Featured A Prairie Home Companion Show: This week we bring you another great show from the historic Town Hall in New York City, with Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain, and Renée Fleming. Plus, Andy Stein and the Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band and the Royal Academy of Radio Actors, and the latest News from Lake Wobegon. Join us this Saturday on our Facebook page; the link will appear at 5 p.m. CT (or, if you simply can’t wait, use the link below). Listen to the show >>>
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More information about our featured guests: While studying at the State University of New York, Renée Fleming sang with a jazz trio and was discovered by jazz legend Illinois Jacquet, who invited her to tour with his band. Renée went to graduate school instead, where she focused on classical music at the Eastman School of Music and The Juilliard School. Fleming’s professional break came in 1988 when she was invited to sing the role of the Contessa in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro with the Houston Grand Opera, and in 1989 she made her New York City debut in La Bohème. She sang in London’s Covent Garden and returned to New York in 1991 to make her Metropolitan Opera debut. Since then, the Grammy Award winner, who is recognized as a risk-taker in her field, has created many roles for the operatic stage and has premiered numerous songs written for her. She has performed in the world’s most distinguished venues with today’s foremost orchestras and conductors, and recorded numerous award-winning discs. Listen to “O mio babbino caro” >>> Phil Cunningham, MBE: accordion; Aly Bain, MBE: fiddle: The MBE’s in this case stand for Member of the Order of the British Empire and carry with them honorary doctorates. Dr. Cunningham won his in 2002 for services to Scottish music, not only as an astonishing accordionist but also as a teacher, producer, music director, and composer. His considerable body of work includes two suites for symphony orchestra and Celtic instruments. Dr. Bain holds five honorary doctorates, none of which have kept him from being regarded as Scotland’s supreme traditional fiddler. He was a founding member of the Boys of the Lough and is today in demand as a producer and a collaborator; he has his own label, Whirlie Records. Together, Bain and Cunningham have recorded CDs and movie soundtracks, toured a considerable part of the world, played everywhere from small pubs to concert halls and coliseums, and from all accounts have had a good time doing it. Live at Celtic Colours >>> Violinist and saxophonist Andy Stein was a member of The Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band on A Prairie Home Companion from 1989 to 2001. He collaborated with Garrison Keillor to create the opera Mr. and Mrs. Olson. He has appeared on Saturday Night Live and Late Night with David Letterman, and has performed with such artists as Itzhak Perlman, Eric Clapton, Smashing Pumpkins, Billy Joel, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, and many others. Listen to “Sunshine” >>> Tune in to this fun-packed show on Saturday to hear the full song of “22 Stops” performed by Garrison and the Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band (who will be joining us for our show at Red Rocks on May 2).
22 Stops (lyrics)
I love my baby, Lord knows I do
Though she lives out on Ocean Avenue
I try to see her every Saturday
But she lives 22 subway stops away.
I love her though she is far out
Over in Brooklyn on a local route
She’s my baby I’m in love with her O
I wish she lived here in my borough.
But she’s 22 local stops away
She’s 22 local stops away
I sit on the train looking at the signs
As it comes to a stop 22 times.
(INSTRUMENTAL)
Pardon me for being so vocal
But she’s 22 stops away on the local
Ask the firemen, ask the cops
But 22 is a whole lot of stops.
Today is the day I call up Renée
And tell her, Baby, I got something to say
It’s all over, we’re done, we’re through
I can do 21 but not 22.
I hate the crowds I am annoyed
By ads about eczema and hemorrhoids
So I’m looking for a brand-new lover
Who lives on my street or one block over. | 