Nationally acclaimed award-winning singer/songwriter/pianist, Johnny Rodgers will open his highly anticipated special performance at Jim Caruso'S CAST PARTY at BIRDLAND (315 West 44th Street) on MONDAY, DECEMBER 29th with composer/lyricist Carol Hall'S ‘Big City Boogie' which he will then follow with her ‘Change In Me."
ABOUT Carol Hall
composer / lyricist / playwright
The first person ever to record one of Carol Hall's songs was the young Barbra Streisand. Subsequently, her songs were performed by such extraordinary singers as Tony Bennett, Barbara Cook, Margaret Whiting, Julie Wilson, Chita Rivera, Michael Feinstein, Mabel Mercer, Amanda McBroom, Lari White, Olivia Newton-John, Maureen McGovern, Miriam Makeba, RuPaul, David Campbell, Frederica von Stade, Kermit the Frog and Big Bird. Among others. She's also one of the few songwriters to have a hit Broadway show.
Her classic musical THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS entertained Broadway audiences for almost five years, received a Grammy nomination for its cast album, and became a popular film starring Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton. Dolly's recording of Carol's song "Hard Candy Christmas" won an ASCAP Most Performed Country Song Award, and the film generated an OSCAR nomination for Charles Durning, singing "The Sidestep" as the slippery Governor of Texas. A recent national tour of WHOREHOUSE starring the entertainment legend Ann-Margret, enjoyed a run for over a year and a half. Carol also does a lot of writing for children,(Her "It's All Right To Cry," and "Parents Are People" continue to be favorites of generations of children). Recently she created the score to the theatrical version of the popular children's series MAX AND RUBY.
Four tours of the show are presently playing across the country, after a successful debut opening Off-Broadway in December 2007. But her recent delight has been the making of her CD "Hallways," which features many of her most loved and wonderful songs - both old and brand new - such as the hit "Hard Candy Christmas," as well as the timeless classic "Jenny Rebecca" - and a number of premier performances. As Carol says in the CD's booklet, "a song is not a song until somebody sings it..." And what an array of singers she has here! In addition to Carol, performing on the CD are Amanda McBroom, Johnny Rodgers, Scott Coulter, Tim DiPasqua, Tom Andersen, Lesley Gore, Susannah Blinkoff, Farah Alvin, Steven Lutvak, Laurel Massé, Bobby Gosh, Rick Jensen, Carol Woods and the Broadway Inspirational Voices. "Hallways" was also co-produced by Tex Arnold, who was its musical director, responsible for the exquisite arrangements. And it was spectacularly engineered by Bill Moss at the famous NOLA Recording Studios NYC.
ABOUT Johnny Rodgers
Singer / songwriter / pianist
Johnny Rodgers is an award winning singer-songwriter whose original songs are influenced by the Beatles, Billy Joel, James Taylor, Sting, Paul Simon and John Mayer. Johnny grew up in Miami Florida and now resides in New York City. In addition to wowing the crowds at his own performances, he has shared the stage with such diverse luminaries as Paul McCartney, Michael Feinstein, Stephen Schwartz, Ann Hampton Callaway, Dave Koz and Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders. Between concert tours, writing and recording sessions with the Johnny Rodgers Band, Johnny tours the world with Liza Minnelli and her orchestra as featured guest artist. Johnny Rodgers Band was formed in New York City in 2003 to add musical depth to the road-tested original songs. Johnny pulled together accomplished musicians with vast experience who were familiar with performing in all styles from pop to jazz and classic rock. Two years after the bands formation, the Johnny Rodgers Band's debut album, Box of Photographs was released. The songs take you on side trips to places like upbeat New Orleans and Memphis soul. The album includes Grammy-winner Randy Brecker and his legendary sound on several jazz style cuts on the twelve-track album.
Two EPs in 2008 mark their second musical release with "Bound Together" propelling Johnny Rodgers Band into the Indie Pop genre - and includes a new Christmas song sure to become a classic. Johnny also wrote and recorded a big band swing duet with Liza Minnelli that is included on the "Let's Make A Date" EP. Johnny Rodgers Band attracts new audiences at the clubs, festivals, and private events where they perform across the country. They have performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Bottom Line, Birdland, The Metropolitan Room and The Jazz Standard in New York City, and clubs like Ryles in Cambridge MA, Arturo Sandoval Jazz Club and Van Dykes on Miami Beach, as well at many festivals like Festival Miami at the University of Miami.
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