He’s that regular guy from Astoria, Queens, who left his heart in San Francisco. He’s the postwar heartthrob who inspired hundreds of young girls to wear black outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral on his wedding day. He’s the darling of the MTV generation who made music history when, at the age of 68, he won the coveted Grammy Award for Album of the Year. He’s the consummate artist known worldwide for his paintings. The world knows him as Tony Bennett, whose star shines brighter than ever as he celebrates his eightieth birthday in 2006. But his birth name - Benedetto - means "blessed", an accurate adjective to describe both the man and his fans.

 

At last month's CD Release Party, we performed several numbers from my new show, Benedetto/Blessed, a tribute to the life and music of Tony Bennett. Based on the overwhelming response we got from the preview, it looks like we have a winner, so mark your calendar and join me as I pay tribute to the man whom Frank Sinatra called "the best singer in the business."

I have been invited to perform at the Austin Cabaret Theatre's 2006 Fundraising Gala as the opening act for none other than the legendary Eartha Kitt!!

Miss Kitt is an international star who gives meaning to the word "versatile." She has distinguished herself in film, theater, cabaret, music and on television, and is one of only a handful of performers to be nominated for a Tony (three times), a Grammy (twice), and an Emmy Award. In 1967, Miss Kitt left her indelible mark as the infamous Catwoman in the television series, Batman. She immediately became synonymous with the role and her trademark growl has become a part of pop culture. She has enthralled New York nightclub audiences during her extended stays at the Cafe Carlyle, where she will be appearing again this month. Miss Kitt, who turned 79 on January 17, 2006, has recently played such varied venues as Detroit’s Music Hall, Washington, D.C.’s Blues Alley and Seattle’s Jazz Alley, and is being "re-discovered" by an entirely new generation of fans. I was fortunate enough to see her show at the San Francisco Jazz Festival back in March, and was completely blown away!

Austin Cabaret Theatre is Austin's only resident professional producing cabaret company. Founded in 2001 by Stuart Moulton, ACT’s roster has included Ann Hampton Callaway, Lee Roy Reams, Debbie Gravitte, Steve Ross, Jason Graae, Sam Harris, Karen Mason, Amanda McBroom, Klea Blackhurst, and Donna McKechnie. Guest Artists often present student workshops in cabaret performance, question and answer sessions, and special appearances on local programs.

The 2006 Fundraising Gala will be held at The Mansion at Judges' Hill in Austin, Texas on July 28th. Cocktails and the Silent Auction begin at 6:00pm, Dinner at 7:00pm, and the show at 8:30pm. Individual tickets are $175, which include a sumptuous sit-down dinner from The Mansion at Judges' Hill, live and silent auctions, post-show dancing to The Little Big Band, and all proceeds go to support ACT's Educational Outreach Programs. $300 VIP Gala Ticket Holders will enjoy premium seating at themed tables, plus a private champagne reception with Eartha Kitt immediately following the show.

...and What I Want For Christmas is...

the name of the new CD we've just finished (we shipped the master off to the manufacturer just yesterday)! As with the first one, this CD will be released on the LML Music label, and will be out in early November, just in time for your holiday listening...and gift giving :-)

There's something for everyone on this recording, which ranges from the swinging "My Favorite Time Of Year" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas", to the intimate and romantic "Christmas Waltz" and "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?", to the plain old ragtime fun of "If I Hear Another Song About Christmas." With jazzy arrangements by Kelly Park, which vary from softly sweet to full-out swing, this CD is full of delightful surprises!

 

The album can best be described as "jazzy Christmas", and will feature my fantastic band - Kelly Park on keyboards, Reid Whatley on bass, Adam Goodhue on drums, and Tony Malfatti on sax and clarinet. Making a guest appearance is guitarist Jeff McNish - plus, I have a special trio joining me on the Irving Berlin classic, "Snow": Alexandra Kaprelian, Kristopher McDowell, and Terese Genecco join me to recreate the roles made famous by Vera-Ellen, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby in the film White Christmas.

And as a special treat for you newsletter readers, you can get an advance copy of this special track! Just click on the link below to download "Snow," absolutely free! We'll have more samples up in the coming weeks, but there's nothing as refreshing as a little "Snow" during the hot summer months!

The show will have 7 performances a week and runs through July 2, with a possible two-week extension to July 16. Tickets are $17.50 - $35.00, available through the Willows Theatre Box Office at the link below.

"Buzzin'" Lee Hartgrave of BeyondChron.org was at the CD Release Party on May 1, and posted a wonderful review of both the show and the CD, which you can read by clicking here.

In conjunction with the official release of the CD, I recently did an interview with PRWeb, which you can listen to by clicking the link below.

My New York buddies Shaynee Rainbolt and Richard Skipper are out there wowing audiences with their respective shows. I've seen both of them perform several times, and I just can't get enough - you owe it to yourself to get out and see these amazing performers!