Michael Feinstein's American Songbook February 17th on PBS

Follow the link to PBS to find your local broadcast time.

http://www.pbs.org/michael-feinsteins-american-songbook/

JIMMY McHUGH MUSIC SALUTES BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Ella Fitzgerald & Jimmy McHugh

Judy McHugh Presents

an Evening of Jimmy McHugh

at Vitello’s Jazz Club

Judy McHugh is presenting a very special evening of music to salute Black History Month, featuring the music of her grandfather, Jimmy McHugh.

The composer’s indelible ties to the Black community began in the Roaring Twenties, when he was the head music director at New York’s legendary Cotton Club.

There he not only wrote countless songs for the era’s most famous African-American performers, but was also directly responsible for Duke Ellington’s first engagement at the famed Harlem showplace. This was when and where the Duke’s career was launched.

Since then McHugh’s music has been performed and recorded by hundreds of African-American artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole and Smokey Robinson.

Judy McHugh has put together a great talent lineup to cap the month long celebration of Black history, featuring John Proulx, piano and voice; Chuck Berghofer on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums. Vocalist Sherry Williams rounds out the bill, along with a special guest appearance by Deana Martin (Dean’s daughter and Jimmy McHugh’s Goddaughter.)

We hope to see you there.

Wednesday, February 29, 8pm

Vitello’s Jazz & Supper Club

4349 Tujunga Avenue

Studio City, CA 91604.

818.769.0905

http://www.vitellosjazz.com/event/jimmy-mc-hugh-music-presents-black-history-month-tribute/


Ella Fitzgerald:
Reach For Tomorrow

http://youtu.be/ykP8Wtcg86w

Billie Holiday:
I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me

http://youtu.be/ykP8Wtcg86w

Sarah Vaughn:
I'm In The Mood For Love

http://youtu.be/yezEgD0TmB8 (Mood)

Etta James: A Legendary Voice is Stilled

Sadly, after a prolonged illness, musical icon Etta James passed away this past week, just five days before her 74th birthday. Thankfully her family was by her side.

With a musical style that spanned a variety of music genres including blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, gospel and jazz, Etta was truly a singer’s singer.

She began her singing career in the mid-Fifties and before the decade ended she scored several R&B hits including the rollicking Dance With Me Henry. 

Though an incredibly gifted vocalist, Ella was a troubled soul who suffered through some very hard times due to her years of drug abuse. Fortunately, in the 1980s the singer recovered her health and was able to begin a significant and well-deserved comeback. 

Etta spent the last decade and a half of her life being thought of as a jazz queen, a soul diva and of course as the Matriarch of the Blues. Her return to the spotlight introduced a whole new audience to her earlier music, including her legendary Chess Records recordings.

Her Blue Gardenia CD was inspired by her life-long idol, Billie Holiday. The disc includes her wonderfully soulful recording of Jimmy McHugh’s Don’t Blame Me.

We send our sympathy and kindest thoughts to her family.

http://www.myspace.com/music/player?sid=38750&ac=now

MICHAEL FEINSTEIN PLAYED JIMMY McHUGH'S 'WHERE ARE YOU' AND OLD BLUE EYES CHIMED IN

The Huffington Post recently ran a terrific article about the inimitable Michael Feinstein and his newest album, The Sinatra Project, Vol. II.
The piece, written by Dustin Fitzharris, describes how  Michael's friendship with 'Old Blue Eyes' began.
Here's an excerpt:

"The first time they met, he was hired to play at a party for Sinatra's wife (Barbara). At one point in the evening, Marvin Davis, who owned 20th Century Fox at the time, disappeared. Sinatra yelled out, 'Where did Marvin go? Where did the bum go?' 

A young Feinstein took the cue and began playing the Jimmy McHugh song, 'Where Are You?' 

Sinatra started belting the tune out in full voice. (Feinstein likes to fondly say that he accompanied Sinatra for two bars.) Later in the evening Sinatra, who was amazed how someone so young knew so many classic songs, invited Feinstein to sit down and talk. Hearing Sinatra tell stories left Feinstein speechless."

Here's a link to the story:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dustin-fitzharris/michael-feinstein-intervi_b_1098098.html

michaelfeinstein.com

JOHNNIE RAY: A TRUE 1950s ICON

As singer Johnnie Ray has been largely forgotten over the years, it may be hard to believe what a huge star he was throughout the Fifties.

Inspired by LaVern Baker and Ivory Joe Hunter, Ray cultivated a unique vocal style which combined pre-rock Rhythm & Blues with a more conventional pop approach.

In 1952, his smash 'The Little White Cloud That Cried', was the first of a long string of hit records for Johnnie,  transforming him into an overnight sensation.
Suddenly he was the heart-throb and pin-up boy for millions of teenage girls across America and England.

His unorthodox, over-the-top performances included tearing at his hair, falling to his knees and endless crocodile tears. Interestingly, his shows hinted at the sort of theatrics which, just a few years later, would be associated with Rock & Roll.

Needless to say, the media loved Johnnie's outrageous style, dubbing him Mr. Emotion, The Nabob of Sob, and The Prince of Wails.
Long after his career cooled off in the US, Johnnie continued to perform for appreciative audiences throughout the UK.

We thought you might enjoy a little taste of Johnnie Ray.

Below is a link to his hit recording of Jimmy's 'Don't Blame Me'.


http://m.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&hl=en&client=mv-rim&v=0Uh6hI7ZbE4

SWEET, SWEET MUSIC: MICHAEL FEINSTEIN, AMBASSADOR OF THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK, APPEARING WITH TONY WINNER BARBARA COOK

Michael Feinstein is back in residence at Feinstein's at The Loews Regency through December 30. This time he's sharing the bill with Broadway legend, Barbara Cook, who is a 2011 Kennedy Center Honors recipient along with Meryl Streep, Neil Diamond, Yo-Yo Ma and Sonny Rollins.

Michael Feinstein is a terrific friend and supporter of Jimmy McHugh Music.
In 2009 Michael headlined a sold out concert at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall, saluting the music of Jimmy McHugh, as he did a year earlier at Los Angeles's Mark Taper Forum.

Barbara Cook also has a close connection to Jimmy McHugh, having starred on the original studio cast album of 'Lucky In The Rain', a 2000 musical comedy built around Jimmy's songs.

MichaelFeinstein.com
BarbaraCook.com
FeinsteinsAtTheRegency.com

STEVE TYRELL AT THE LEGENDARY CAFE CARLYLE: A HOLIDAY TRADITION

It's that time of the year again- Vocalist Steve Tyrell is ringing in the holidays at The Cafe Carlyle.
Continuing through New Years Eve, this is the Grammy-winner's seventh return engagement at the chic nightspot.
After the passing of the legendary Bobby Short, The Café Carlyle invited Steve to take over their revered Holiday Season which Mr. Short had not missed in 36 years.  

In his four and a half decades in the music business, Steve Tyrell has achieved great success as an artist, producer, songwriter, music supervisor, and performer gaining a passionate following all over the world. 

As a record producer, Steve has collaborated with such diverse artists as Rod Stewart, Diana Ross, Ray Charles, Smokey Robinson, Linda Ronstadt, Aaron Neville, Mary J Blige, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt, Burt Bacharach, Bette Midler and Stevie Wonder.

Steve is a great friend and supporter of Jimmy McHugh Music, performing numerous McHugh standards in concert and on record.

We suggest you book a reservation soon as the word is out: 
Steve Tyrell at The Cafe Carlyle is a guaranteed way "to make the season bright".

The Cafe Carlyle  www.thecarlyle.com