Peter Asher Returns to Feinstein's at Loews Regency, 6/19-23

Feinstein's at Loews Regency will continue its Spring 2012 season with the return engagement of pop music legend Peter Asher and his multimedia show "A Musical Memoir of the 60s and Beyond" from June 19 through June 23. When the program made its New York debut at Feinstein's last year, it played to packed houses and critical acclaim. The two-time Grammy Award winner for "Producer of the Year" first rose to international acclaim through the global smash "World Without Love" as one half of the British Invasion duo Peter & Gordon, Peter moved effortlessly to Music Executive with The Beatles' Apple Records, then famously to producer and manager, handling the careers of James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt and a host of others. Among his more recent projects is the upcoming Dreamworks movie Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted. In addition to producing the soundtrack, he performs the film's only original song "Love Always Comes As A Surprise," co-written with Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, which he will also perform at Feinstein's.

"A Musical Memoir of the 60's and Beyond" includes film footage and photos from Peter's considerable personal archive, brought to life with a storyteller's gift, transporting audiences back to the heart of 60s popular culture. Icons such as Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Marianne Faithful, Yoko Ono and Carole King, are among the cast of characters in this narrative, along with the greatly missed Gordon Waller. The evening is filled with the music of Peter & Gordon, including "I Go to Pieces," "True Love Ways," and "Lady Godiva." The songs given to Peter & Gordon by Paul McCartney are also front and center: "Woman," "I Don't Want to See You Again," "Nobody I Know," and "World Without Love," all of which were US Top 40 hits – along with other old favorites from that golden era.

Peter Asher began his legendary music career in 1963 as one-half of the singing duo Peter & Gordon. Peter Asher and Gordon Waller were often called the "Everly Brothers of the British Invasion". Blending folk, blues and rock 'n' roll with their own pop-flavorEd English sensibility, they managed both commercial success and musical integrity; their versions of "All My Trials" and "500 Miles" were the performances that led to a recording contract. The result was ten North American Top 40 hits between 1964 and 1967, including eight in the Top 20. "World Without Love", their debut single, peaked at Number 1 in May of 1964. That smash hit made Peter & Gordon the first British act to hit #1 in the wake of the Beatles' success at the dawn of that year, the year that brought a cultural watershed forever known as the British Invasion. Following a four-year partnership, Peter & Gordon amicably went their separate ways in 1968.

That year, Peter Asher became head of A&R for The Beatles' newly-formed record company, Apple Records, where he found, signed and produced James Taylor and worked closely with the Beatles on their individual projects. Peter had already become a key figure in the "revolution" of The Sixties, founding the book shop and art gallery "Indica" (where John and Yoko met, and where Allen Ginsberg and William Boroughs visited). In 1971, Peter Asher founded Peter Asher Management, which eventually represented James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman, and Carole King. As a producer, Mr. Asher has worked with such diverse artists as James Taylor, 10,000 Maniacs, Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, Ringo Starr, Cher, Morrissey, Robin Williams, Robbie Williams, Elvis Costello, Jane Monheit, Kenny Loggins, Dan Fogelberg, Heart, The Dixie Chicks and Billy Joel, among many others. He has been awarded 37 RIAA-certified gold albums and 22 platinum albums in the U.S. and many more internationally. Mr. Asher has produced twelve Grammy Award-winning recordings, and in 1977 and 1989 was honored with the Grammy Award for "Producer of the Year".

In August, 2005, Peter & Gordon played a benefit concert for Mike Smith of The Dave Clark Five, who was seriously injured in a fall at his home in 2003. It was the first time the pair had performed together in 37 years. Both fans and press reacted with great enthusiasm. Peter & Gordon continued to perform to considerable acclaim for the next four years, winning rave reviews for their Carnegie Hall debut in 2007, and their triumphant return to Los Angeles at the Santa Monica Pier in 2008 where 17,000 fans welcomed them back. Gordon Waller passed away in 2009.

In addition to touring with this show, Asher will co-hosts and perform in the new PBS special "Buddy Holly: Listen to Me / The Ultimate Buddy Party" this fall. Other performers include Chris Isaak, Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy, Lyle Lovett, Stevie Nicks, Shawn Colvin, Paul Anka, and Graham Nash. Jackson Browne, Keith Richards, BrIan Wilson, and Ringo Starr are among those are interviewed in the program.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY will present Peter Asher from June 19 through June 23 with the following schedule: Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM with additional 10:30 PM shows on Friday and Saturday evenings. All shows have a $60.00 cover, with $75.00 premium seats and $95 up-front seats available, all with a $40.00 food and beverage minimum. NOTE: There are a select number of seats with a $60.00 cover and no food and beverage minimum. Jackets are suggested but not required. FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY is located at 540 Park Avenue at 61st Street in New York City. For ticket reservations and club information, call (212) 339-4095 or go online at feinsteinsatloewsregency.com and TicketWeb.com.

Photo credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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