World Art Celebrities Journal. Front Cover

New Books  By Gisele von Guntunbergersen

SHOWBIZ, PIONEERS, BEST SINGERS, MUSICIANS AND ENTERTAINERS FROM 1606 TO THE PRESENT.                                 Volume IV of the World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment

JAZZ, CABARET AND ENTERTAINMENT ULTIMATE REFERENCE TOOL

Patrice Ferris, best trio singer in the United States according to the World Who's Who.

BERLIN- Volume IV of the World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment has been fermented this week; Showbiz, Pioneers, Best Singers, Musicians and Entertainers from 1606 to the Present.  It contains all the glitters, the stories, data, statistics and lists of lists of all those who left their mark on the world of music and showbiz from progressive fusion rock to jazz and pop. And from the year’s big buzz lists to national music awards, and from San Remo Song Festival awards,  airplay world official top 100 and  divas to the ultimate entertainers, singers and songwriters of our time. An unbelievable gigantic accomplishment by a showbiz expert, author and producer, Maximillien de Lafayette. It is overwhelming. It is Homeric in the wealth of information it offers, the descriptive categories of live performances, styles, schools and  music genres and rich biographic chronicles of  singers, composers, musicians, writers, producers and giants of the industry. Volume IV illustrates and  explains in-depth the fabric and divergent world of stars and showbiz. A new wave of formidable talents invaded the book, starting with the cover.

Poster from Peggy's smash Palm Springs show at Heaven in May '04, co-starring stalker/sometime boyfriend 70's icon Kevin Kennard.

Peggy Judy was hand made for the cover of Volume IV. What a find! A perfect fit.  Satiric comedienne par excellence, author, singer and showbiz veteran, Peggy’s shows at Heaven nightclub in Palm Springs have been sellouts, and Peggy became a San Francisco favorite with her knockout performances at the Plush Room, and then Steve Murray’s Viva Variety fundraising spectaculars. The original creation of writer, singer and actress Molly Brandenburg, Peggy Judy first appeared as a monologue in a late night Hollywood comedy hit called Midnite Madness. The character later reappeared in an acclaimed stage musical, The Peggy Judy Comeback Tour, co-created with screenwriter (Liar, Liar) Steve Mazur, which was followed by The Peggy Judy Christmas Special, and The Peggy Judy Summer Replacement Show.

Peggy Judy on the cover of Showbiz, Pioneers, Best Singers, Musicians and Entertainers from 1606 To The Present. Photo credit: Peter Zakhary.

Peter Zakhary, the photographer who snapped Peggy Judy's photo is very well known in the industry. Among his clients are The Walt Disney Company, Universal Studios, Twentieth Century Fox, Dick Clark Productions (Roze Graphics)

From there, Peggy evolved into a solo performance piece--one woman and a piano--with Peggy’s sly wit and powerful vocals bringing her bookings at top Los Angeles venues, including The Comedy Store, the Improv, The Cinegrill, Café Largo, The Gardenia, Masquer's Cabaret, The Hudson Backstage and more. In November 2005, Peggy returned to Viva Variety in San Francisco, and deliversed a powerhouse performance in the closing night [Viva 50 ] of this highly acclaimed variety show series.  Steve Murray's wonderful variety shows ran for six years and earned thousands of dollars for worthy Bay area charities.

 

From left to right: Erika Luckett (Winner of the Best International Singer of the Year award), and American National Public Radio's Marian McPartland occupy a special place of honor in the Who's Who.

Physicians, writers, humanitarians and stamp collectors have their Who's Who. Musicians, singers and divas don't. It is hard to believe. Finally, somebody with an alert mind decided to do something about it. And what a brilliant idea it was. And what a service the author of the World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment is rendering to the world community of music and performing arts. Now, divas, entertainers, music and showbiz executives, booking agents, music publishers, venues' proprietors, publicists, critics and the public will have access to and learn what they should learn about all those who entertained us for decades, entered our living rooms, dazzled us on stage and made us fall in love with icons, legends and stars.
 

From left to right: Maria Gentile, Sarah Jane Cion, Jill Corey, Peggy  Judy received glowing reviews.

 

Mark Murphy, best torch singer according to the World Who's Who.

In Volume IV, and as expected, you will find  the biography and career highlights of famous stars, artists,  composers, songwriters,  comedians. But the author walked 10 more miles to include all those who made significant contributions to the world of music and entertainment, regardless of their visibility, name recognition and status.

Rebecca Spencer's photo shines on the cover of Volume three of the World Who's Who.

"Recognizing others' talents is the primordial duty of an honest historian and a well-informed critic. Household names or obscure but gifted artists have the same rights and are entitled to be recognized by the public. To do so, a responsible writer should not exclusively and constantly write about the rich and the famous. I have a strong medium here to offer those magnificent and unknown talents a maximum exposure. I did. I had to do it. So expect to hear and read about fabulous singers and musicians who were deprived from opportunities to be written up in newspapers and magazines..." said Mr. de Lafayette, author of the Who's Who.

Marlene Verplanck, first lady of American Standards appears on the cover of Volume three of the book.

In addition to biographical history of the stars, the author paid homage to distinguished music critics, writers and publishers, such as Frank Dain, Stu Hamstra, Michael Ricci and Gwen Calvier.

 

YES! PEOPLE BUY A BOOK FOR ITS COVER!

The cover of Volume IV (Front and back) is unique. Judy on the front is a piece de resistance. And the gorgeous artists on the back cover add certain cache to the appearance and design of the book. This cover will sell. Yes! People buy a book for its cover. And this volume is no exception, thanks to the genius of Peter Zakhary. This guy deserves a huge hug!

Along with Peggy Judy, seven accomplished female artists from all genres of showbiz embraced the back cover; Antoinette Montague, Maria Gentile, Stephanie Jordan, Zola, Nichaud Fitzgibbon, Katie Bull and Irene Soderberg.

Back cover of Volume IV glittering with divas...

A glance at their career highlights...

 Zola is a Billboard award winning songwriter whose songs are recognized in many categories including, jazz, blues, pop, country, contemporary-folk and cabaret. This versatile singer-pianist has recorded six solo albums of original material, varying in style and genre, that also include baby lullabies and children’s music.   She has performed with general business bands and as a solo artist  overseas and locally, making her singer-songwriter USA debut in 1997 at Boston’s  Scullers Jazz Club. The author gave her 5 stars rating.

Irene Soderberg on Irene Soderberg: "My very first success was winning a Mae West look-a-like contest, much to the chagrin of 13 drag queens. (is that an oxymoron?) Then I flew in 40 feet above the stage as a fairy godmother, another role I’d been rehearsing for my entire life. And that, my dears, is how all this joy began. Oh honey, I’ve worked my ass off, discovering songs, memorizing, Learning to really sing and entertain. I started singing for hundreds of AIDS fundraiser's, which continues to be my most important work today. I’ve been so blessed to know so many amazing people... and I’ve lost many of them; but they’re in my heart forever. De Lafayette believes that Ms. Soderberg is Mae West reincarnated with more goodness in the heart and unmatched joie de vivre. She lifts up your soul. That's nice!
Stephanie Jordan. A class act! Stephanie made her debut at Takoma Station Jazz Club.  She joined the Doug Carne Band in an unrehearsed rendition of “I Remember April.”  Within a few months she developed a loyal following and became much sought after.   She has performed at many of the Washington, D.C. jazz haunts such as The Twins Jazz Lounge, Blues Alley, and Carter Baron Amphitheater.  Stephanie has also appeared at the opening of the Schomburg Center of the New York Public Library, Langston Hughes Auditorium in New York City,  the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Marciac Jazz Festival in France, and Jazz Aspen.

Katie Bull. Since graduation, Ms. Bull has been living in Manhattan. Her focus has been in the hybrid-arts movement, also known as the inter-arts movement. She has written and directed numerous experimental productions with her company the Bull Family Orchestra, and this work has allowed her to integrate her background in music, dance, writing, and directing. She has been vocal coaching the speaking voice, and singing in various downtown experimental theaters. She joins the jazz world now, a newcomer, coming home. Ms. Bull was flattered in the book. Mr. de Lafayette described her as one of the most intelligent and productive artists in the industry.

Antoinette Montage. Carol Lexter, the dynamo of the PR campaign told me "Antoinette is so sweet and loving. She is a hard working singer. Lots of talent." Ms. Montague has performed onstage with many top jazz and blues musicians including Red Holloway, Benny Powell, Earl May, Winnard Harper, Wycliff Gordon, Stan Hope, John DiMartino, Bernard Purdy, Victor Jones, Tootsie Bean, Zeek Mullins, Paul Bollenbeck, Frank West and numerous others.

 Add Showbiz, Pioneers, Best Singers, Musicians and Entertainers from 1606 to the Present to your library. It is an essential reference. A magnificent and refreshing book.