Tuesday, November 27, 2012

11/27 Denise Donatelli, Jazz Singer, Grammy Nominated

Denise Donatelli, the GRAMMY® nominated and critically acclaimed award winning Savant recording artist, has become one of today’s premiere jazz vocalists. Her 2010 release When Lights are Low — which received two GRAMMY® nominations, one for Best Jazz Vocal Album and another for Best Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist for pianist and collaborator Geoffrey Keezer for his arrangement of "Don't Explain" — confirms Denise's status in the upper echelons of talented and engaging jazz artists in the country and internationally.

Denise’s four recordings, Soul Shadows (Savant Records, September 2012), When Lights are Low (Savant Records 2010), What Lies Within (Savant Records 2008), and In the Company of Friends (Jazzed Media 2005), have consistently topped the National Jazz Week radio charts. Her GRAMMY® Nominated recording When Lights are Low peaked at #2 and remained on the chart for 23 weeks. It resurfaced 28 weeks later where it remained for another 7 weeks. Soul Shadows is another collaboration with 2 time GRAMMY® nominated pianist, composer, arranger, Geoffrey Keezer. KSJS-FM Radio Programmer, Dr. Brad Stone considers Soul Shadows to be “Simply her best work to date!”

Denise also appears as guest vocalist on GRAMMY® Award Winner Bill Cunliffe's Christmas recording, That Time of Year. (2011).
 
In addition to Denise’s 2010 GRAMMY® Nomination, The Los Angeles Jazz Society has honored Denise with their 2012 Jazz Vocalist of the Year award.

Denise tours extensively, performing at jazz festivals , jazz clubs, performing art centers, and with university jazz bands where she conducts master clinics.

Donatelli’s innate musicianship and pure tone have won her spots singing for episodes of The Simpsons, television promos for Frasier, Card Sharks and Turner Classic Movies and has appeared in national and international commercials for CNN, Hyundai, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz among others.

Growing up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Denise's talent was discovered at the early age of three when she plunked out Silent Night on the family piano. By the age of four, Denise began studying classical piano. She was an active member of the Allentown Music Club along with area musicians including jazz pianist Keith Jarrett. She garnered numerous ‘Superior’ awards for her piano performances in the National Federation of Music Club’s regional piano competitions. While piano study was a major part of Denise’s musical background, she always loved to sing and soon realized that her true passion was jazz and popular music.

Placing her musical career aside in favor of motherhood, Denise found her voice again years later after relocating to Atlanta, Georgia. It wasn't long before she became immersed in Atlanta's jazz scene working by day at Turner Broadcasting System and singing at night with a jazz trio at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.

 A decision to move to Los Angeles in 2000, put her in touch with some of the city’s stellar musicians including Neil Hefti. Described as "a musician's singer" by GRAMMY® Award winning saxophonist, Phil Woods, Denise has performed as guest vocalist with Roger Kellaway, Terry Trotter, Christian Jacob's Big Band Theory, Alf Clausen's Jazz Orchestra, Les Hooper's Big Band and the Stan Kenton Alumni Band.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

11/20 Susan Lucci, All My Children, Dancing with the Stars

As the most famous face in daytime television history, Susan Lucci has held audiences spellbound for years as the sexy, sassy, beautiful "woman you love to hate," Erica Kane on ABC-TV's "All My Children." In May 1999 she won the Emmy Award for "Best Actress," which was a historic moment not only for Lucci, but for all of television. She was garnered a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 28, 2005 and was inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2006. Lucci was named one of E! Entertainment's "Top Entertainers of the Year" as well as one of Barbara Walters' "Ten Most Fascinating People." VH-1 has also named Lucci one of its"200 Top Icons of all Time."

In fall of 2012 Lucci will host and narrate Investigation Discovery's "Deadly Affairs." She will also star in the new Lifetime series "Devious Maids," scheduled for early 2013. In 2011 Lucci appeared in the highly rated season finale of TV Land's "Hot in Cleveland," and returned for another episode in February 2012. She also guest starred on Lifetime's "Army Wives" in spring 2012. Lucci competed on ABC's primetime reality show, "Dancing with the Stars," hosted "Saturday Night Live," and guest-starred in many successful television series and numerous movies for television throughout her career. In March 2011 Lucci released her New York Times bestselling autobiography, All My Life, with Harper Collins. The paperback edition of All My Life was released on September 13.

Lucci's artistic excellence afforded her the opportunity to expand to luminous careers in theater and cabaret with solo concerts across the country and nightclub performances opening for Regis Philbin. In her 1999 Broadway debut, Lucci starred as Annie Oakley in the revival of Irving Berlin's "Annie Get Your Gun," to amazing review. Michael Logan of TV Guide said, "Susan Lucci didn't just take Great White Way by storm: she took it by tornado, hurricane and tsunami, too."

Acting and singing are only two of Lucci's many passions. Within the past 10 years she become a successful entrepreneur launching a Susan Lucci Collection of hair care products, two fragrances, jewelry, shoes, and accessory lines, and a lingerie line for "beauty of all ages." Her head-to-toe collection is a constant sell-out and available on the Home Shopping Network (HSN). In 2002, Lucci introduced a personal microdermabrasion system with Guthy-Renker, Youthful Essence® by Susan Lucci that has sold over 8 million kits worldwide since its debut. Lucci expanded her expertise with Guthy-Renker by also presenting "Malibu Pilates," the widely popular Pilates chair fitness program.

Lucci's commitment to her work with children has most recently taken her to Africa in support of Feed The Children. She has served as the March of Dimes' National Ambassador in 2000 and as a celebrity spokesperson for AMDeC (Academic Medicine Development Company) and The New York Cancer Project. She has also been involved with Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids and is the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the prestigious New York City Gracie Award and the Muse Award for Women in Film & Television. She was inducted into the American Academy of Achievement Awards and presented with the Italian Board of Guardians Lifetime Achievement Award.

Lucci's accomplishments and contributions to the world of television and the performing arts have truly made her an icon to millions.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

11/13 Tom Dreesen

Tom Dreesen’s life is equal parts comedy and philanthropy. He excels at both, and has created an extraordinary legacy in both arenas.

Dreesen has made over 500 appearances on national television as a stand-up comedian, including more that 60 appearances on The Tonight Show. He is a favorite guest of David Letterman, and frequently hosts the show in Letterman’s absence. For 13 years he toured cross country and opened for Frank Sinatra, and has appeared countless times in Las Vegas, Tahoe, Reno and Atlantic City with artists like Smokey Robinson, Liza Minnelli, Natalie Cole and Sammy Davis, Jr. Tom has acted in numerous television shows – from Columbo to Murder She Wrote – and appeared in motion pictures including Man on the Moon and Spaceballs. He has recorded comedy albums, starred in his own TV comedy special, Dreesen Street, and hosted a late night talk show in Chicago, Night Time Starring Tom Dreesen.

He is currently appearing to rave reviews around the country in his one-man show “An Evening Of Laughter and Memories of Sinatra.”

Dreesen’s comic style is down-to-earth, warm and unpretentious. Daily Variety called him “a thorough pro… one of the most respected family comedians of our time.” Larry Wilde ,author of The Great Comedians said about Tom’s performances. “Excellent Material, Impeccable Timing, Tom Dreesen is the Quintessential Comedian.” Frank Sinatra, who called himself a “saloon singer,” characterized Dreesen as a “saloon comedian.” “We’re a couple of neighborhood kind of guys,” said Sinatra.

Dreesen has also made an indelible mark with his philanthropic activities. For 30 years he has lent his talent to over 100 charities, and founded a “Day for Darlene” to benefit Multiple Sclerosis Research. He ran 26 miles on three occasions for the event, which is named for his late sister who was afflicted with MS.

And he’s still going strong. A proud veteran of the United States Navy, he continues to perform for US troops all over the world, and recently appeared at numerous bases in Iraq. Tom Dreesen’s hometown of Harvey, Illinois named a street after him. He was a 2005 recipient of the Ellis Island
 Medal of Honor.

Upcoming Events:

Saturday, November 17th:    Tom will be in Miami for a Corporate Speaking engagement at the  Fontainebleau Hotel.

Thursday, November 22nd:    Thanksgiving Day, Tom will fly to Chicago to feed and perform for the homeless at the Laugh Factory on Belmont & Broadway.

Thursday, November 29th:   Tom will be performing his one man show “An Evening of Laughter and Stories of Sinatra” at a private party for the Sunstone Realty Advisors at the Zona Hotel in Scottsdale, AZ

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

11/06 Dr. Carl Patrasso, Will Link

Dr. Carl is the author of the book ‘Dreaming for Success’; the ground-breaking dream interpretation book that shows you how your dream - often forgotten or misunderstood - is a resource that helps you. The purpose of your dream is to improve your life.

Dr. Carl dream expert and clinical psychologist, has been in practice in Scottsdale, Arizona for the last twenty-five years. He has interpreted dreams for people from every walk of life and with every kind of question. No matter how mysterious your dream, no matter how out of character or unusual the dream is Dr. Carl tells you the meaning of your dream and how the meaning of your dream improves your life and actualizes your potential.

DrCarlDreamInterpreter.com












Will Link is your weekly "Link to the Movies" on "The PM Show with Larry Manetti." He is a screenwriter who has received accolades from various film festivals most recently the Shriekfest Horror Festival. Will is also a regular contributor to the film blog "You Won Cannes." You can hear his thoughts on the world of popular culture as co-host of "Will Sean Podcast?" downloadable at the iTunes store. Follow him on twitter @TheRealWillLink