10/27/10 Sherwood Schwartz,Jeanne Koelshe,Seka,Awesome Kong

10/27/10 Sherwood Schwartz,Jeanne Koelshe,Seka,Awesome Kong
Latest Legends Radio...

Latest Legends Radio

Sunday October 17 Edition of Evan Ginzburg’s Legends Radio co-hosted by Dr. Mike Lano at www.legendsradio.net  (Archived 24/7) 8:00-10:00PM EST

Shelly Berman- Comic Legend Curb Your Enthusiasm

Bill Grant Former Mr America, Mr, World, (Movies: Pumping Iron, Grunt! The Wrestling Movie)

Sonny Valens Actor/Wrestler  (Movie- Freedom Writers  TV: Lie to Me, The Closer, The Shield)

Blues ace Felix Cabrera

Dr. Valerie Andrews on Church response to domestic violence, sexual assault & childhood abuses 

http://www.legendsradio.net/101710.mp3

Wed. October 27 Edition of Evan Ginzburg’s Legends Radio co-hosted by Dr. Mike Lano at www.legendsradio.net  (Archived 24/7) 7:30-9:30PM EST

HWood Legend: Sherwood Schwartz (produced GIlligan's Island, Brady Bunch, etc as show creator/producer/director/writer)

Adult Film Legend Seka

Jeanne Koelshe, the photographer, personal sketcher for the stars from the 40's on

Plus TBA

Cheech and Chong Concert Review NYC 10/23/10

Concert Review- Cheech and Chong

Beacon Theatre NYC 10/23/10

Cheech and Chong are still smokin’. And they’re still funny as hell.

The two counter culture icons brought their classic bits and memorable songs to the Big Apple last night for a maybe two thirds full house full of appreciative, mostly older fans.

The highlight for yours truly was Cheech Marin’s classic Alice Bowie bit replete with tutu, which was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen live. Chong’s blind blues player was right behind in the laughs department. And their Mexican American duet was uproarious as well. Also, surprisingly, their straight take on Chong’s R&B classic Does Your Mama Know About Me, which he co-wrote while with Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers was just beautiful and a really wonderful surprise in the midst of so much slapstick and silliness.

Where things got a bit tedious, however, were the incessant weed jokes. Sure you walk in knowing what to expect as this is a CHEECH AND CHONG show after all, and the Get It Legal tour to boot. But it just kind of felt like overkill after a while. I mean, did we need Chong’s wife doing weed jokes, too? We get it, folks- you’re pro marijuana. And people say and do stupid (and funny) things when they’re high. While Chong’s solo bit about his cat getting wasted was, in fact, hilarious, I would still voice the same criticism of another comedian doing endless airplane or fat jokes. They kind of beat the subject to death. Yes, legalize it, but make more than a dozen marijuana jokes the same night illegal, willya?

Nonetheless, there’s not too many classic comedy duos left out there, so I was really pleased to have finally caught these childhood heroes of mine live. All in all it was a fun and funny night and well worth seeing; straight or high, everybody seemed to walk out smiling. And you can’t put a price on that.

Evan Ginzburg

www.legendsradio.net

Latest radio with Shane Douglas, Beverly Washburn, Lisa Quinn, Mighty Sam McClain

Wed. October 13 Edition of Evan Ginzburg’s Legends Radio co-hosted by Dr. Mike Lano at www.legendsradio.net  (Archived 24/7) 7:30-9:30PM EST

Pro wrestling great Shane Douglas

Lisa Quinn- life coach and budget/home simplicity expert from ABC's Good Morning America

Beverly Washburn- Hollywood legend- Loretta Young Show, Star Trek, Leave It to Beaver

R&B/Blues legend Mighty Sam McClain  

http://www.legendsradio.net/101310.mp3

Sunday October 17 (No show next Wed.) Edition of Evan Ginzburg’s Legends Radio co-hosted by Dr. Mike Lano at www.legendsradio.net  (Archived 24/7) 7:30-9:30PM EST

Superfly Jimmy Snuka
Blues ace Felix Cabrera

Dr. Valerie Andrews on Church response to domestic violence, sexual assault & childhood abuses

Sonny Valens/Actor/Musician/MMA star

& TBA

Legends radio with Sika, Sonjay Dutt, Charlie Haas, Queen Majeeda, musician/author Ben Stein

Wed. October 6 Edition of Evan Ginzburg’s Legends Radio co-hosted by Dr. Mike Lano at www.legendsradio.net  (Archived 24/7) 7:30-9:30PM EST

Pro Wrestling legend Sika from the Samoans  

Sonjay Dutt

Charlie Haas

Singer/songwriter/poet Queen Majeeda

Musician/author Ben Stein

http://www.legendsradio.net/100610.mp3

Wed. October 13 Edition of Evan Ginzburg’s Legends Radio co-hosted by Dr. Mike Lano at www.legendsradio.net  (Archived 24/7) 7:30-9:30PM EST

Pro wrestling great Shane Douglas

Lisa Quinn- life coach and budget/home simplicity expert from ABC's Good Morning America

Beverly Washburn- Hollywood legend- Loretta Young Show, Star Trek, Leave It to Beaver

R&B/Blues legend Mighty Sam McClain  

Concert Review: Oh What a Night oldies show

Concert Review: Oh What a Night! 
Saturday, October 9, 2010 
Colden Auditorium, Queens College, NY
The Bobbettes, The Cavaliers, Lenny Coco and the Chimes, The Dimensions, The Dubs, Norman Fox and the Rob Roys, The Jarmels, The Quotations, Shep’s Limelights, The Paragons, Vito Piccone and the Elegants

On this nostalgic evening, entitled Oh What A Night, some dozen classic groups were presented to a wildly appreciative older crowd.

The show opened with fine acapella music followed by a solid teen singer doing a lone number. Then things heated up as one legendary act after another took to the stage in the classy Queens College hall which was about three quarters full. Each featured act was relegated to about fifteen minutes which didn’t leave much room for chatting or even introducing all the singers. Nonetheless, there were some great moments.

For yours truly, The Dubs stole the show with Could This Be Magic, Don't Ask Me To Be Lonely and Chapel of Dreams. What they do vocally is practically a lost art- just pure harmonies that are so beautiful they sent chills down my spine.

The Bobbettes were the only girl group on the show and had a gospel tinge to their thoroughly entertaining and upbeat set. Their immortal hit, Mr. Lee, of course is a show-stopper, and actually quite wild in its own way as they happily sing about killing their unfaithful lover.

Early R&B was also represented by the excellent Paragons as well as The Jarmels with A Little Bit of Soap, and also the legendary Shep’s Limelights whose Daddy’s Home still sounds fresh and remains timeless.

In the most emotional moment on the show, The Cavaliers spoke about their famed hit Last Kiss where the girl in the song dies after a car accident. The lead singer told of his own wife dying in his arms some three years back and how difficult at first it was to do the song as the lyrics now struck home. Nonetheless, he pulled it off to a rousing ovation.

Simply put, there wasn’t a clunker on the entire show. As a Wizard of Oz purist, I may not be wild about The Dimensions’ take on Over The Rainbow, but vocally they’ve still got it. Also of note, The Quotations did their hit Imagination, the Rob Roys exhibited great showmanship and energy (remember some of these folk had hits over 50 years ago!), Lenny Coco and the Chimes never fail to entertain, and Vito Piccone proved to be a fun and humorous host for the evening. However his headline set of three songs did indeed feel rushed. Three song sets can be a tease, particularly when some of the groups like this one are just too good to be scooted off, and clearly didn’t want to leave.

With a quality house band backing most of the acts, it was three plus mostly magical hours. Old folk swooned as it was once again “the good old days.” And you can’t knock that. Besides, nobody gets rich on Doo-Wop shows with a whole lot of people getting paid. So bravo to all concerned tonight for keeping this worthy music alive.

--Evan Ginzburg

www.legendsradio.net

Theatre Review- Ned Massey's Bloodties

THEATRE REVIEW
NED MASSEY’S BLOODTIES

NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL 2010

TBG THEATRE

Ned Massey is the musical genius you’ve probably never heard of.

An abused child, Massey, who plays himself in this stunning production, vows to make it as a singer-songwriter. He even gets a message from God to go meet legendary producer John Hammond, Sr. who discovered Billie Holliday, Basie, Dylan and Springsteen among countless others. Working as a New York waiter, Ned serves a Hammond employee, and soon finds himself auditioning for and signed by the esteemed Hammond who deems him the next Dylan. Young, handsome, and more importantly a brilliant songwriter, Ned is groomed to be the next superstar. Tragically, though, their collaboration never comes to full fruition as Hammond suffers a stroke while they are recording his debut album. Faced with record company politics following Hammond’s death, stardom never occurs and Blood Ties poignantly deals with Ned’s unfulfilled dreams, volatile relationships, and the importance of forgiveness.

A stellar cast, most of whom play multiple roles, support a Broadway quality score. Katie Thompson as Ned’s wife is a standout and in one show-stopping number had the audience in tears and roaring in appreciation. Massey himself is as strong a singer-songwriter as you will find anywhere, and as an actor has the chops to pull off the role without it ever coming off as self-pitying or indulgent.

I do, however, question the choice of having an angelic narrator based on the film Wings of Desire. The majority of the group I attended with had never seen the Wim Wenders movie, and thus some of the references to it just plain went over our heads. And the first act could use a wee bit of tightening. But with those minor qualms out of the way, this is a show that is deeply moving, musically magnificent, and ultimately quite memorable.

Ned Massey has invested nearly a decade in nurturing this project. There is no doubt in my mind that it is time well spent as it’s apparent that the stardom that Hammond predicted for him a quarter of a century ago is finally right around the corner.

Bravo to all involved with this beautiful and inspirational piece of work.

--Evan Ginzburg

www.legendsradio.net

Chuck Brown Concert Review- BB Kings NYC 9/29

CONCERT REVIEW- CHUCK BROWN

BB KING’S SUPPER CLUB

NYC 9/29/10

It almost doesn’t pay to review a Chuck Brown show.

The guy’s always going to play his heart out for as long as the club lets him. The musicians are going to be topnotch. The audience is going to walk out happy. And you get your money’s worth regardless of the price.

In short, he’s one of the few “sure things” left in the music biz.

And whether it’s Run Joe, Bustin’ Loose, It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That (Go-Go) Swing, Moody’s Mood For Love, or any of his classics, he’s going to leave you feeling like you’ve been to a party more so than a traditional concert. It really doesn’t matter if it’s jazz, rap, blues, or R&B that he’s doing at any given time- with the driving Go-Go beat it all sounds great.

As I looked out among the crowd, which ranged in age from folk in their twenties to their sixties (and maybe even seventies), I saw people of every possible race, creed and color having the time of their life. My student from China didn’t have a clue as to what he was singing due to the language barrier, yet she “loved it.” And then a very odd thought hit me. “Chuck Brown should head the United Nations.” Yeah, just crank out Go-Go all day and everyone WILL get along. He’d certainly do better than the ineffectual politicians.

Hey, nobody’s going to want to start a war, when the Go-Go’s on.

Openers Mambo Sauce out of D.C. were pretty much perfect for this crowd. Featuring up-tempo Go-Go numbers and fine showmanship, they warmed the crowd up just right.

With Chuck putting in two hours, it was a great evening; I still feel happy three days later from it. And what could be better than that?

-Evan Ginzburg

www.legendsradio.net