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Page 4 September 7, 2017 TORRANCE TRIBUNE
TerriAnn in Torrance
An Evening with the Incomparable Melissa Manchester
By TerriAnn Ferren
The legendary Melissa Manchester will
appear at the James Armstrong Theatre on
Friday, September 22 at 8 p.m. The Art Attack
Foundation in Association with Dancin’
Dan Productions will present a CD Release
Party and Gala Fundraiser, featuring the
GRAMMY Award-winning singer/songwriter
as she pays tribute to Frank Sinatra, Nat King
Cole, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Dean
Martin and other iconic male singers in her
new CD, The Fellas. Backing up Melissa
will be the 40-Piece Citrus College Blue
Note Orchestra. Before speaking with Ms.
Manchester about this very special event, I
listened to The Fellas album and was blown
away by the orchestration, movement and
emotion of each and every selection.
Longtime friend Barry Manilow partners
with Melissa on the song “For Me and My
Gal,” which is a tribute to Gene Kelly. I asked
Melissa how she came to choose that piece
for the album, “He [Barry Manilow] is an
old friend--we have been friends for over 40
years--we have the same music sensibility,”
she said. “When I told him about the album,
The Fellas, we came up with this idea of
paying tribute to Gene Kelly. There could
be a whole other album just giving a tribute
to silver screen stars, but this worked out
beautifully because it was originally made
famous by Gene Kelly and Judy Garland.
So it was a natural fit.”
Melissa told me it was very difficult
choosing selections for this particular album
because 40 or 50 other songs could have
represented each artist. “I wanted to pick a
song that represented, to me, the epitome of
the dignity, the endurance or the elegance of
these performers,” said Melissa. The song
Love is Just Around the Corner sparked a
feeling of jazziness for me and Melissa told
me she first saw Mel Tormé and George
Shearing doing the rendition and said, “I
don’t believe it has ever been orchestrated,
so I am delighted that David Catalin did
such a fantastic arrangement of it--and it
is spectacular to sing it.” Chances Are is a
cross of samba and soft sultry. Each song
sparked my renewed appreciation for these
classic tunes. It opened up a world of music
so iconic and yet so new. This treasured
music evokes a wave of beauty permeating
the soul. Melissa said, “All of the arrangements
were so lovingly created by Peter
Hume, Terry Wollman, Doug Walter... It is
such a treat for magnificent arrangers to have
the opportunity to orchestrate for so many
musicians, it is really beautiful.”
Melissa Manchester was born in New York
and grew up in the Bronx in Manhattan. Her
father was a musician for the Metropolitan
Opera and her mother Ruth was a clothing
designer who owned her own firm, so Melissa’s
roots are firmly planted in the arts.
She attended Manhattan’s High School of
the Performing Arts, studying under Paul
Simon. “Barry [Manilow] and I met singing
on a jingle. I sang on early McDonald’s
commercials, I sang on a lot of Canadian
commercials…Coppertone commercials,
but I never did sing on any of the cigarette
commercials,” said Melissa.
Melissa won a GRAMMY Award in 1983
for You Should Hear How She Talks About You,
for Best Pop Female Vocal Performance. Prior
to that, she sang two of the Oscar-nominated
songs at the 1979 Academy Awards--I’ll Never
Say Goodbye and Through The Eyes of Love.
Melissa shared, “It was thrilling, but I was
extremely nervous. I was wearing my first
Bob Mackie gown and I was wearing very
high heels, and I was singing two exquisite
songs…and the director, bless his heart,
thought it would be a really good idea for
me to walk down two flights of steps while I
am singing--with no banister. I thought what
an amusing notion that was…”
Melissa Manchester shares her talent and
continually gives back in remarkable ways.
She created her 20th album, her last album,
Tribute, at Citrus College (where she is artist
in residence) and told me the college studio
is spectacular. It is not only a first-class
professional recording studio, but serves as a
teaching studio where she has brought artists
like Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder and Al
Jarreau. The engineering students are able to
sit in on these sessions and see albums birthed,
along with all the work and hours involved.
The Citrus Blue Note Orchestra is made up
of students, alumni and professors. What
an opportunity for the orchestra! But that is
just a way of life for the generous Melissa
Manchester. Her performance in Torrance,
and launching of her new album, The Fellas,
will benefit the Art Attack Foundation. The
foundation is a non-profit charity founded by
Bea Arthur that provides acting/dance/singing
lessons and scholarships to young artists
who wouldn’t otherwise have the resources
to continue their passion.
I asked Melissa how she thinks music has
changed since she started in the business
and she said, “Well, music has changed
primarily with the introduction of synthesizers
that recreate sounds better and better all
the time. To use live musicians is really a
choice at this point because a lot of young
musicians choose to just use tracks, which
is mildly interesting…but after having tried
all of those reiterations, there is nothing like
creating music with other human beings in
the moment. It is just always a stunning
experience.”
How does the consummate professional
care for her instrument, I asked? “Well,
when I know that I have to sing, I drink a
lot of water, I vocalize to open up my voice
so that by the time I’m on stage--before I
go on stage--I also work out to get my body
heated up and I try and do the same when
I am in the studio… What is more rigorous
in the studio is you are going to be singing
the same song a couple of times, or many
times to get it right. It taxes the muscles.
You take care of yourself. I drink hot water
and honey and lemon--all of those classic
things to keep yourself lubricated.”
Advice to young singers? “Well, if they
are a singer/songwriter, which is what I am,
then you have to keep honing your writing
craft, listen to people that touch you, learn
a little bit about the history of pop music so
you have a sense of what you might want
to sing. You might want to sing something
that doesn’t come from the current world at
all. You might want to sing something from
the ‘20s, ‘40s, or the ‘60s. And if you are
a budding artist, pay your dues. Go to open
mike nights…listen to other people…see if
you need to have a Plan B. And really know if
a life of uncertainty, instability and insecurity
appeals to you as a version of normal, then
sign up.” Wow, that says it like it is!
I then asked Melissa what she does when
she gets inspired. “When I am inspired, it hits
me like a ton of bricks and I stop wherever I
am and if that means I have to pull over in
my car, or if I have to write something out
in lipstick on my arm if I can’t find paper--I
have done all of those things,” said Melissa.
She also told me she loves writing for theatre.
The music on The Fellas is the music Melissa
Manchester heard at home in the kitchen when
she and her family had dinner. She was raised
listening to the magnificent vocalists who had
brilliant writers. “When I was five years old, I
heard Ella Fitzgerald sing Gershwin and that
was it for me…I started having great creative
adventures growing up in the Bronx in Manhattan.
I was in street theatre, and I was an
usherette at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre in
Lincoln Center. I sang commercials, which allowed
me a grand living so I could do demos
and submit them to record companies--and for
years, they were rejected until they were finally
accepted. I always knew what I wanted to do.
Because my parents were both the black sheep
of their family, they encouraged my sister and
I to follow our dreams and if the dream didn’t
work out, then find a new dream. They were
very unusual and deeply loving, so we were
given their approval to dream and that is a
major gift.”
It seems Ms. Manchester has done it all,
even singing at the World Series in 1991!
Melissa Manchester knows songs are stories—
monologues, really--and she performs them
beautifully. This amazing, talented, philanthropic
singer/songwriter continues writing,
creating, performing, touring, teaching and
giving. I will see you at the James Armstrong
Theatre in Torrance benefiting The Art Attack
Foundation for a very special evening
and meeting with the incomparable Melissa
Manchester. For tickets, call 310-781-7171 or
go to www.artattackfoundation.org. •
Melissa Manchester.
Police Reports from page 3
Friday, August 25
Burglary-Residential Betw. 8/25 10:00:00
PM & 8/26 2:00:00 PM 20700 BLOCK
ANZA AVE. Suspect(s) takes property from
unsecured vehicle parked in unsecured garage/
backpack, laptop.
Theft Betw. 8/25 6:30:00 PM & 8/25 7:00:00
PM 3500 BLOCK CARSON ST. Suspect(s)
takes unattended property from rack/purse.
Burglary-Residential Betw. 8/25 2:35:00 PM
& 8/25 2:40:00 PM 24200 BLOCK WARD
ST. Suspect knocks on front door, proceeds
to rear yard where he smashes a glass door
then flees when victim inside residence yells/
no entry, no loss.
Vandalism Betw. 8/25 2:00:00 PM &
8/27 7:00:00 PM 2200 BLOCK 185TH ST.
Suspect(s) graffitis exterior residence wall.
Burglary-Auto Betw. 8/25 2:00:00 PM &
8/26 11:00:00 PM 17200 BLOCK HAAS
AVE. Suspect(s) smashes window for entry
and takes property/framing gun, molding gun,
grinders, circular saw.
Burglary-Residential 8/25 1:47 PM 2600
BLOCK 163RD ST. Suspect(s) removes
screen, enters window and takes property/
jewelry, cash.
Burglary-Auto Betw. 8/25 2:00:00 AM &
8/25 10:30:00 AM 3700 BLOCK SPENCER
ST. Suspect(s) smashes window for entry and
takes property/bag with miscellaneous items.
Auto Theft-All Betw. 8/25 12:45:00 AM &
8/25 6:07:16 AM 18300 BLOCK TAYLOR
CT. Stolen vehicle: ‘17 Toyota Rav4.
Saturday, August 26
Burglary-Auto Betw. 8/26 11:00:00 PM &
8/27 10:00:00 AM 20400 BLOCK ANZA AVE.
Suspect(s) enters unlocked vehicle, ransacks
and takes property/wallet.
Auto Theft-All 8/26 9:59 PM 20900 BLOCK
EARL ST. Stolen vehicle: ‘08 VW Passat.
Burglary-Residential Betw. 8/26 5:45:00 PM
& 8/27 12:15:22 AM 1300 BLOCK FONTHILL
AVE. Suspect(s) smashes sliding glass
door for entry, ransacks and takes property/
jewelry, electronics.
Robbery-StrongArm Betw. 8/26 5:45:00 PM
& 8/26 6:00:00 PM 2000 BLOCK SANTA FE
AVE. Suspect pushes victims to the ground
and takes property from their pockets/cell
phones, cash.
Auto Theft-All Betw. 8/26 5:00:00 PM &
8/27 2:02:38 PM 20400 BLOCK ANZA AVE.
Stolen vehicle: ‘14 Nissan Frontier.
Theft Betw. 8/26 4:00:00 PM & 8/28 9:30:00
AM 2400 BLOCK 166TH PL. Suspect(s) takes
victim’s vehicle’s catalytic converter 170043977
Theft 8/26 11:46 AM 3200 BLOCK 185TH
ST. Suspect(s) takes unattended property from
fence/keys.
Burglary-Commercial Betw. 8/26 10:30:00
AM & 8/28 9:05:00 AM 23400 BLOCK MADISON
ST. Suspect(s) pries open door for entry,
forces open cabinet and takes property/cash.
Theft Betw. 8/26 10:00:00 AM & 8/28 9:00:00
AM 18500 BLOCK AMIE AVE. Suspect(s)
takes victim’s vehicle’s catalytic converter.
Burglary-Auto Betw. 8/26 10:00:00 AM
& 8/26 2:45:00 PM 19800 BLOCK HAWTHORNE
BLVD. Suspect(s) enters vehicle by
unknown means, ransacks and takes property/
sunglasses, paystubs, SSN, charger.
Vandalism 8/26 8:33 AM 168TH ST &
PATRONELLA AVE. Suspect(s) throws rock
at victim’s vehicle, denting same.
Burglary-Auto Betw. 8/26 7:30:00 AM &
8/26 8:00:00 AM 300 BLOCK PASEO DE
LA PLAYA. Suspect(s) smashes window for
entry and takes property/purse.
Robbery-Weapon Betw. 8/26 2:00:25 AM &
8/26 2:10:35 AM 18400 BLOCK CRENSHAW
BLVD. Suspects brandish handguns, order
victim to the ground where they punch and
kick him then take his property/backpack. •