The First American Idols: The Music of Rosemary Clooney and Tony Bennett
Before Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini...before
Clay Aiken & Ruben Studdard...and long before Taylor Hicks and Carrie Underwood
were even born – there were Rosemary Clooney and Tony Bennett, TV’s first
“American Idols.” Jenna
Esposito and Russ Lorenson pay tribute to these icons of American music in
their show, The First American Idols: The Music of Rosemary Clooney and Tony
Bennett.
Before the world had Simon, Paula and Randy, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts,
one of the first and most popular TV talent competitions, ran on CBS from 1946
until 1958. The concept for the show was that Arthur Godfrey had several "talent
scouts" who brought their discoveries onto the program to showcase their
talents. In February 1948, two new “discoveries” – Rosemary Clooney and Tony
Bennett – competed against one another, with Rosie beating Tony, in what she
described as “the only time I ever won anything against Tony Bennett.”
That competition sparked a lifelong friendship between the two singers, who were
both quickly signed to Columbia Records, starred together on two different
television shows in the 1950’s, and went on to brilliant solo recording careers.
And as Mr. Bennett has said, "At the time Columbia signed us, Rosemary Clooney
and I were really the first ‘American Idols.’"
Now, nearly 60 years later, Jenna Esposito and Russ Lorenson – solo artists
recognized for their individual achievements in nightclubs, theatre and
recordings – join forces to celebrate the lives and music of these two legendary
performers. In Miss Clooney’s honor, Esposito brings to life such classic songs
as “Come On-A My House,” “Mambo Italiano,” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” and the
hauntingly beautiful “When October Goes.” In tribute to Mr. Bennett, Lorenson
will perform an array of the crooner’s biggest hits, including “I Left My Heart
in San Francisco,” “Fly Me To The Moon,” “Because of You” and “The Shadow of
Your Smile.” The pair will also duet on such popular American Songbook standards
as “Exactly Like You,” “I’ve Got The World On A String” and “Fancy Meeting You
Here.”
“Jenna Esposito...singing songs
made famous by Rosemary Clooney, succeeded in putting her own stamp on a
charming show, choosing a winning simplicity of style and focusing on the
music.”
-Peter
Haas,
Cabaret
Scenes
“Not only does Lorenson have
the soul of the greats – Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and other dream crooners of
the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s – he has the band with him to really bring those decades
to life...He was just tremendous.”
-Lee
Hartgrave,
BeyondChron.org
