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| Ten Thousand Motels |
’Pioneers, Best Musicians, Singers And Entertainers From 1606 To The Present.’
by Richard Sand
Jazz News Service
May 11, 2007
Times Square Press and The Federation of American Musicians, Singers and Performing Artists just published another knockout, masterpiece encyclopaedic work on world showbiz and entertainment: Showbiz, Pioneers, Best Musicians, Singers and Entertainers From 1606 to the Present, the Volume IV of the series World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment, authored by Maximillien de Lafayette, an authority in the field.
It is overwhelming, magnificently written, abundant with biographies of stars and rising talents from the five corners of the globe, and majestically illustrated. Over 800 photos including vintage, era and rare pictures of stars, pioneers and divas of various golden eras of Jazz and cabaret in Europe and the United States. Imposing parade of captivating and nostalgic photos starting with Frances's great Maurice Chevalier, paintings by Toulouse Lautrec, Vaudeville's giants Jimmy Durante, Al Jolson, New Orleans Louis Armstrong, Las Vegas Keely Smith and Louis Prima and crowning the covers (front and back) with some of the hottest female singers in the business. The sensational and extravagant Peggy Judy graced the front cover. Nichaud Fitzgibbon, Zola, Irene Soderberg, Stephanie Jordan, Maria Gentile, Antoinette Montague and Katie Bull appeared on the back cover, thus adding glamour and beauty to the heavy weight tome. Would you believe, the table of contents of the book spread over 14 pages? It has it all. Let's have a glance. Chapter 161 retraces the history of the beginning and struggles of the early cabarets in France, describes the amazing lives of pioneers and colorful characters of female Can Can dancers, hustlers of the nights, impresarios and legends who took Paris by storm. Chapter 163 tells us the story of what was going on in the 20s and 30s, the celebrities of the era, the gigolos, the giants of cabaret and Jazz, loud orchestras, police shutting down joints because the music was loud, mad mad and delightful nightlife episodes of music and entertainment full of rhythms, brass, and timpani. Chapter 169 explains the aura and sex appeal of Jazz singers and cabaret chanteuses, their stage presence, elegance and what makes a singer a bursting chanteuse. Chapter 172 is a thematic and historical journey of music in America, the first songs of the colonial and pre-colonial era from 1606 to 1776, America's first songwriters, singers and entertainers. Chapter 178 was devoted to the birth of Jazz and Cabaret in the United States, the good old days, the greatest stage performers, novelty acts, black face acts, outrageous dancers, male-female impersonators, comic singers, monologists, comedians, headliners and America's first divas and big names in music and entertainment. Showbiz, Pioneers, Best Musicians, Singers and Entertainers From 1606 to the Present is a masterpiece. One of the 10 best books of the year.
Several chapters on living legends embracing all aspects of entertainment and music. Twenty chapters on the best singers, musicians and entertainers around the world. Controversial but well documented additional chapters on entertainers, singers and musicians who made their mark on the world of showbiz and entertainment. And the piece de resistance explodes in Chapter 204 "Legitimate and accredited members of the cabaret community", in other words, who is and who is not an authentic cabaret singer!? Another chapter lists the best Jazz singers and musicians in the business, leaving out many "so-called and self-declared great Jazz singers" as put it bluntly, de Lafayette, author of the book. Chapter 206 is the roster of the world 2, 112 celebrities, most famous stars and showbiz personalities in 2007, their international rank order and popularity classification. Chapter 249 is equally impressive and informative; it describes the world greatest family singers. Chapter 252 is the honors list; the great ones. An extensive section solely devoted to artists, writers, organizations, singers and performers recognized for their talents and/or contribution to the world of music and entertainment.
International best-selling author, and world leading authority on cabaret, Jazz and performing arts, Maximillien de Lafayette wrote 105 books, 3 encyclopedias, 2 world premiere musicals (one play was produced at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., USA) and 10 volumes on divas, cabaret, jazz and entertainment. Fluent in 7 languages, playwright, director-producer, syndicated columnist and entertainment critic who has visited 46 countries, de Lafayette is in a privileged position to bring to us the known and hidden world of stars, divas, femmes fatales and ultimate musicians. His columns, articles and books are read by more than 20 million readers around the globe. His latest international best-seller is "Entertainment: Divas, Cabaret, Jazz Then and Now". It hits the top chart, the world 25 most popular items on the international market of Amazon. Uk.com on November 17, 2006. Lawyer by trade, de Lafayette practiced international law for 20 years and served as legal advisor and counsel to several world organizations and governments in Europe and the Middle East. In 1990, de Lafayette founded, owned and managed "Le Marquis de Rochambeau" cabaret, floorshow and 5 star restaurant in Washington, DC. It was America's first authentic Parisian cabaret offering nightly cabaret shows, musicals and comedy acts from 7:00 PM til 2:00 AM. (Fri. & Sat. till 5:00 AM.) In 1995, it was selected by Details Magazine (Cover Story) as one of the 300 greatest spots on the American Continent. The Washington Post called it "The hottest place in town…the last refuge for the clever." Headliners and superstars from around the world performed at his establishment. At Le Marquis, De Lafayette designed and produced more than 3, 650 cabaret shows (from 1990 to 2000.) He currently lives in Paris and London.
[Edited by Ten Thousand Motels] |
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| gimmekeef |
So..how far back are we from the Beatles this time? |
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