Issue 69

Monkee Shines

Enjoying Fame

Issue 69 March 2008

John Stewart passes

Inside: Great Moment Reinventing Pippin’ Ex-Monkee Dolenz in Martin Rob Zombie Has Another Horror Hit Orange Colored Sky It Must Be Love Pen Pals E-Pals Mike News Micky News Peter News David News John Stewart Obit Christmas With Micky Micky In Michigan Micky At Mohegan Sun Davy Jones Enjoys Fame Nostalgia Can Be Tricky American Music Theater Announces StarStudded Lineup There’s Something About Remakes And more ….

Micky performing in Portage, MI Photo by Pat Smith

Monkee Shines Table of Contents

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Letter from the Editor ...............................3 Great Moments .........................................4 Reinventing Pippin’ ..................................7 Ex-Monkee Dolenz in Martin ..................9 Rob Zombie Has Another Horror Hit .....11 Orange Colored Sky .................................12 It Must Be Love ........................................13 Pen Pals .....................................................14 E-Pals ........................................................15 Mike News ................................................16 Micky News ..............................................17 Peter News ................................................18 David News...............................................19 Ten years later...........................................20 John Stewart Obit .....................................22 Christmas With Micky .............................23 Micky In Michigan ...................................24 Micky At Mohegan Sun ...........................25 Davy Jones Enjoys Fame .........................28 Nostalgia Can Be Tricky ..........................30 American Music Theater Announces StarStudded Lineup .........................................31 There’s Something About Remakes ........34 Guitar Slinging Bluegrass Singing .........35 Personal Ads .............................................36

If you find a stamp in this area, your membership has expired with this issue. Please renew as soon as possible to assure your next issue. This is the only notice you will get.

My sincerest thanks to all who made this issue possible: As always The PFG Road Crew – Bonnie Borgh, Kimmi Wright, Janet Litterio, and Colleen Johnson and their families, Mary An and Tom Cybula, Ronda Russell, Pat Smith, Jan Chilton, Karen Barnes, Cyndi Torres, A.K. Whitney, Tracie Simer, Paul Cashmere, Diane Butler, John Curran, Gerry Galipault, Theresa Novak, Larry Alexander, Tim Miller, Dale Martin, Hazel Wilkinson, and Mike, Micky, Peter, and David who brought us all together and put up with our insanity!

Monkee Shines is printed by Mailboxes & Parcel Depot

In loving memory of our dear friend Ken Wilkinson. We miss you!

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Monkee Shines

From the Editor! was not a fun procedure but within a couple of weeks all signs of the stroke were gone .

I came home just long enough for Christmas and developed another infection which sent me back to the hospital through New Year’s Day. It was a long slow recovery.

My friends and family were amazing and I thank you all.

I went back to work in March, just happy to be doing normal things again. For now I am cancer free’ although it will be 5 years before the doctor will say so….one day at a time.

This issue has a couple of Micky sightings in it and we are always happy to hear your stories and see your photos about any of the guys.

We caught up with David in February but I am saving that for the next issue.

Once again...thank you all!

Dear Gang, I want to thank everyone once again for their patience, prayers, and support over the last 6 months. I have kept every card that you sent and there were so many!

I don’t want to bore everyone with details but for those who are curious...I had a 3 pound tumor that had gone undetected, for they estimate, 10 years. It hemorrhaged and I nearly bled to death. I had emergency surgery to remove it and while they had worried about damage to my liver and kidneys everything looked fine….until two weeks later and the pathology report came back saying it was cancerous so I had to go back in for more surgery, During that surgery they found that the incision from the first surgery was seriously infected and some tissue had to be cut away.

Two days later, in the hospital, I had a mild stroke and had a stent put in my brain. This

Keep

Monkeeing

around!

Cindy

Notice We will make every effort to publish Monkee Shines on the last week of October, January, April, and July. If for some reason it is going to be delayed you will be notified by postcard.

As always, if you are unhappy with your membership for any reason, we will be happy to refund the remainder of your membership dues upon request.

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Monkee Shines

Birthdays and other special events

February 1 2 4 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 7 8 8 9

9 9 9 9

10 Davy on "Laugh-In" on NBC (1969) 10 Beryl Leigh 11 Gerry Goffin 12 "Monkees Race Again" (1968) 13 Peter Tork (1942) 13 "Monkees at the Circus " (1967) 13 Joe Perry 13 David Jones "Evening With David Jones", Decatur, Illinois (1993) 13 David Jones in "Real Live Brady Bunch", Holiday Star, Merrillville, Indiana (1994) 14 Davy on "This Is Tom Jones" (1969) 14 DJB&H on "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert." (1976) 14 Rick Klein 15 "Instant Replay" is released (1969) 15 Michael Nesmith at Cubby Bear, Chicago, Illinois (1992) 16 Linda Jones 16 Sonny Bono 16 Ronda Russell 17 Gene Pitney 18 Bobby Hart (1939) 19 "Monkees in Paris" (1968) 19 "The Monkees" begin filming their first feature film "Changes," then called "Untitled," later retitled "Head" (1968) 19 Lou Christie 19 David Jones in "Real Live Brady Bunch", Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

Don Everly Graham Nash Jonathan Nesmith (1968) The Monkees (as a Trio) on the Glen Campbell "Goodtime Hour" on CBS (1969) "The Devil and Peter Tork" (1968) David Jones at The Lady Luck Casino, Bettendorf, Iowa (1999) "The Prince & The Pauper" Rodney Bingenheimer appears as Davy's double (1967) John London Fabian Forte David Jones at The Lady Luck Casino, Bettendorf, Iowa (1999) David Jones in "Real Live Brady Bunch", Champaign, Illinois (1994) "Teardorp City" is released (1969) David Jones in "Real Live Brady Bunch", Charleston, Illinois (1994) Davy on "The Ed Sullivan Show" as the Artful Dodger from "Oliver!"

The Beatles first U.S. appearance (1964) Deborah Stidham Carole King Barry Mann Jack Winter

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Monkee Shines (1993) 20 "Captain Crocodile" (1967) 21 Bob Rafelson 22 MTV Pleasant Valley Sunday Marathon airs 45 episodes (1986) 23 The Monkees renewed for a second season (1967) 24 Michael wins first time ever Grammy Award for Video of The Year for "Elephant Parts" (1982) 25 George Harrison 25 David Jones at Circa 21, Rock Island, Illinois (1991) 26 Cyrus Faryar (MFQ) (1936) 26 David Jones at The Ingersol, Des Moines, Iowa (1991) 26 Johnny Cash 26 "The Monkees Mind Their Manor" (1968) 27 DJB&H on "The Mike Douglas Show" (1976) 27 "Monkees a La Mode" (1967) 27 David Jones at The Ingersol, Des Moines, Iowa (1991)

9 10 10 11 13 13 13 13 13 14 15 15 17 17-

24 18 A repeat of October 23, 1967 "Hillbilly Honeymoon" 20 "Monkee Mother" 20 Diana Scharp 22 The Monkees (as a Trio) on Happening '69 (1969) 23 Bruce Kessler 25 "Little Bit Me, Little Bit You" #2 (1967) 25 "Mijacogeo (The Frodis Caper)" The second and final season ends (1968) 25 Elton John 26 Diana Ross 26 David Jones, Suffern, New York (1994) 27 "Monkees on The Line" (1967) 30 Eric Clapton

March 1 2 4 4 5 6 7

7 7 8 8 8 9 9

award winners in three categories: Best Selling Album, Best Selling Single, and Best Selling American Group (1967) "Valleri" #3 (1968) Dean Torrence David Jones at Ameristar Casino, St. Charles, Missouri (2005) "Monkees Blow Their Minds" (1968) DJB&H on "American Bandstand" (1976) "Little Bit Me, Little Bit You" receives Gold Record (1967) "Monkees Chow Mein" (1967) Neil Sedaka Carolyn Travis Arch Johnson Mike Love Susan Jensen John Sebastian The Monkees tour England for the first time since July 2, 1967 (1989)

Roger Daltry John Cowsill "Some Like It Luke Warm" (1968) David Jones at Hickory Hollow Mall, Nashville, Tennessee (1989) David Jones, Decatur, Illinois (1994) "Alias Micky Dolenz" (1967) Peter Tork joins Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones on stage at The Starwood Club in Hollywood (1977) Michael Nesmith's "Television Parts" premieres on NBC (1985) Donna Loren Micky Dolenz (1945) "Little Bit Me, Little Bit You" released (1967) Celi Cabot Mark Lindsay The Monkees top N.A.R.M.

April 1

David Jones in "Real Live Brady Bunch", Chicago, Illinois (1994) 3 "Monkees Get Out More Dirt' (1967) 3 Jan Chilton

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Monkee Shines 3 3 5 5 6 6 6 9 9 10 10 11 12

12 12 12 13 13 14 14 14 15 16 17 17 18 19 20 22 22 24

Jan Berry Jeff Barry Micky's second album "Broadway Micky" released on Kid Rhino (1994) Coco Hinzelmann Micky appears on "My Three Sons" (1972) Phil Leeds Michelle Phillips Carl Perkins Julie Harris "Monkees in Manhattan" (1967) David Jones at Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee (1992) David Jones at Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, Tennessee (1992) First Tork-less concert in Charleston, West Virginia to capacity crowd of 6000. The Monkees backed by Sam and The Goodtimers David Cassidy Tiny Tim David Jones at Hirsch Coliseum, Shreveport, Louisiana (1992) David Jones at St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, Missouri (1992) Diane (Hildebrand) Roland Skye One-hour special "33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee" airs on NBC on Monday night (1969) Shorty Rogers David Jones at Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri (1992) "The Girl I Knew Somewhere" #39 David Jones in "Real Live Brady Bunch", Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania (1994) "Monkees in The Movies" (1967) Don Kirshner Alex Singer Mark Volman Monte Landis Jack Nicholson Glen Campbell "Monkees on Tour" First season

ends (1967) 24 Last show of the U.K. tour at Reading where they receive a Gold Disc on stage for their "Hey Hey! The Monkees Greatest Hits" LP and CD (1989) 26 "Someday Man" b/w "Listen To The Band" released 26 Donna Lee Bascalla 26 Bobby Rydell 29 Tommy James 30 Bobby Vee

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Reinventing ‘Pippin’ Article Courtesy of: Cyndi Torres

Barry recruited Schwartz and Roger Hirson (Hirson was the show’s author), and together they gave “Pippin” a new ending, added an intermission and changed and cut some dialogue and lyrics.

Cover Story Press Telegram Wednesday, January 3, 2007 By: A. K. Whitney Staff Writer The ‘70’s musical gets a new ending and other twists

Mindful that modern audiences have been spoiled by blockbuster movies and death-defying stunts by live acts like Cirque du Soleil, they also added more circus and magic elements, from aerial silk and ball acts to illusions taught to the cast by a professional magician.

The process of growing up can, by turns, by joyful, painful, exhilarating and embarrassing.

This holds true whether you are a prince or a pauper—and in the case of the Stephen Schwartz musical “Pippin”, now at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, it is the former.

The acrobatics and magic tricks, cast members say, are the most impressive part of the revamped show.

The allegorical fable of young Prince Pippin’s coming-of-age, a time which exposes him to war, murder, sex, love, and understanding, “Pippin” premiered in 1972, starring Ben Vereen and choreographed by Bob Fosse. The show won a number of awards, including the Tony, and has had a solid following, though not a huge amount of stagings, since.

“I am sitting four feet away, and I’m thinking, ‘How do they do it?” said Joshua Park, who plays Pippin, adding that, after 117 performances (the tour ends in mid January) he is still none the wiser about how the more than a dozen illusions are done. Nor is he likely to be enlightened, since cast members had to sign confidentiality agreements saying they would not divulge the magician’s secrets.

Thirty-four years after its premiere, however, Goodspeed Musicals director Gabriel Barre thought it was time for a revival. And as is the case for most revivals, there was also room for reinvention.

Park, a North Carolina native with a background in both musicals and plays, said he is also in awe of the acrobatics, particularly in the aerial silk act.

“Two women go 30 feet in the air, and do splits,” he said. “It blows my mind.”

“We wanted to keep the feel of the original show, but have fun finding our own ways of re-creating it for the modern audience,” wrote Barre in his “director’s vision.”

While the women put on the act,

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Monkee Shines Pippin sings a song to them. The ultimate upstaging? Park doesn’t agree.

Monkees, plays Charlemagne.

“Charlemagne is not a villain,” said Dolenz. “He’s an antagonist. He’s a typical father, he’s condescending, he teaches (Pippin) a lesson, Pippin teaches (Charlemagne) a lesson.”

“You’re there to support the beauty (of the act,” he said.

And he even gets to do some acrobatics of his own, when he is hoisted high into the air on a silk hammock and made to turn upside down. This, Park said, is difficult for two reasons: 1) he has always been afraid of heights, and 2) “I have to hit some of the highest notes in the show in that number. The human diaphragm is not designed to work like that.”

Dolenz knows something about villains, having played Zoser for more than two years in Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida.”

“I worked on ‘Aida’ longer than on the Monkees,” said Dolenz.

Indeed, the television show only ran two seasons, although Dolenz and his cast mates-Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork-went on to fame by turning their fake rock band into a real one. Until a few years ago, they were still getting together to play, though Dolenz, who has also made a career in musical theater, said he has no current plans to do so.

Both Park’s diaphragm and acrophobia, however, have thankfully risen to the occasion.

All the illusions and stunts, however, are not intended to distract from the very human relationships beneath, Park said, how people relate to the show on a personal level, and come up and tell him so afterward.

Meanwhile, “Pippin” has kept him busy. Dolenz said he had no previous exposure to the show, which is how Barre liked it.

“They say, ‘I’ve lived that, I’ve dreamed that,’ “ Park said.

Pippin’s story starts after the young Prince has finished university. He goes back to Charlemagne (also known as King Charles), agrees to let Pippin join him in fighting a war.

However, Pippin doesn’t care much for war, so after it ends, he decides to try sex. But sex gets boring also, so Pippin leads a revolution against his father, while his stepmother plots to get rid of both father and son so her own son gets glory. When Pippin wins the revolution, he is bored again, until he meets Catherine, a pretty young woman who finally shows him what matters in life.

“They wanted us to start from scratch,” he said.

The main conceit of the show, however, hasn’t changed. “Pippin” is still a play within a play, with the prince’s story told through a group of actors referred to as “Players.” And if Charlemagne isn’t the villain of the show, the “Leading Player” fits the bill.

“I spend the whole show enticing him to do things he doesn’t want to do,” said Andre Ward, a Las Vegas native who is the Leading Player and selfdescribed devil on Pippin’s shoulder.

“I show him the decadence of life. I say, ‘Take a bite of the apple.’”

Micky Dolenz, best known as a member of the 1960s TV band, The

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Monkee Shines much they will miss working together once the tour ends.

The Leading Player also encourages Pippin to have his father killed and to commit suicide. Pippin chooses one of these options, though everything turns out well in the end.

They will also miss the show.

“I enjoy creating this living, breathing entity,” Ward said.

“The show changes slightly every night. And every night, you get to conquer your fear.”

Though Pippin and the Leading Player lock horns onstage, Park and Ward only have nice things to say about each other, including how

Ex-Monkee Dolenz makes stop in Martin

By TRACIE SIMER Q: You will be performing with your sister Coco. What can West Tennessee fans expect to get when they see you tonight?

September 7, 2007

Four decades after the popular '60s band The Monkees first appeared on TV, Micky Dolenz will perform in Martin during the Tennessee Soybean Festival.

A: You can assure people that I will perform all Monkee songs in their entirety. I don't want to change the old material. I sing it like it was recorded. It's important to me to fulfill the contract made with the audience.

They expect you to sing songs the way they know them. Some people redo songs or do things different, but I don't.

Dolenz will sing the band's most popular songs to fans at 9:30 p.m. today on the Downtown Stage. Admission is free.

Born in Los Angeles on March 8, 1945, Dolenz was the drummer for The Monkees. He got a part on The Monkees TV show in the fall of 1965.

By Sept. 10, 1966 their debut single, "Last Train to Clarksville," which featured Dolenz on lead vocals, hit the charts. The band went on to sell more than 65 million records worldwide.

I'm bringing my sister. We've been singing together since we were kids, so we'll sing songs we grew up with.

I'll also sing some other things, like the Chuck Berry tune I had to sing for the Monkees' audition.

Something else I always do is tell stories. It creates a connection with the audience. Especially when I'm about to do a non-Monkee tune, I like to explain what I'm about to sing before I perform it. When I sing 'Good Morning, Good Morning,' from 'Sgt.

Today, Dolenz is an actor, director, producer and performer. He has a small role in Rob Zombie's remake of "Halloween" and appeared on a recent episode of "American Idol."

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Monkee Shines Pepper's' I tell the story about being in the recording session with The Beatles. It's going to be lots of fun.

I'm looking forward to it.

A: I didn't do it all myself, that would've been too much. All The Monkees trivia came from me, but not for the other acts. When the publishers approached me about doing the book they asked me to provide them with whatever I had.

Q: You appear in Rob Zombie's remake of "Halloween," which was number one at the box office Labor Day weekend. How do you feel about your part? What was it like working with Rob Zombie?

Q: Which piece of trivia was the most surprising?

A: A lot of it did surprise me, but the one that stuck in my head was 'Name the group with the most number two records who have never had a number one.' Know the answer?

Creedence Clearwater Revival.

A: It's a small part in the movie, really. But Rob's apparently a fan. He called my agent and booked me. It was great working with him. He's a great director and the movie is an interesting story. I don't get killed and I don't kill anyone. It was nice to be a part of the biggest movie of the weekend.

Q: Who is your favorite rock n' roll trivia subject?

A: Well, I'm a huge Beatles fan, always have been, always will be.

They're just the best. I'm fairly good friends with Ringo and I was also with John in L.A. Paul was the first Beatle I met, and he invited me to some of their sessions while they were recording "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." It was pretty intense.

Q: You made an appearance on "American Idol's Idol Gives Back" show during the Bee Gees number.

How did you get involved with the show? Who were you rooting for to win?

A: I was actually visiting the set during a taping and the producer - who I know - asked if I would do the Bee Gees thing.

My favorite was Jordin Sparks. She has a great voice and good presentation. It's not just about the voice.

You have to have a style and presentation.

Q; On your Web site, there is a petition to get The Monkees inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Why do you think the band isn't already in there? Why do you think The Monkees deserve a spot in the hall?

Q: You released "Micky Dolenz' Rock n' Rollin' Trivia" in 2006 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of The Monkees. A lot of people were expecting a book about The Monkees, but you came through with trivia about a lot of artists. How did you gather all of that information?

A: I'm grateful to the fans for trying to get this in action. But I've never been one who chases awards. It's not my place. And the hall's not an officially recognized organization in the industry anyway. It's more like a private club started by some in the industry and it's their preference.

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Monkee Shines Q: How do you think The Monkees affected rock and roll?

Q: Do you still keep in contact with the other Monkees Peter Tork, Davy Jones and Mike Nesmith? Are there any plans to get back together, since 1996's "Justus" reunion?

A: Well, I wasn't necessarily a fan of myself. But, I'm still doing shows, the songs are still played, the shows are still on TV - so obviously there has been some influence. There weren't any long-haired kids on TV back then unless they were getting arrested.

We made it all right to have long hair.

A: We keep in touch through e-mails every once in a while. Everyone lives in different places. As for reuniting, I've learned to never say never. But right now, I just don't know.

Rob Zombie Has Another Horror Hit

by Paul Cashmere - September 3 2007

Rob Zombie, the former White Zombie creator turned Hollywood director, has another hit flick on his hands with his remake of the 1978 slasher 'Halloween'.

meant to be 'The Crow: Salvation' in 2000. That fell over due to conflicts with the producers.

'Halloween' is the story of Michael Myers, who breaks out of a mental institution and goes on a murderous rampage.

Hollywood's historic summer is ending, appropriately enough, with another box-office record.

Zombie's wife Sheri Moon plays Myers sister Deborah in his movie.

Zombie's movie slashed $26.5 million from horror fans and into the cash registers of movie theaters all over America on the weekend, making it the number one film in the USA.

The Monkees Mickey Dolenz also has a part in the movie, playing the character Derek Allen.

It's good news for the horror genre.

Other recent films such as 'Hostel: Part II' and 'Captivity' were recent box office flops.

Zombie made the successful transition from music to movies with the horror hit 'House of 1000 Corpses' in 2003 although his first movie was

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Monkee Shines

David added these songs to the show in Hinsdale, Il on September 28, 2007.

Orange Colored Sky Sung by Nat King Cole And The Davy Jones I was walking along Mindin’ my business When out of an orange colored sky Flash, bam, alakazam Wonderful you came by

Nat King Cole I’ve been hit This is it This is it I -T It!

I was hummin’ a tune Drinking in sunshine When out of that orange colored view Flash, bam, alakazam I got a look at you

I was walking along Mindin’ my business When love came and hit me in the eye Flash, bam, alakazam Out of an orange colored Purple striped Pretty green polka dot sky Flash, bam,alakazam, and Good bye!

One look and I yelled, “Timber!”

Watch out for flying glass ‘Cause the ceiling fell in, And the bottom fell out I went into a spin, and I started to shout I’ve been hit This is it This is it I -T It!

(Who writes that stuff?)

I was walking along Mindin’ my business When love came in and hit me in the eye Flash, ba, alakazam Out of an orange colored sky

Dear Mr. Jones: You’re going to make a Monkee fan out of Craig Borgh yet if you keep this tune fro Hinsdale, Illinois! (He’s a big Nat King Cole fan.) Add a Johnny Cash number, and I’m sure he’ll be Walkin’ The Line in No Time!

One look and I yelled, “Timber!”

Watch out for flying glass ‘Cause the ceiling fell in, And the bottom fell out I went into a spin, and I started to shout 12

Monkee Shines

Nothing more, nothing less Love is the best

It Must Be love Sung By Madness And The Davy Jones

How can it be that we can Say so much without words?

Bless you and bless me Bless the bees And the birds I’ve got to be near you Every night, every day I couldn't be happy Any other way

I never thought I’d miss you Half as much as I do And I never thought I’d feel this way The way I feel About you As soon as I wake up Every night, every day I know that it’s you I need To take the blues away

It must be love love love It must be love love love Nothing more, nothing les Love is the best

It must be love love love It must be love love love Nothing more, nothing les Love is the best

As soon as I wake up Every night, every day I know that it’s you I need To take the blues away

How can it be that we can Say so much without words?

Bless you and bless me Bless the bees And the birds I’ve got to be near you Every night, every day I couldn't be happy Any other way

It must be love love love It must be love love love It must be love love love…

Repeat

It must be love love love It must be love love love Nothing more, nothing les Love is the best As soon as I wake up Every night, every day I know that it’s you I need To take the blues away It must be love love love It must be love love love It must be love love love…

Repeat It must be love love love 13

Monkee Shines

Write to your favorite Monkee at: Davy Jones PO Box 400 Beavertown, PA 17180

Kathy Brewer 1198 Turkey Blind Road Crossville, TN 38572

Peter Tork 524 San Anselmo Suite 102 San Anselmo, CA 94960

Colleen Johnson 9104 Lemona Drive St. Louis, MO 63123

Mike Nesmith Video Ranch 8 Harris Court Suite C1 Monterey, CA 93940

Susan Jensen 210 Washington Street Audubon, IA 50025-1133 Barbara Woerner PO Box 5655 Lincoln, NE 68505-0655

Micky Dolenz Paradise Artists 108 East Matilija Street Ojai, CA 93023

Julie Harris PO Box 352 Pine Island, MN 55963

Diane Klosak 2101 Nicholas Ct Bettendorf, IA 52722

Tony Asselta PO Box 1091 Canyon Country, CA 91386-1091

Rick Schwinden 3275 Valley Ridge Drive Egan, MN 55121

Maria Tereza Pinho Gomes Da Silva Praca Cardeal Arcoverde #25 Apt. 802 Copabana Rio De Janeiro — RJ CEP 220440-030 Brazil

Ronda Russell 2031 Glen Avenue Beloit, WI 53511 Kim Boatman 6140 Hytrail Ct. Mahtomedi, MN 55115 James Elswick 5017 W 2nd Street South Bloomfield, OH 43103

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Monkee Shines

E-mail Pals

Maria Tereza Pinho Gomes Da Silva:…..terezaharrison@uol.com.br Janet Litterio:…..janet6356@juno.com Barbara Woerner:

…..Wbwoerner@aol.com

Kim Boatman…..KAB571@AOL.COM Julie Harris…..oronocomonkee@yahoo.com If you would like your email address listed in Email Pals please let me know.

Photo by Karen Barnes

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Monkee Shines

Mike News Looking behind the Monkees Box On with Dianne Butler March 27, 2008 12:00am

who'd written a biography of the Monkees. When they were finally exposed for not actually being a proper band, it was a major scandal and everyone involved with them quickly moved to distance themselves from it all. And this guy pointed out how hard that is for us to believe now, where everything is manufactured and fake. Whereas back then fake was the worst thing you could possibly be.

MIKE no longer likes to talk about his days as a monkey."

I love that line, it makes me hysterical – I laugh even just writing it.

Although I really should've used a capital M and spelt it Monkee, given that it's about one of the Monkees, Mike Nesmith, but I think it's much funnier my way. When the narrator says it, totally straight, towards the end of Making the Monkees tonight it just sounds hilarious. I really liked this documentary and I'm hoping it means 9.30 Thursdays have become music hour. Not that you immediately think of music when somebody says Monkees. They're never going to be on anybody's list of world's greatest albums or anything. But talk about sell . . . more than The Beatles and Elvis combined in the States, it says in this.

Which sounds like a lot. I'm sure it's true though, it was on television.

They were interesting times. In 1966 Bob Rafelson got his friend Martin Scorsese out to Hollywood to direct an episode, but Scorsese, a film snob, decided not to. Jack Nicholson – who Rafelson later directed in Five Easy Pieces and a hot remake of The Postman Always Rings Twice – was brought in to write a script for a Monkees film that ended up being the final nail in the coffin.

The other great line in this show comes via the original audition poster for when they were putting the band together and calling for four "insane boys" aged 17-21: Must come down for interview, it said, which Bob Rafelson, one of the Monkees' inventors, explains – "Meaning if you were on drugs you had to be straight." Can you imagine? You can't see them putting that on the Australian Idol website can you.

Rafelson went on to produce Easy Rider and the Monkees, well, you'll see how it all turned out. Mike Nesmith wasn't interviewed for this. He's very, very rich now. His mother was also wealthy – you probably know this, she invented Liquid Paper. Anyway, he doesn't like talking about when he was a monkey.

I was struck by something one of the people here says, it was someone

Visit Mike at www.videoranch.com 16

Monkee Shines

Micky News And Dates 5/1/08 Conejo Valley Days Thousand Oaks, CA For More info visit their site at: http://www.conejovalley.com/ direct/cvd/index.html

http:// www.westchicagochamber.com/ index.php?m=26 8/28/08 Alaska State fair Palmer, Alaska Check their site closer to the show: http:// www.alaskastatefair.org/2008/ index.html

5/4/08 Hoboken Spring Arts & Music Festival 13th Annual Hoboken Arts & Music Festival Washington Street - Observer Highway to 7th Street "Observer Highway Stage" Hoboken, NJ Admission is Free, Concert is at 4:35pm For more info check out this site: http://www.hobokeni.com/ festivals.asp

09/12-14/08 The Big E Festival 1305 Memorial Avenue West Springfield, MA 01089 Visit their web site at: http://www.thebige.com

5/22/08 Cool Thursdays Dallas Arboretum 8525 Garland Road Dallas, Texas 75218 For More info visit their site at:http:// www.dallasarboretum.org/ Events/CoolThursdays.htm

THE BEACH BOYS star BRIAN WILSON has been recruited as Los Angeles' Rock + Roll Fantasy Camp's first 'counsellor'. The Good Vibrations hitmaker will offer wannabe rockers career advice during the 10th annual camp next year (08).

Wilson will join coaches Nick Mason from Pink Floyd , former AC DC bassist Cliff Williams and The Monkees' Micky Dolenz.

7/12/08 West Chicago's Railroad Days Festival Reed Keppler Park West Chicago, IL. 60185For More info check out their site closer to their date at:

Visit Micky at www.mickydolenz.com for more 17

Monkee Shines

Peter News And Dates Peter—Solo

Entertainment committee 321 Hunting Lodge Road Storrs, CT 06268

May 26,2008 Peter Tork - Acoustic Festival of Britain 2008 Acoustic Festival of Britain Catton Hall Park Derbyshire/Staffordshire Border UK http://www.acousticfestival.co.uk Price: see website The Festival is a 3-day event beginning on May 24. Peter will be performing on Monday, May 26. Please see the Festival's website -- http:// www.acousticfestival.co.uk for ticket details, directions and full line-up.

April 26,2008 Peter Tork and Shoe Suede Blues Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts 71 East Main St. Patchogue, NY 11772 631-207-1313 http://www.patchoguetheatre.com/ buytickets.htm Price: $TBA May10,2008 Peter Tork and Shoe Suede Blues with The Doors of Deception The Barn 409 Pomfret Rd. Brooklyn, CT 06234 http://www.thebarnct.com Price: Donation Doors at 5:00 PM; music at 6:30 PM. More info available at http:// www.petertork.com/petertorkinvfix.pdf contact bbond@siriwire.com

October 30,2008 Long Island Music Hall of Fame - Peter Tork - Awards Presenter Long Island Music Hall of Fame - Induction Awards Gala Garden City Hotel Long Island, NY

Peter & SSB April 25, 2008 Peter Tork and Shoe Suede Blues Benefit for Goodwin Elementary School E.O. Smith High School Rte. 195 Storrs, CT Price: $20 Showtime: 6:30-9:30pm Doors open at 6:15pm

May 17, 2998 Peter Tork and Shoe Suede Blues Chan's Fine Oriental Dining 267 Main Street Woonsocket, RI 02895 401 765 1900 Price: $15 for one show, $25 for both NOTE: There are two shows -- one at 8:00 pm and one at 10:00 p.m.. Ticket prices are $15 for one show or $25 for both shows.

This is a benefit for Goodwin Elementary School.

Entertainment includes local band, Shaky Johnson, comedian Steve Diamond, and highlight performance by Peter Tork and Shoe Suede Blues.

Requests for tickets (adults only) should be mailed with a check payable to the Goodwin PTO and a self addressed stamped envelope to: Goodwin Elementary School

August 30, 2008 Wildwood Rock and Roll Collectibles Show Wildwood Convention Center 4501 Boardwalk Wildwood, NJ Price: $10 Autograph Signing 4 p.m.

Band Showtime: 7:45 p.m.

Visit Peter at www.petertork.com for all the news 18

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David News And Dates Tue 05/06/08 Wilkes-Barre, PA Leadership Wilkes-Barre “Affair on the Square: Be a Believer” (THIS IS DAVY SOLO, NO MUSIC, JUST AN APPEARANCE)

Thurs 07/17/08 Ameristar Casino St Charles, MO (near St Louis shows at 7PM & 9PM) Sat 07/26/08 Kansas City, MO Private event

Sun 05/11/08 Lake Buena Vista, FL Disney World

Thur 07/24/08 Calumet, MI

Mon 05/12/08 Lake Buena Vista, FL Disney World

Sat 07/26/08 Kansas City, MO Private event

Tues 05/13/08 Lake Buena Vista, FL Disney World

Sat 08/02/08 Schuylkill County Fair Summit Station, PA

Wed 05/14/08 Lake Buena Vista, FL Disney World

Fri 08/08/08 Grand Sierra Hotel and Casino Reno, NV

Thu 05/15/08 Lake Buena Vista, FL Disney World

Sat 08/09/08 Chumash Casino Santa Ynez, CA

Sat 05/24/08 Terre Haute, IN 25th Annual Fairbanks Park Arts & Music Festival

Fri 08/22/08 San Diego Symphony San Diego, CA

Thu 06/05/08 Waukesha, WI Taste of Summer Fest

Sat 08/23/08 San Diego Symphony San Diego, CA

Fri 07/04/08 Indianapolis, IN Sat

Sat 09/27/08 Civic Auditorium Cedartown, GA

07/05/08 The Cannery Casino Las Vegas, NV

Visit www.davyjones.net for the latest news!

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Monkee Shines Sat 11/08/08 Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts Cerritos, CA Phone: 1 (800) 300-4345

Mon 02/09/09 Duluth, MN The Duluth Symphony Starring Davy Jones

Sat 11/15/08 Arcada Theatre St. Charles, IL

Sat 05/23/09 The Renaissance Performing Arts Center Mansfield, OH

Sat 12/06/08 Fort McDowell Resort & Casino Fountain Hills, AZ

Congratulations to David and family on the birth of David’s third grandchild, Lauren McFadden, born October 1st,2007.

Sat 02/07/09 Duluth, MN The Duluth Symphony Starring Davy Jones

Ten years later, made-in-Vermont indie finally released

By John Curran, Associated Press Writer | September 7, 2007

BURLINGTON, Vt. --What looks like a cult hit, stars former Brat Pack actress Ally Sheedy and took 10 years to bring to the big screen?

Filmed partly in Vermont, the movie - which was shot in 1997 but never released -- makes its theatrical debut here Saturday, capping a tortured odyssey for filmmaker Keith Spiegel and his low-budget indie feature, whose supporting cast is an unlikely mix of Hollywood B-listers and Vermont celebrities.

"The Junior Defenders," a straight-toDVD "mockumentary" that tells the story of a deranged fan of a 1970s superhero show who kidnaps the actors from it years later, forcing them at gunpoint to act in a new episode at his direction.

Among the bit players: former presidential candidate Michael Dukakis,

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Greatest American Hero," a 19811983 TV show starring William Katt.

"That was my favorite show, and you can see it in this," he said Friday, sitting in an empty theater at Merrill's Roxy. "The protagonist is me, from age 10 to 12."

He calls it a commentary about the mercurial nature of celebrity.

Narrated by eclectic director John Waters, the unrated "Junior Defenders" was filmed in part in Burlington, Rutland and White River Junction, with a total budget of $170,000. Dissatisfied with the finished product, Spiegel shot new scenes, added dialogue and pop culture references to update it and then re-cut it.

"These child stars, one moment they're on top of the world, the next moment they're homeless bums, the next they're back on top," he said.

"I'm making a comment about the absurdity of that."

O'Halloran said Friday he doesn't think the delay between shooting and release will hurt "Junior Defenders."

It was done in 2005, but didn't find a distributor until earlier this year.

Warner Home Video will release it on DVD and video-on-demand Oct. 23.

"Being a movie dealing with a `70s TV show, the further you go away in time, the more relevant it becomes, if anything," he said. "It's definitely something people will enjoy if they can take it for what it is."

A ten-city arthouse theater tour is planned after the movie's five-day run at Merrill's Roxy in Burlington ends Thursday, with stops in Boston, New York, Austin, Seattle, among others.

In addition to Sheedy, who achieved `80s fame for "The Breakfast Club" and "St. Elmo's Fire," the film stars "Clerks" co-star Brian O'Halloran and Justin Henry, the youngest actor ever nominated for an Academy Award, in 1979's "Kramer vs. Kramer."

"It was a labor of love that went on for a little longer than we expected," said Spiegel, 36, of Burlington.

The Brown University graduate, who now works as a professional web designer, based it loosely on his own childhood obsession with "The

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John Stewart, Who Wrote Monkees Hit, Dies at 68 LOS ANGELES — John Stewart, who wrote the Monkees hit “Daydream Believer” and helped create the style that came to be called Americana,

John Stewart

died on Saturday at a San Diego hospital. He was 68.

Mr. Stewart, who came to promi-

A husky-voiced singer and ac-

nence in the 1960s as a member

complished guitarist who deliv-

of the folk group the Kingston

ered his lyrics in a poignant, often

Trio, had a brain aneurysm, ac-

longing voice, Mr. Stewart creat-

cording to a statement on the

ed music that fell somewhere

group’s

within rock, country and folk gen-

Web

site,

king-

stontrio.com.

res, and came to be called Amer-

Mr. Stewart, who left the trio

icana.

shortly before the Monkees re-

He joined the Kingston Trio in

leased “Daydream Believer” in

1961, replacing Dave Guard in

1967, went on to record nearly

the group that had helped usher

four dozen solo albums, including

in an American folk-music revival

“California

in the late 1950s. He recorded

Bloodlines”

and

“Bombs Away Dream Babies.”

more than a dozen albums with

But Mr. Stewart was best known

the trio before beginning his solo

for writing songs for others, in-

career.

cluding Joan Baez (“Strange Riv-

He is survived by his wife, Buffy,

ers”)

and his children, Mikael, Jeremy,

and

Rosanne

Cash

(“Runaway Train”).

Amy and Luke.

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Christmas with Micky

By Ronda Russell Whenever I was asked "what would you like for Christmas?”, I would say "MONKEE TICKETS!!!"

Micky was coming to Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee, WI on December 17th. The nice part of this for me was I had not heard Micky sing Christmas songs before. He did a wonderful job of singing Jingle Bell Rock, Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree, Winter Wonderland and even the silly Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer song. He also did everyone’s favorites like, That Was Then, Purple Haze (which he always does so well) and Steppin' Stone. He still does my favorite, Since I Fell For You. It is done with such heart and soul. He does all this in a very stylish long black suite and red shirt, topped off with a red and white Santa hat. Micky always looks good in a hat, even Santa's. At one point Micky wiped his face with a towel than turned towards me to throw it. I reached out to catch it, but as you might guess, he faked it and said he was keeping it to sell on Ebay. I know how this goes and that I would end up with it

later. CoCo, Micky's sister was there to sing with him. She did some great solos like, Different Drum and Santa Baby. And together they did a couple of songs like Blackbird from their childhood. It was all very festival, with Santa himself at the keyboard.

All too soon the encore arrived. Wtih the audience shouting for Micky to come back to the stage, he starts out with a great version of Give Me Some Lovin'.

That song got us all on our feet, dancing. It was awesome! The finishing song was of course I'm A Believer. And like I said at the end of the show Micky tosses me his towel. You can guess what I did with it...........yes I got in line for Micky to sign it .He changed his hat to his black "Sinatra like" one. Micky was fun and sweet.

And who doesn't like it when he calls you Darlin'?

Another Merry Monkee Moment!

Micky and Ronda Photo courtesy of Ronda Russell

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MICKY IN MICHIGAN

By Pat Smith I went to see Micky Dolenz play July 7, 2007 at The Overlander Bandshell in Portage MI, which was only an hour away from where I live (unlike the Peter show that was 14 hours away...) It was a perfect night for an outside concert.

The Band came onstage and started playing The Monkees Theme.

Micky's "little sister" Coco was introduced first. She came out smiling.

Then Micky came onstage, dressed in black jeans, black shirt, black hat & a big smile. He looked great.

He went through playing all The Monkees songs and doing quite a few of Nesmith songs. He was praising Mike for being such a great songwriter & writing so many great tunes. He alternated from playing guitar & tambourine.

He briefly left the stage when Coco sang "Different Drum".

He did a great version of "Goin' Down". Two girls at the side of the stage were singing along.

Micky stuck the mike up to them so they could be heard.

Towards the end of the show Micky got behind the drums and played and sang

"Circle Sky" and "Mary, Mary".

This was probably the best Micky solo show I've ever seen. It's always great to see Coco. She does some amazing background vocals, especially to Daydream Believer.

And it was good to see Dave Alexander, who is now back in Mickys band.

Photo by Pat Smith

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Micky Dolenz at the Mohegan Sun - Feb. 1, 2008 - by Mary Ann Cybula

My husband Tom and I left our Commack, New York home to see Micky at the Mohegan Sun in Ct. We got there early so we could wait on line, as it was a free show and limited seating we wanted to make sure we got a seat.

Micky came on stage looking great and started the concert with “That Was Then, This Is Now.” I was happy with this being the first song, since we know Vance who wrote this song, he lives 15 minutes from us.

Micky did a lot of Monkee songs, which we didn’t hear for awhile like “She,” “Words,” and “D W Washburn.”

It was so wonderful to hear these songs again after all these years.

When Micky sang “Valeri,” he lowered the mike stand and went on his knees, as if to poke fun at Davy and even tried an English accent!

Micky joked about the Monkees and told us he is part Irish, part Italian and part American Indian, so we shouldn’t get him drunk, pissed off or give him a weapon.

He also talked about how he met the Beatles and heard them sing, and then he sang “Oh Darling.”

Micky sang many Monkee classics like “Little Bit Me, Little Bit You,” “Last Train to Clarksville,” (he smiled at me during this one and Tom took his picture), “I’m Not Your Steppin Stone,” and “I’m A Believer.”

He also mentioned John Stuart, who wrote “Daydream Believer,” and dedicated this song to him, as he passed away recently.

Coco, Micky’s sister, also did a few great songs including “Different Drum” and “Runaway.”

Photo by Tom Cybula

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After the show, Micky signed some of our Monkee items and he told me he saw me sitting up front during the show, and I felt 13 again, ha! He then asked me if I liked the way he changed the way the songs were arranged, since he said “I know you go to my shows often.” I told him it was fantastic! It really was one of the best shows he has done.

Thanks’ Micky for all those beautiful songs and most of all for being so sweet and caring to us fans.

Photos by Tom Cybula

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Davy Jones enjoys his fame

By Gerry Galipault Published Thursday, April 3, 2008 at 4:30 a.m.

Saturday night at The Center for Performing Arts & Education in Punta Gorda.

Show business is a minefield, and Davy Jones would know; he's approaching his 50th year as an entertainer. (WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday. WHERE: TheCenter for Performing Arts & Education, 701 Carmalita St.,Punta Gorda. COST: $39; Charlotte County students $10.

INFORMATION: 505-SHOW; thecenter.cc. MORE: Hear Davy at myspace.com TheRealDavy Jones.

The English-born actor, who turned 62 on Dec. 30, embraces being a celebrity, rather than being a prisoner of it. "It's interesting when people ask, 'What was it like in those days of the Monkees?' It's exactly how it is now," he said. "Like last night I went into the supermarket, and this just amazes me, this guy is eyeballing me and I'm with my girlfriend. The guy comes over and says, 'My God, you're Davy Jones.' Then the checkout guy does the same thing. And he's like, 'What are you doing here?'

'Uh, I'm getting food.'

Does the former Monkees singer enjoy having to perform "Daydream Believer" for the millionth time? If he didn't, he would have told fans and the media years ago, never again crooned "I Want to Be Free" and become a reclusive Davy Jones.

"I'm a normal guy. Not every celebrity is in recovery. There's so many of these young ladies and men today who are selfdestructive. You know, if you don't want the paparazzi taking pictures of you, then go have something to eat at Denny's.

They're not going to follow you there. The paparazzi don't care about Denny's or the Waffle House. These celebrities seem go to where they're made important. I don't get it; it's such a shame."

But he loves being that Davy Jones, the one in the spotlight.

"That's my job. I always get a thrill being on stage," Jones said in a phone interview from his Hollywood, Fla., home. "That's my reward for being Davy Jones from the Monkees. I only have to talk at the airport and people turn around and go, 'It's Davy Jones.'

Who wouldn't love that?"

What has kept him grounded since the heyday of the Monkees,

You can see that Davy Jones on 28

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when they outsold the Beatles and Elvis Presley combined in 1967, is knowing how any misstep would affect his family.

"When you become a celebrity, or a recognizable person, it affects everything about you," he said. "You become a public person. You don't take your dog for a walk anymore or spend as much time with your children or work on your relationships, because it's difficult to live a normal life. I chose not to live that way.

"Obviously, I wish I could go back 40 years and do some things I did differently. But I'm getting the satisfaction now because I'm singing better now, I'm performing better and I'm feeling better."

Expect stories, jokes and lots of hits from Jones during his Punta Gorda show.

"My band is cool; they're all sober," he said, with a laugh.

"There's no messing about. And when we go out and sing 'Daydream Believer,' 'I'm a Believer,' 'Last Train to Clarksville,' 'Pleasant Valley Sunday,' 'Valerie' and 'I Want to Be Free,' all these tunes, that's what it's all about.

"I'll be singing all these wonderful songs from Neil Diamond, Carole King, Neil Sedaka, Harry Nilsson, John Stewart, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, Leiber and Stoller, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.

"Hey, I can't go wrong."

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Nostalgia can be tricky: Go see the Monkee or not?

Commentary by Theresa Novak

Forgotten or under-credited songwriters Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart produced singles such as “Last Train to Clarksville,” (which had a great opening guitar riff), “I’m a Believer,” an upbeat pop love song by Neil Diamond and “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” one of the top 20 songs of the summer of 1967.

Here’s a question: Should people meet the heroes of their youth, many decades later? Nostalgia is a tricky thing. You have an equal shot of being let down as of being taken back to a happier time.

I’m pondering this as I debate whether to the pay the $15 or $20 and see Mickey Dolenz in mid-March, when he’s performing in a show called “The Monkees” at a Florence casino.

I remember that one because, in a stunning example of youthful bad judgment, I spent a Sunday dialing a local radio station to “vote” for it during a “song battle” with “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” I’m not saying which won.

I know what the 1967 pre-teen version of me would do; she’d be camped out there now. Dolenz was a mega-star with the sixth-grade set.

He was the drummer for “The Monkees,” a TV show that ran from 1966 to 1968.

But The Beatles wouldn’t have minded. In those days, even they admitted to watching “The Monkees.”

It’s too bad that only Dolenz will be performing. And what’d I’d rather see is the movie that details their whole interesting schlock-to-legitimatesuccess story.

Never mind that pop critics derisively termed The Monkees — Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Mike Nesmith — the “prefab four.” It was a factual description: The group resulted from a 1965 ad placed in Variety magazine by TV producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider, who were seeking “four insane folk and roll musicians.”

So, about going to see Mickey: How often do you get to meet — even decades later — someone whose singing formed the background vocals to your early years? I consider this a wish granted late. In March, I figure I’ll take the last exit to Florence.

The series — usually described as “zany,” “kooky” and “madcap” — was filmed on the former “Three Stooges” soundstage. It was a contrived bit of fluff about four young struggling California musicians who lived on the beach and had a custom car. But here’s the thing: Their music was really good. I still think so.

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American Music Theatre announces starstudded lineup Returning favorites highlight ’08 season

As it has for the past several years, the AMT's celebrity season kicks off Jan. 11 with the Elvis Birthday Bash, with Scot Bruce as young Elvis and Mike Albert as the older version. Albert is back two days later, this time solo, with the Elvis Gospel Show.

That will be followed by the music of STOMP on Jan. 1517.

By LARRY ALEXANDER, Staff Intelligencer Journal Published: Dec 22, 2007 2:02 AM EST LANCASTER COUNTY, PA Hey, hey, it's the Monkees.

Or at least a Monkee, as Micky Dolenz joins the cavalcade of stars appearing at the American Music Theatre in 2008.

On March 1, Dolenz, one of the original Prefab Four cast

by NBC for the popular TV series (1966-68) designed to capitalize on Beatlemania, will join Teen Idols Peter Noone (Herman's Hermits) and Gary Lewis and the Playboys.

Rock band Three Dog Night returns in January with hits like "One," "Joy To The World" and "Mamma Told Me Not to Come." They will be followed by a combination show featuring Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge, Emil Stucchio and the Classics and the Shangri-Las.

Dolenz is the second Monkee to grace the AMT stage. Davy Jones performed in 1998 as part of a show that included Noone and Bobby Sherman.

In February, The Oak Ridge Boys will roll in, as will Anne Murray and Country Music Award nominee Miranda Lambert.

"Her star is rising quickly," said Jim Martin, one of AMT's three partners.

Lewis, son of comedian Jerry Lewis, sang such hits as "This Diamond Ring," "Save Your Heart For Me" and "Palisades Park." He also is making his AMT debut.

Comedian Mark Lowry, pop star Rick Springfield and the 31

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Beach Boys are also on tap for March, plus there will be two combination shows, one featuring T.G. Sheppard, John Conlee, Ronnie McDowell, Exile and Steve Hall with Shotgun Red, and the other with Motown greats the Temptations and Four Tops.

Besides the Teen Idols, March will also see music icon Little Richard, singer Tracy Lawrence, Jungle Jack Hanna, the Golden Boys — Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby Rydell — and a nineact Doo Wop Cavalcade.

Also in March, the popular Smothers Brothers are back, this time teamed up with Judy Collins.

"For three years we've had them with the Kingston Trio, and while that has always sold out, the key is you don't want to hang on one year too long," Martin said. "I thought it needed a change."

A Bluegrass Festival kicks off April, featuring Peter Rowan and the Tony Rice Quartet, Bobby Osborne and Rocky Top X-Press, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage and Dr. Ralph Stanley.

Switching gears, they will be followed by the alternative rock sound of Gin Blossoms, which Martin admits is "a different demographic" for AMT. Travis Tritt makes his AMT debut in April, and in May, Jack Benny impressionist Ed-

die Carroll will bring his show, "Laughter In Bloom," to Lancaster.

"We've done others of these tribute shows, and they've done pretty well," Martin said. "It's supposed to be a very, very strong show."

Also in May, Herb Reed and the Platters will join Kenny Vance and the Planotones and Shirley Alston Reeves in concert.

June will feature AMT favorites George Jones, Bobby Vinton and the Lettermen.

Folk music greats Peter, Paul and Mary, playing limited dates in 2008, also will return.

"They actually came to us again and said they're only doing a handful of dates, and listed us as one of the places they'd like to play," Martin said.

The cowboy sounds of Riders In the Sky will complete June.

Jim Nabors, who also does very few shows these days, will return in July.

"He keeps wanting to come back," Martin said. "This will be the third time."

Randy Owen will make his first AMT appearance July 10.

"He was the front man for Alabama," Martin said. "He's going out on his own with his own band, singing the Alabama hits."

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Owen will be followed by Phil Vassar and performers from the "Lawrence Welk Show," including Mary Lou Metzger, Anacani, Ken Delo, Guy Hovis and Ralna English.

The Summer Doo Wop Cavalcade, eight acts, will roll in on Aug. 2, followed by the amazing acrobatics of the Russian American Kids Circus and then country legend Charley Pride.

Crystal Gayle, Roy Clark and Ray Price will entertain together for two shows Sept.

20.

In October, Lou Christie, the Tokens, the Duprees and the Dubs will entertain in a joint show, and on Oct. 6, Englebert Humperdinck will end the star-studded season.

Martin admits there is "a lot of sameness in the schedule" but said, with 1,600 seats to fill, the acts that sell out the year before are always invited back.

He'd bring in more headliners, he said, but with the AMT's original stage productions starting in May, open dates are hard to find.

"Fifty acts or so is all I can do," he said.

Still, he hopes to add a few more headliners in 2008.

Tickets and additional information may be obtained on the AMT's Web site, amtshows.com.

Photo by Karen Barnes

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There's something about remakes

By Tim Miller March 29, 2008

rected by Martin Scorsese. lly and the Beave grow up and find themselves on opposite sides of the law. Wally heads the notorious Cleaver Gang, though he occasionally rats out associates to his corrupt cop pal Eddie Haskell. The Beaver is enlisted by his childhood friend Whitey, a former Boston mobster now working with the FBI, to pose as a psycho killer to get back on Wally's good side so Whitey can put Wally in the slammer. In the end, everyone but a revengeseeking June Cleaver is dead.

The marriage of movies and TV is nothing new, whether it's the smallscreen version of "Casablanca" (with David Soul as Rick!) or the bigscreen versions of everything from "Dragnet" to "The Brady Bunch."

Now, with the Farrelly brothers, bestknown for such movie comedies as "Kingpin" and "There's Something About Mary," behind the Fox sitcom "Unhitched," and the theatrical version of "Get Smart," with Steve Carell in the Don Adams role, scheduled to open in June, it seems an appropriate time to come up with a few ideas of our own.

 "The Monkees," directed by Peter Jackson. Jackson's already been involved in monkey business with his "King Kong" remake, and the made-for-TV band members looked and acted a bit like his hobbits from "The Lord of the Rings" movies.

The updated lineup: Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Peter Tork.

Let's say, for instance, that we could line up some of the most famous film directors to helm their versions of popular TV shows from the 1960s.

What would be good matchups?

 "The Andy Griffith Show," directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Goober is given a Moe Howard haircut and suddenly goes on a killing spree, with Andy and Barney in hot pursuit.

 "Gidget," directed by Woody Allen. In Woody's version, surfer girl Gidget leaves the beach to move to Manhattan, where she meets her grandfather's nebbishy, neurotic best friend and immediately falls in love.

Allen, of course, plays the septuagenarian love interest. Gidget is played by Scarlett Johansson in pigtails. 

 "The Twilight Zone," directed by Michael Moore. The documentary filmmaker spends a week with Britney Spears.

"Leave It to Beaver," di-

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Guitar slinging, bluegrass singing on tap

By Dale Martin

The first time I ever heard the music of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was on their 1970 album “Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy.” They had just released the single “Mr. Bojangles,” so I took a chance on this band and instantly was hooked. The album had “Bojangles” but it also had a number of other fantastic tunes, such as “Some of Shelly’s Blues,” written by Mike Nesmith of the Monkees, the Buddy Holly classic “Rave On” and the Kenny Loggins soon-to-be hit, “House at Pooh Corner.”

If you want to hear how they sounded back then, check out the Clint Eastwood movie, “Paint Your Wagon.”

There’s some brief footage of them performing in this 1967 musical.

Ironically, the band’s only No. 1 hit was “Mr. Bojangles” and it was written by Jerry Jeff Walker, who is playing a sold-out show at the hall on Sunday.

This album would launch a career spanning several decades and would produce the famous “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” trilogy. This three -part series invited the elder statesmen of Nashville to join a group of young long haired musicians on a long list of classic country and bluegrass songs. They have proven it wasn’t just the Eagles who successfully blended country, bluegrass and rock. This is a good opportunity to see one of the best bands to ever come out of California. It amazes me that they are still making music since forming in 1966.

•

Tickets for the Friday night show at Gruene Hall cost $27.50 and are available by phone or online. Sarah Pierce will provide opening duties.

•

•

Guitar slinger Redd Volkaert will be at Riley’s Tavern on Friday night for his own special brand of twang-banging music. Redd left Canada back in the 1980s to conquer America one guitar at a time and has more than lived up to his goal. This guy has played with everyone from Merle Haggard to Brad Paisley to Billy Gibbons, but this week he’ll bring his own band and that’s just fine with us. While there, don’t forget to pick up copies of his CDs, including his latest “For the Ladies.”

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nounced as of Tuesday night, but hopefully they will make a swing through the Lone Star state once the tour gets under way.

• • •

Shooter Jennings, the only son of Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter, will play Floores Country Store on Friday night with special guests The Drams.

If you caught the doublebarreled blast of Texas music this past Friday when Jason Eady and James McMurtry blew the doors off Gruene Hall, you saw two artists at the top of their game. Eady simply has one of the best voices in music and he and his band are top shelf entertainers. If you don’t own both of his CDs, I suggest buying them today.

I spoke with Jennings the last time he was in our area and was pleasantly surprised at how humble and level headed he is. He speaks softly and reminds you more of Jessi than Waylon, though I think we all agree he looks more like his dad.

He and his band the .357’s are touring constantly to promote his latest CD, “The Wolf.” Tickets for the Floores show cost $15 in advance or $17 at the door. In addition to many headlining shows, Shooter will be joining Charlie Daniels on his Volunteer Jam tour this summer.

I spoke with McMurtry briefly before he took the stage and he is very proud of the upcoming “Just Us Kids” CD. It’s set for an April 15 release date on Lighting Rod Records. I’ll be talking to him soon to get more info on the new album.

No Texas dates had been an-

David, We know how hard it is to get purple flowers!

Cindy, Bonnie, & Dawn

To all my PFG friends, Thanks for helping me get through the last 6 months! I love you all!

Cindy

And you know who you are!

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