Burt Bacharach Next In Line For Superpops Gig
Pete Fountain is out and Burt Bacharach is in as the guest artist in the April 5 Spokane Symphony SuperPops concert.
Is this concert snake-bit? First, Mel Torme, 71, had to cancel because of a stroke. Then, clarinet legend Fountain, 66, was booked to replace him. But now Fountain has been forced to cancel due to a lung ailment. Here’s hoping Bacharach, 68, is in good health.
Actually, Bacharach might end up being an even more popular draw than Fountain. Bacharach is one of the premier songwriters of the last four decades, and one of the few who reached stardom by giving away his songs to other performers.
He is the composer of dozens of instantly recognizable tunes, beginning with “Baby, It’s You,” a hit for the Shirelles in 1961 (and later the Beatles), all the way through “That’s What Friends Are For,” by Dionne Warwick and friends in 1986.
In between, Bacharach’s hit tunes included “Wives and Lovers” (1963), “There’s Always Something There to Remind Me” (1964), “What the World Needs Now” (1965), “Close To You” (1970), “Walk On By” (1964), “What’s New, Pussycat?” (1965),”I Say a Little Prayer” (1967), “Alfie” (1967), “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” (1968), “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again” (1968), “This Girl’s In Love With You” (1969) and “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” (1969).
Bacharach will bring three vocalists and his own band. The symphony will be conducted by associate conductor Jung-Ho Pak.
Those with tickets to the Fountain concert (or the Torme concert) can use them for the Bacharach concert. The concert is at the same time and same place: April 5 at 8 p.m. at the Spokane Opera House.
Lower than expected Wattage
The Andre Watts concert on March 7 was a huge artistic success - the man ITALis UNITAL an international piano god but unfortunately, it was not a huge financial success.
Only 910 tickets were sold in the 2,600 seat Opera House.
The only good thing about the situation is that the proceeds from those 910 tickets were almost all pure profit. The Spokane Symphony musicians donated their services, the Opera House waived its rental fee, and Watts himself played for a reduced fee, all to benefit the Spokane Symphony. The symphony is running a deficit because of low ticket sales during the ice storm and its aftermath.
Symphony executive director Jonathan Martin said he had hoped to raise between $10,000 and $15,000 in this concert. The final total was between $7,500 and $8,000. Possibly the short advance time hurt.
Still, $7,500 is nothing to sneeze at.
“In the end, it was a good contribution,” said Martin. It has already gone toward easing the symphony’s budget deficit.
Jane Schelly on ‘Today’ show
Spokane teacher Jane Schelly, the wife of Donald Hutchings, missing in Kashmir, is scheduled to appear on NBC’s “Today” show on Monday. Her segment is at about 7:15 a.m.
Schelly will appear with John Childs who was kidnapped by Kashmir insurgents along with Hutchings. Childs escaped.
The Diamond and Crystal show
Jim Diamond has a new partner on the KDRK-FM (93.7) morning show: Crystal Carlysle, formerly a Boise TV weathercaster and reporter. She is a Washington State graduate.
She starts Monday, replacing Kim Gold, who left the show about six weeks ago.
Sarah joins Beau
Sarah O’Hara has joined Beau Tyler on the “Wake Up Club” morning team on KEYF-FM (101.1).
O’Hara had already earned her share of fans in this market on KHTQ-FM (94.5), where she was a morning co-host.
A new ‘FOX KIDS’ host
Cole Gamble, a Spokane Falls Community College student, has been named the new co-host of “FOX KIDS,” the cartoon show on KAYU-28.
Gamble replaces Brian Shoemaker, who moved to Seattle to pursue his theater education. Gamble joins Wysteria “Wystie” Johnson, who is the other “FOX KIDS” host.
They can be seen weekdays between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., and on Saturday mornings between 7 a.m. and noon.
Oscar night at Interplayers
If you’re like me, you don’t want to be alone on Oscar night. What good are the Oscars if you can’t cheer and hoot and kvetch about the speeches with 100 or 200 close friends?
Maybe you should think about booking yourself a place at the Interplayers Ensemble’s Oscar Night Celebration and Buffet on March 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The Oscar telecast will be on a giant screen, and some of Spokane’s top restaurants will be serving dinner. Interplayers actors and actresses will appear as famous movie stars. Prizes will be awarded for the most correct Oscar picks and for best costumes.
The price, including dinner, is $20 each or two for $35. Call 455-PLAY for information.
, DataTimes MEMO: To leave a message on Jim Kershner’s voice-mail, call 459-5493. Or send e-mail to jimk@spokesman.com, or regular mail to Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210.