Gary Owen, Jack Jones
Nov. 12, 2015
Audio of interviews are posted below (Scroll down)
Comedian Gary Owen returns on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong. He will bring his fearless and entertaining stand-up comedy act to The Orleans Showroom Nov. 13 and 14.
Actor/comedian Gary Owen is one of the stars of the Screen Gems comedy “Think Like A Man Too” and the original film “Think Like A Man,” both opening at #1 at the box office. He will soon begin filming a reality show for BET following his family life. He was seen last year in the Universal comedy “Ride Along” with Ice Cube and Kevin Hart and his hit Showtime special, “I Agree With Myself,” is still airing on the network. Gary got his start in stand-up comedy when he was stationed in San Diego – he served in the Navy for six years and was named “Funniest Serviceman in America.” Over the years, he has been embraced by African-American audiences with his take on being in a biracial marriage and as the father of three kids. In fact, Ebony magazine recently proclaimed Gary “Black America’s Favorite White Comedian.”
Jack Jones
Legendary singer Jack Jones, returns on LV Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong to promote his new CD. Jones’ new album, Seriously Frank, celebrates the life of a man who he not only deeply admired but developed a close and long-standing friendship. December 12 marks the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Francis Albert Sinatra. Seriously Frank is a collection of songs selected by Jones that he feels accurately reflects the life, times and career of Frank Sinatra. The album features a 22-piece band with arrangements by the great Patrick Williams, one of the great arrangers of our time.
Throughout his career, Jones collected two Grammy Awards and five Grammy nominations. Jones is widely known for his recordings of “Wives and Lovers” and “Lollipops and Roses”. From his peers, such compliments as “A Singer’s Singer” and “He pours his heart into every song – there is an obvious joy in every performance” are commonplace. Just before he retired, Sinatra publicly said, “Jack Jones is the next major singer in show business.” Frank Sinatra, Jr. and his dad gave Jones two of the greatest compliments of his life. “One of the major singers of our time,” said Frank Sinatra. “He has the best voice, and he has made the best use of that voice… Jack has always been an excellent singer and is probably the best of all of us,” said Frank Sinatra, Jr.
“The creation of this album has been near and dear to my heart as Frank Sinatra was not only a friend, but a mentor and true inspiration,” said Jack Jones. “I am honored to be performing at the Las Vegas Academy Gala where I can hopefully inspire the next generation of entertainers.”
Seriously Frank is available in iTunes for digital downloads and at jackjonesmusic.com for traditional CD media. For more information please visit www.JackJones.org.
TweetJim Belushi, Tony Butala
Oct. 29, 2015
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
(Jim Belushi, (L) Sonny Charles (R))
Comedian, actor and blues musician Jim Belushi guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Performer Jim Belushi, along with blues band The Sacred Hearts, will bring high-energy, soulful hits and a lot of laughs to The Orleans Showroom Oct. 31 & Nov. 1.
Jim Belushi is known worldwide for making people laugh as a regular on “Saturday Night Live,” his long-running comedy series “According to Jim” and his many film appearances. In addition to his film and TV career, Belushi’s music career blossomed in 1995 when he joined forces with House of Blues regulars, The Sacred Hearts. Soon after, friend Dan Aykroyd asked Belushi to join him as part of the Blues Brothers. To get ready to play with the Blues Brothers, Belushi would crash rehearsals of The Sacred Hearts. He had so much fun jamming with them, they eventually collaborated and have been performing as Jim Belushi & The Sacred Hearts ever since.
Jim Belushi & The Sacred Hearts have played for many notable figures including Al Gore, former President Bill Clinton and former California Governor Gray Davis. The band frequently headlines shows at the House of Blues venues, benefits and hundreds of corporate events.
The band’s first CD, “36 x 22 x 36,” was released in 1998 and delivered a blend of Memphis rhythm & blues seasoned with a lot of soul. Additionally, the “According to Jim Soundtrack” was released in 2005, containing music by Jim Belushi & The Sacred Hearts featured in fan-favorite series episodes. Much of the show’s music was written and recorded by Belushi and bandmates Johnny Rubano and Tony Braunagel, who also made regular guest appearances on “According to Jim.”
Belushi is known for his work on the live stages of Second City and “Saturday Night Live,” to the soundstages of “About Last Night,” “K-9,″ “Mr. Destiny,” “Return to Me,” and in ABC TV’s breakout comedy series of 2002 “According to Jim.” For the concert with The Sacred Hearts at The Orleans, Belushi will sing, talk, flirt, dance on table tops and do at least one back flip.
Tony Butala, original founding member of The Letterman
Tony Butala, Original founding member of The Lettermen guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong to promote The Lettermen’s upcoming engagement at The South Point Showroom on Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at 7:30pm.
Butala estimates that the group made some 200 appearances on television shows such as Dick
Clark’s “American Bandstand” series, “Shindig”, and “Hullabaloo” were interviewed and
performed on talk shows and variety shows with Johnny Carson, Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin,
Jack Paar, Milton Berle, Steve Allen, Dinah Shore, and many others throughout the 60’s and 70’s,
cultivating new crops of fans.
Over its 50 years, the trio has gone through a few personnel changes. Engemann left in 1967,
replaced by Gary Pike, Jim Pike’s younger brother. A few years later, due to vocal problems,
Jim left the group and was replaced by his even younger brother, Donny Pike. The group stayed
stable, with this combination all through the seventies and early eighties led by the constant
member Tony Butala. Since then, Mark Preston, Ernie Pontiere, Bobby Poynton, Darren Dowler,
Don Campeau, Chad Nichols and Donovan Tea, have each had stints as members of The
Lettermen.
Frank Caliendo, Chuck Negron
Sept. 24, 2015
Audio of interviews posted below (except on Internet Explorer)
Comedian, actor and impressionist Frank Caliendo, and legendary vocalist Chuck Negron, formerly of Three Dog Night, guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Caliendo is perhaps best known for his impressions of famous actors Al Pacino, Robin Williams and Robert DeNiro; former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton; broadcasters John Madden and Charles Barkley; and talk show hosts Dr. Phil, Jay Leno, and David Letterman.
A veteran of televised comedy, Caliendo has starred in numerous television shows including “MADtv,” “Mike & Mike,” “Hot in Cleveland,” and his own series on TBS “Frank TV” in 2007 and 2008.
From 2003 to 2012, Caliendo was a fixture on the “Fox NFL Sunday” pregame show where he worked with Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and the rest of the team. His “Frank’s Picks” segments were featured during the broadcasts of Super Bowls XXXIX, XLII and XLV.
Frank is appearing at The Orleans Showroom Sept. 26-27 at 8pm.
Chuck Negron
Legendary Vocalist Chuck Negron, formerly of Three Dog Night, guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Among Three Dog Night’s biggest hit songs featuring Negron’s soulful, four-octave range and unique vocal styling: “Joy To The World,” “Easy To Be Hard,” “Old-Fashioned Love Song” and “Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog,” which appeared on the multi-Grammy nominated and 1971 Record Of The Year “Joy To The World.”
“Am I Still In Your Heart” was Negron’s first solo release in 1995, followed by a Christmas release of “Joy To The World” in 1996. Negron spent two years writing his book “Three Dog Nightmare” and recorded the accompanying soundtrack CD “The Long Road Back.” His fourth solo effort “Chuck Negron – Live In Concert” recorded at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas was released in 2001 and the original song “Took Me Under” was nominated in 2002 for a PRISM Award for Best Song. In 2005, Negron released “The Chuck Negron Story: Biography of an Entertainer,” which won several awards including the 2006 PRISM “Video to Production” Award.
The Cannery, Oct. 3
Don 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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Comic Steven Wright
July 9, 2015
Audio posted below except on Internet Explorer
Academy Award®-winner and Grammy® Award nominee Steven Wright guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
After launching his comedy career at the age of 23 as a regular performer at Ding Ho’s Comedy Club and Chinese Restaurant in Cambridge, Mass., Wright got big break and was booked on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.” Following his performance, Wright was invited to return to the Tonight Show the following week for a rare back-to-back appearance. His new kind of comedy and lackluster voice caught the comedy world’s attention, and he later appeared on “Saturday Night Live” and “Late Night with David Letterman.” As his fame grew, he starred in two HBO specials — “A Steven Wright Special” and “Wicker Chairs and Gravity.”
In 1985, Wright received a Grammy® nomination for his debut album, “I Have a Pony.” Twenty-two years later, he won a second Grammy® nomination for its sequel, “I Still Have a Pony.” Following his second nomination, he was the first inductee into The Boston Comedy Hall of Fame.
In 2011, Wright voiced the character Danny on an episode of the animated series, “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” and guest starred on the hit series “Louie.” Wright returns to The Orleans Showroom July 9 & 10, with his trademark wit, absurdist one-liners, monotone voice and deadpan delivery.
Showtime each evening is 8 p.m. For more about Steven Wright: www.stevenwright.com
TweetPaula Poundstone, Jay and The Americans
Comedian – Paula Poundstone
Audio of interviews posted below except on Internet Explorer
Paula Poundstone, and Jay and The Americans, guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Poundstone began nurturing her stand-up comedy talent in 1979 on the Boston comedy scene before moving to San Francisco. She starred in multiple HBO comedy specials and appeared on “Saturday Night Live.” Poundstone received a Cable ACE Award for a comedy special for her one-hour HBO special “Cats, Cops, and Stuff.” She received her second Cable ACE Award for her self-titled HBO talk show series.
Continuing with many successes throughout the 1990s, Poundstone starred in “The Paula Poundstone Show” on ABC and many other television appearances, including an HBO Special. Poundstone is the recipient of an Emmy Award for her field pieces on the PBS program “Life & Times.”
For more about Paula, click HERE
You can catch Paula live at The Orleans Showroom
Orleans Showroom, June 19 & 20 8:00pm
Jay and The Americans
With three original members – Sandy Yaguda (“Deane”), Howie Kirschenbaum (“Kane”), and Marty Kupersmith (“Sanders”) – plus the addition of “Jay” Reincke, Jay and the Americans have recreated the authentic sound of the ‘60s.
Jay and the Americans hits include She Cried, Come A Little Bit Closer, Wax Museum, Hushabye, Walkin’ in the Rain and This Magic Moment.
In 2002, Jay and the Americans were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
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