitting. She's right you know.

I can't embed the video in this in this blog but you can go watch the excerpt of Stritch's recording for the original cast album of this song by clicking here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf52APstI0A

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT-- covers the brilliant Leonard Cohen's HALLELUJAH

Cute dude, classic song and I don't know.........almost as good as Cohen's. I love Leonard Cohen! and I REALLY worship Rufus. Quite a hottie. In this youtube clip, Rufus gives a live performance of "Hallelujah" for an Irish program.



This dude's voice is like velvet. Someday I hope I can see him live and in concert. Some of my favorite Rufus songs: Old Whore's Diet, Oh What a World, The Art Teacher, Grey Gardens and Gay Messiah, to name just a few.

This dude has the biggest cajones......he actually performed Judy Garland's Carnegie concert in its entirety. Now that is ambition. You go, Rufus!

YOU WALK WITH ME--from the musical The Full Monte--by the amazingly talented and beautiful SEAN McDERMOTT

I spent a good part of the day I yesterday trying to figure how to add songs to the blog. So you better all listen up to these!

Some of the songs I love aren't available on youtube videos. So will include them here with an mp3 player. Just press the play button and listen.

This song is from the musical The Full Monty and is sung by Sean McDermott. It's from his album Piece of Sky.


Pretty damn fine song and eye candy no? For more information about Sean, visit his website at http://www.seanmcdermott.com/

DAVID BURNHAM -- sings FLIGHT-- an extraordinarily gifted and beautiful singer sings one of the most perfect of songs--the lyrics are breathtaking

Click on photo to enlarge

This song by the talented songwriter Craig Carnello is literally plumbed, wrung through by David Burnham. All that beauty and all that talent...all in one person.



You can watch this live performance which is wonderful but the sound isn't as good so I used his recording above first.

David Burnham singing "Flight" by Craig Carnelia at the Caffeinated Cabaret in Riverside 4-19-2009 his album is available....Here it is.....he is quite the little hottie, no?



For more information about this talented lad visit his website at http://www.davidburnham.com.

Click on photo to enlarge