Judy Collins, Don McLean
October 19, 2017
Audio posted posted below
Judy Collins is appearing at The Smith Center on Oct. 21 with Stephen Stills. The Award-winning singer-songwriter Collins’ rendition of Joni Mitchell’s, “Both Sides Now” from her landmark 1967 album, “Wildflowers,” has been entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Her version of “Send in the Clowns,” a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway musical “A Little Night Music,” won “Song of the Year” at the 1975 Grammy Awards.
In 2008, contemporary and classic artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Shawn Colvin, Arlo Gutherie, Joan Baez and Leonard Cohen honored her legacy with the album “Born to the Breed: A Tribute to Judy Collins.” For more go to http://judycollins.com/index1.php
Legendary artist Don McLean guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
In 1969, McLean recorded his first album “Tapestry” in Berkeley, Calif. Student riots were going on outside the studio as Don was singing “And I Love You So” inside. The album was first released by Mediarts and achieved commercial success.
His transition to international stardom began with the release of “American Pie” in 1971. A month later, McLean’s song first played on New York’s WNEW-FM and WPLJ-FM to mark the closing of The Fillmore East, the famous New York concert hall. Thirty years later, the song was voted # 5 in a poll of the “365 Songs of the Century” compiled by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.
In 2004, McLean was inducted into The Songwriters Hall of Fame and has charted 40 gold and platinum records during his career. For more go to http://www.don-mclean.com/
TweetDon McCLean, Judy Collins
July 7, 2016
Audio posted posted below except on Internet Explorer
Legendary artists Don McLean and Judy Collins guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
In 1969, McLean recorded his first album “Tapestry” in Berkeley, Calif. Student riots were going on outside the studio as Don was singing “And I Love You So” inside. The album was first released by Mediarts and achieved commercial success.
His transition to international stardom began with the release of “American Pie” in 1971. A month later, McLean’s song first played on New York’s WNEW-FM and WPLJ-FM to mark the closing of The Fillmore East, the famous New York concert hall. Thirty years later, the song was voted # 5 in a poll of the “365 Songs of the Century” compiled by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.
In 2004, McLean was inducted into The Songwriters Hall of Fame and has charted 40 gold and platinum records during his career. For more go to http://www.don-mclean.com/
Judy Collins
Judy Collins is appearing at The Santa Fe Hotel & Casino July 15. The Award-winning singer-songwriter Collins’ rendition of Joni Mitchell’s, “Both Sides Now” from her landmark 1967 album, “Wildflowers,” has been entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Her version of “Send in the Clowns,” a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway musical “A Little Night Music,” won “Song of the Year” at the 1975 Grammy Awards.
In 2008, contemporary and classic artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Shawn Colvin, Arlo Gutherie, Joan Baez and Leonard Cohen honored her legacy with the album “Born to the Breed: A Tribute to Judy Collins.” For more go to http://judycollins.com/index1.php
TweetDon McLean, Judy Collins
July 16, 2015
Audio posted below except on Internet Explorer
Legendary artists Don McLean and Judy Collins guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong to promote their upcoming appearance performing their timeless classic American hits at The Orleans Showroom July 18 and 19.
In 1969, McLean recorded his first album “Tapestry” in Berkeley, Calif. Student riots were going on outside the studio as Don was singing “And I Love You So” inside. The album was first released by Mediarts and achieved commercial success.
His transition to international stardom began with the release of “American Pie” in 1971. A month later, McLean’s song first played on New York’s WNEW-FM and WPLJ-FM to mark the closing of The Fillmore East, the famous New York concert hall. Thirty years later, the song was voted # 5 in a poll of the “365 Songs of the Century” compiled by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.
In 2004, McLean was inducted into The Songwriters Hall of Fame and has charted 40 gold and platinum records during his career. For more go to http://www.don-mclean.com/
Judy Collins
The Award-winning singer-songwriter Collins’ rendition of Joni Mitchell’s, “Both Sides Now” from her landmark 1967 album, “Wildflowers,” has been entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Her version of “Send in the Clowns,” a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway musical “A Little Night Music,” won “Song of the Year” at the 1975 Grammy Awards.
In 2008, contemporary and classic artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Shawn Colvin, Arlo Gutherie, Joan Baez and Leonard Cohen honored her legacy with the album “Born to the Breed: A Tribute to Judy Collins.” For more go to http://judycollins.com/index1.php
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Paul Williams, Bob Cowsill-LVBST
July 17, 2014- 6-7pm PST 1230AM in LV & The Web
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Singer/Songwriter Paul Williams returns on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong. LV Backstage Talk radio show is the only show that “Gets Personal with the Stars.”
Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe winning songwriter Paul Williams is recognized as one of America’s most prolific and gifted lyricists and composers. A ‘Hall of Fame’ songwriter and recipient of the 2004 National Music Publishers President’s Award, Williams’ standards have been recorded by such diverse musical icons as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, David Bowie, Tony Bennett, R.E.M., Sarah Vaughn, Johnny Mathis, Bing Crosby, The Carpenters, Luther Vandross, Mel Torme and Diana Ross.
His songs have also found favor with Country legends including Chet Atkins, Garth Brooks, The Dixie Chicks, Kris Kristofferson, Charlie Pride, Crystal Gayle, Anne Murray, Lynn Anderson, The Oak Ridge Boys, Diamond Rio and Neil McCoy. When asked which song is his favorite, Paul is quick to respond, “That’s easy! It’s “The Rainbow Connection.” It’s a thrill to hear my words interpreted by such inimitable talents as Sarah McLachlan, Willie Nelson, Judy Collins and Kermit the Frog!”
Williams will soon be featured in Comedian Michele LaFong’s Monthly Syndicated “Las Vegas Backstage Talk” column in Casino Player Magazine, as well as LaFong’s monthly syndicated “Getting Personal with the Stars” column in Gaming Today.
More about Paul Williams here!
Paul performs at The South Point Showroom on July 19 & 20
Bob Cowsill
Bob Cowsill guests on LVBST with Comedian Michele LaFong.
The chirpy, bubble-gum singing family from Newport, Rhode Island who inspired TV’s The Partridge Family (1970) (not to mention the sibling-oriented groups “The Jackson 5″ and The Osmonds”) would expand over the years to include siblings Billy (born 1948); twins Bob and Dick (born 1950); Paul (born 1952); Barry (born 1954); John (born 1956) and little sister Susan (born 1959), plus their mom Barbara (born 1929).
The group originally formed in 1965 with just two brothers (Billy and Bob) who were heavily influenced by “The Everly Brothers,” but Barry and John quickly joined in when their obsessions turned to “The Beatles.” Booked at school dances, college parties, church socials, hotels and clubs, their first recorded single was “All I Really Want to Be Is Me.” The boys were discovered by a producer for NBC’s “Today” show who booked them for an appearance. They soon came to the attention of Mercury Records who produced their singles “Party Girl,” “Most of All” and Simon & Garfunkel’s “A Most Peculiar Man,” all of which floundered. MGM Records picked them up after Mercury dropped them and released their debut album, initially started by Mercury, in November of 1967.
By early the following year the harmonic family had their first pop hit single “The Rain, the Park, & Other Things” (mom Barbara had joined in to sing on the record and stayed) which went to #2 on the pop charts and went gold. The “family” angle really kicked in after this and siblings Susan and Paul were quickly filtered into the group. Extensive touring ensued (billed as “America’s First Family of Song”) with plenty of network TV show appearances (“The Ed Sullivan Show,” “The Tonight Show”). The wholesome Cowsills hosted their own NBC-TV special and even became spokespersons for the American Dairy Association, appearing in milk commercials and print ads. They also recorded the popular TV theme to the comedy anthology Love, American Style (1969). A couple more major chart hits came their way with “Indian Lake” (#6) and “We Can Fly” (#17). They even took a risk and challenged the popular theme to the counterculture rock stage musical “Hair” with their own spin and earned themselves another #1 hit. Also known for “Build me up Buttercup”
Under the strict management of patriarch and former Navy officer William “Bud” Cowsill, however, discontentment and major rifts quickly boiled over within the family structure. Bud was the one who pulled the plug signing the children up for the “Partridge” TV show when it was learned that Barbara’s role would be played by someone else (Shirley Jones). Billy, with designs on being a rock-and-roller, bucked the goody-goody teen idol image and was fired from the group for his defiance. Dropped by their record label, the group permanently disbanded in 1971. Barry and Billy went off to do solo work while Susan and three of the brothers, Bob (on guitar and organ), John (on drums) and Paul occasionally reunited on tour. Various family regroupings would occur over the decades with such cover names as “The Secrets” or “The Critics.”
Sadly, mother Barbara died of cancer in 1985 at age 56 and father Bud passed away in 1992 at age 67. Son Barry, the bassist and Danny Bonaduce-like prototype who battled severe depression and an acute, longstanding substance abuse problem, wound up a 2005 victim of Hurricane Katrina (along with over 1,100 others). Lead singer/guitarist Billy, also an alcohol and drug abuser, died from chronic health problems in 2006. Both brothers were only in their 50s.
The Cowsills will be on the bill with Paul Revere and The Raiders at Eastside Cannery on July 19.
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