Bill Boggs News

From every corner of the musical world artists perform on the stages of the Kravis Center. Last night coming from such a corner, that of Madison Avenue and 76th street in NYC the Kravis welcomed Loston Harris. Loston for many years has entertained New Yorkers at his annual engagement in Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle. The audience in Persson Hall may have been dressed a bit more casually than folks at the legendary hotel on Manhattan's storied upper East Side, but their musical taste was just as sophisticated as they relished Loston's cosmopolitan stylings.

Billy Stritch wasn't at the Grammy's last night (he won a Grammy for his song “Does He Love You” recorded by Reba McEntire), but he was at the Kravis Center for the revue devised and narrated by Barry Day titled Hooray for Hollywood! On stage with music director Stritch were Carole J. Bufford and Liam Forde.

If these (Friar) walls could talk you would hear music and conversation from show biz legends of the past. Irving Berlin was a Friar who together with Friar George M. Cohan wrote many musical reviews called Friars Frolics to entertain their fellow Friars. Last night the Friars Club presented “An Evening With Irving Berlin” to celebrate the publication of Irving Berlin: New York Genius by bestselling author and Award Winner James Kaplan.

John Pizzarelli & Jessica Molaskey started their set with Stephen Sondheim's “The Little Things You Do Together” from COMPANY but their performance is more about the big, intricate and intelligent things they do together musically. In this show (their annual fall engagement at Cafe Carlyle) they celebrate the collaboration of Stephen Sondheim and Hal Prince.

When you enter the Friars Club on 55th street the world immediately becomes a better place. The first space you encounter is the Billy Crystal Room where you hear the laughter and the animated conversations as Friars share stories with one another. Last night in only the 8th time in the Club's 114-year history The Icon Award was presented by Robert De Niro to Billy Crystal at the Ziegfeld Ballroom to a capacity filled New York/Hollywood audience. The Icon Award honors individuals whose extraordinary accomplishment raise the standard of entertainment and positively redefines our culture. Billy is following in the footsteps of entertainment icons Douglas Fairbanks, Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, Martin Scorsese, and Robert De Niro.

Birdland Theater, the new venue spawned from the legendary Birdland on 44th street had a 'soft' opening this summer, followed by a bunch of celebrity openings in September. It had another entertainment first last night because Jamie deRoy brought her friends and her renowned Jamie deRoy & friends Variety show to this great new performance space. The evening had all the glamour and excitement of a Broadway opening night, the kind of evening Ms. deRoy can usually be found at.

There are some cabaret shows that you never want to end and you would stay in your seat for the 2nd (or if there was), third show. Clint Holmes, was introduced by Broadway at Birdland host Jim Caruso last night as one of the best vocalists in the world and Clint's performance on the stage of Birdland, before a star studded audience of music lovers demonstrated how true that intro was.

Gianni Valenti, the music world's gift to New York City, has created another venue for the performing arts. Jim Caruso made it official last night as he introduced Lucie Arnaz, who with her longtime friend and music director Ron Abel thrilled a celebrity filled opening night audience.

A lot of passengers were blowing their horns in praise after a fantastic Dinner Cabaret Cruise in the New York City harbor supporting the Cancer Schmancer Foundation founded by Fran Drescher.

In 1983 Phyllis Diller had to dress up in drag to sneak into a men's only Sid Caesar's Friars Roast. Last night women's champion Friar Gloria Allred resplendent in an attractive pants and gold jacket was escorted through the front door of The Monastery for that time-honored Friar privilege of being Roasted. BroadwayWorld was there for photos only. What's said in the Friars, stays in the Friars.

In a darkened Frank Sinatra Dining Room an off stage voice using that classic Dean Martin intro ' And Now Direct From The Bar' announced co-hosts Bill Boggs, Bruce Charet and countless actors, singers, celebrities and friends to toast one of the most beloved entertainers in show business…..Deana Martin.

Deana Martin, daughter of entertainment legend Dean Martin, is set to be honored with the official title of Trobairitz by the Friar's Club in New York City. The prestigious title will be formally presented to Martin on June 4 as part of 'A Deana Martin Toast.'

It was night that will long be remembered by fans (and who isn't) of Marilyn Maye and of American Songbook hero, Dick Robinson. Marilyn is currently celebrating her 90th year with her current engagement at Feinstein's/54 Below and her friend DIck Robinson, creator of Legends Radio and founder of the Connecticut School of Broadcasting is celebrating his 80th.

The Friars archives and Wikipedia have finally been corrected. Nineteen Eighty Eight was a watershed year for women. They gained membership to numerous private men's clubs that heretofore were off limits to women. The Friars, being one of the more famous of the bunch had an article heralding the event written by a less than factual reporter for The New York Times. The paper of record, in an early forerunner of fake news only listed the first 7 women and overlooked number 8...Jamie deRoy who was in that initial group, along with Liza Minnelli, Joan Rivers, Brooke Shields, and other prominent female entertainment figures was not mentioned.

Happy Days Were Here Again at Lynn University last night because Ann Hampton Callaway sang the Barbra Streisand Songbook at Jan McCart's Live at Lynn Series. Arguably, one of the finest performers in the music world, Ann is also a composer and lyricist and her songs can be heard on seven of Barbara Streisand's albums. If you happened to be at Barbra's wedding to James Brolin you know that Ann's lyrics were sung by Barbra to the groom.

There was a lot of love in the RRAZZ ROOM at Mizner Park Cultural Center in Boca Raton with Deborah Silver last night, and BroadwayWorld was there. Check out photos from the event below!

Tough guy Robert Davi, one of the most recognizable actors on the planet made his Colony Hotel Royal Room debut last night and BroadwayWorld was there. The tough guy charmed the tough Palm Beach audience with his Sinatra style singing and persona. Check out photos below!

The winning bidder at The New York Pops Silent Auction, whose proceeds help finance The Pops/Ed Programs of The New York Pops, got something way above the original listed value. The auction item was for one pianist to play at your private party. However not only did the pianist show up at the appointed time, he was joined by some of the world's greatest pianists and entertainers for the special evening.

On Saturday afternoon, September 23, the 91 Annual Feast of San Gennaro will stage two celebrations : the Second Annual Little Italy Meatball Eating Competition in memory of John 'Cha Cha' Ciara, the unofficial Mayor of Little Italy who passed in November 2015. hosted by actor/singer Tony Danza; and the 100th Birthday of Dean Martin. hosted by TV personality Bill Boggs.

The 91st Annual Feast of San Gennaro will celebrate Dean Martin's 100th Birthday with a three hour tribute on today, September 23, from 2 to 5 PM on the Feast Performance Stage at the corner of Grand and Mott Streets in Little Italy.