12 Ladies Salute Author James Gavin at The Met Room Tonight

James Gavin, author of the definitive cabaret history Intimate Nights: The Golden Age of New York Cabaret as well as acclaimed biographies of Peggy Lee, Chet Baker, and Lena Horne, will be honored at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W. 22nd St. tonight, May 17, as part of its This Is Your Night series of tributes to cabaret movers and shakers.

Twelve female luminaries from the world of cabaret will salute the Grammy-nominated writer in song and story: Penny Arcade, Joyce Breach, Baby Jane Dexter, Barbara Fasano, Carol Fredette, Barb Jungr, Carol Lipnik, Gay Marshall, Poor Baby Bree, Molly Pope, Tammy Faye Starlite, and Karen Wyman.

They will be joined by pianist Ross Patterson and one of Chet Baker's bassists, Jon Burr. The host is Met Room owner Bernie Furshpan.

The all-girl cast of performers was chosen with Gavin's childhood epiphany in mind. At the age of five, he heard his first record-Patti Page's "The Tennessee Waltz"-and fell hopelessly in love with singers (especially female ones) and songs. Gavin grew up to become a "killer biographer" (the Hollywood Reporter), one "blessed with exceptional storytelling élan" (Maclean's). He is a two-time recipient of ASCAP's Deems Taylor-Virgil Thomson Award for excellence in music journalism. The New York Times called Gavin's Is That All There Is?: The Strange Life of Peggy Lee "fascinating, suspenseful, musically detailed and insightful." Of Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne, Liz Smith wrote: "It may just be one of the best biographies about show business, race, love, sex and music ever written." The Hollywood Reporter proclaimed Gavin's Deep in a Dream: The Long Night of Chet Baker "a landmark in entertainment biography." In the Times, John S. Wilson termed Intimate Nights "vividly reported ... etched in acid."

Since 1992, Gavin has written dozens of features for the New York Times. His book about Hollywood legend Horne earned him a proclamation from the city of Los Angeles. He has contributed liner notes to over 500 CDs; his essay for Ella Fitzgerald: The Legendary Decca Recordings won a Grammy nomination. Gavin tours as narrator, host, and writer of Stormy Weather: The Life and Music of Lena Horne, a show that stars former Supreme Mary Wilson.

There is a $20 cover and a two-drink minimum for the Gavin tribute. Reservations: (212) 206-0440 or http://metropolitanroom.com/event.cfm?id=211930&cart.