Tennille News Gazette / Latest News Re. Toni's Career

TENNILLE NEWS GAZETTE
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Featuring the Latest News in Toni Tennille's Versatile Career !!
This Page Last Updated: August 12, 2007

Date:
Feb 23, 2004

TONI DOES HER MUSICAL DUTY TO HER COUNTRY - Delivering a flawless performance in Washington D.C.

The U.S. AIR FORCE BAND / SYMPHONY - Shares the Stage with Toni.

There's only ONE WAY to describe the level of success that brought joy to attendees of the absolutely PACKED, Washington D.C. Audience, and that is, to now read what those concert goers wrote to Toni via Toni's FAN E-Mail.

YES: Read what fans were inspired to write in regards to this exhilerating concert, which even featured the inspired, masterful arrangement of AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL, arranged by Toni's famous 'father in law', ('the captain's father) Mr. Carmen Dragon.

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Subj: Air Force Band Concert was great!!!!
Date: Monday, February 23, 2004 9:19:15 AM
From: J---@comcast.net
To: tonifans@aol.com -
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Hi Toni,
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The whole Air Force Band Concert on Sunday Feb 22 04 was just great.
You are now my favorite entertainer - you are a first rate class act - if only we could get more entertainers like yourself.
I liked everything you did - the rendition of "America, the Beautiful" - I thought was the best I'll ever hear. I wish I had a video of the performance to send to my parents who are now in their eighties.
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Best regards - John R.
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Reston, VA
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Subj: USAF Show, Washington, D.C.
Date: Monday, February 23, 2004 3:45:11 AM
From: B---
To: Tonifans -

I had the pleasure of seeing you Feb.22 at Constitution Hall in Wash.,D.C. It was one of the greatest "Big Band" shows I have ever seen.
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Your tribute to the service men overseas was first-rate. Again thank you very much. -
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Sincerely,
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Randy S. B.
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Subj: Hi
Date: Sunday, February 22, 2004 7:32:54 PM
From: T---@webtv.net
To: tonifans@aol.com
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Toni:
My name is Jim Lee and I saw you on sunday (2-22-04) in D.C. at Constitution Hall. I was in the third row in the center. Had an excellent view and took lots of pictures. I live in Maryland and have loved your music with The Captain. Your concert was excellent. I wished I could have met you after the show. I'll have to look into buying someone your new music. Thanks for coming back to D.C. I was sad that I could not see you last year because of the snow.
Please come back to the area some time.
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Jim

Date:
Dec 21, 2003

TONI DOES GOOD FOR LOCAL 'Reno Chamber Orch'. A 'Live' CD is available !!

Tennille Headlines RCO Benefit Concert

Editorial
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
11/21/2003 11:48 pm

Tennille headlines benefit concert
Entertainer Toni Tennille, for headlining a benefit concert for the Reno Chamber Orchestra.

Tennille, the Nevada governor’s ambassador for the arts, and her husband, Daryl Dragon, also gave countless hours to promoting and preparing for the event, gave the RCO the use of their concert staff and came up with numerous creative ideas to make the event better, including a live CD recording that was available by order to concert-goers. Tennille also has done benefit concerts for the Reno Philharmonic and Nevada Opera.

Update:
RCO Live-Performance CD Available !
12/21/2003

A Special Note From Toni...

In early November of this year (2003) Daryl and I performed a benefit concert for the Reno Chamber Orchestra (RCO). The concert was held at the University of Nevada, Reno, at Nightingale Hall, a lovely, intimate 600 seat theatre.

The concert was a fabulous success, and raised much-needed funds for the RCO. Daryl and I arranged to have the concert professionally recorded, with proceeds from sales of the CDs to benefit the RCO.

A recording of the entire concert is now available in a two CD set. In the first CD, I sing many of my favorite songs written by great American composers such as George Gershwin and Johnny Mercer, accompanied by pianist and alto sax player, Matt Catingub, and bassist Hans Halt. Many of the songs I chose were requested by audience members in the weeks before the concert. Some of the songs on the first CD include MAKIN’ WHOOPEE, ZIPADEEDOODAH, SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY, I GOT IT BAD AND THAT AIN’T GOOD, SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME, and FOR ALL WE KNOW.

The second CD begins with four great standards, which were among the special requests I received, including Charlie Chaplin’s SMILE, and George Gershwin’s OUR LOVE IS HERE TO STAY. Then I introduce the “Special Guest Star” for the evening, Captain of the Keyboards, DARYL DRAGON!!! As usual, all bets are off once Daryl takes the stage! We performed many C&T favorites, including MUSKRAT LOVE, DO THAT TO ME ONE MORE TIME, LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER, and COME IN FROM THE RAIN. We also did a version of BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS, a special request from an audience member. We closed the concert with the song I wrote to close each one of our television shows, WE NEVER REALLY SAY GOODBYE. Some of you may remember that one.

Both CDs include everything heard from the stage that night, including all my talk about the songs, Daryl’s comments, and audience reaction, in addition to the music. It is the ONLY LIVE RECORDING we have ever done. I think you would really enjoy it, and the proceeds from the CD sales go to one of our favorite musical organizations here in northern Nevada, the Reno Chamber Orchestra.

The RCO Benefit Concert two-CD set is available only through the Reno Chamber Orchestra. It is not available in stores. Please call Fifi or Scott at the RCO office at 775 348 9413 for details. Hope you enjoy the concert!!!
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Date:
Oct 03, 2003

TONI'S 'MORE THAN YOU KNOW' CD available in local record stores around the U.S. in October, 2003!

CALLING ALL TONI FANS

Toni's CD entitled 'MORE THAN YOU KNOW'' CD has been licensed to the record company, 'Varese Sarabande Records'. This new release (originally released in 1984, also includes the majority of cuts from the '86 release of the album entitled 'ALL OF ME'. (cover appearing below...). READ ALL ABOUT IT HERE

This compilation of classic, big band masterpieces can be ordered through your local record store as well as online via TOWER RECORDS.com. Simply ask your store for the new 'More Than You Know' CD by Toni on 'Varese-Sarabande'. The official release date: October 16th, 2003.

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ALL OF ME CD / originally released in 1986. Read more about this new compilation release entitled 'MORE THAN YOU KNOW' HERE.
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Date
4/6/2003

Toni Delivers An Uplifting, Four Nights In Pittsburgh's 'Heinz Symphony Hall'.. with... BIG BAND !!!

Date:
Sept 18, 2001

TONI'S 'INCURABLY ROMANTIC' CD now available in local record stores around the U.S.

CALLING ALL TONI FANS !!

Toni's CD entitled 'Incurably Romantic' CD has been licensed to the record company, 'Varese Sarabande Records', & can be ordered through your local record store as well as online via TOWER RECORDS.com. Simply ask your store for the new 'Incurably Romantic' CD by Toni on 'Varese-Sarabande'. The official release date was September 18th, 2001.

BONUS FOR FANS THAT PURCHASED THE CD ON THE ORIGINAL 'PUREBRED' LABEL:
- All those who purchased Toni's CD on her own label, 'Purebred Records' now have a collector's item, since this version of the CD is not allowed to be sold as of September 18th.

Date:
Sept 17, 2001

TONI'S 'MOONGLOW" CD was available at CDBaby.com !!

CALLING ALL TONI FANS (...again) !!

Toni's classic CD entitled 'MOONGLOW' - on Purebred Records - which is a compilation of Toni's two, previously released, 'Big Band' CD's entitled 'MORE THAN YOU KNOW', & 'ALL OF ME', has been re-released & made available via the secure, internet-only CD-Sales outlet called 'CDBABY.com'. This CD is NOT available in retail record-sales outlets.

NOTICE: As of August, 2003, the above 'Moonglow' CD is no longer available via CD Baby, or anywhere else. If you have a copy, it's now considered a 'collector' CD. Congrats !!

Date
Sept. 15, 2001

SYMPHONY PERFORMANCE REVIEW:

Music Reviews
Sep 16, 2001 -
Toni Tennille Sings for a Perfect Nevada Opera Season Opener

By Jack Neal

Before a capacity audience Saturday night (9/15/2001) at Reno's Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, songstress Toni Tennille set exactly the right tone for an American public recovering from the tragic loss of thousands of its fellow citizens.

The question about whether the show should go on following so much devastation and heartache after last Tuesday's acts of terror in New York and Washington, D.C., was answered with the simple notion that it was time for healing by coming together and sharing. Nearly a half century ago, actress Helen Hayes made a comment about the closing of Seattle's Metropolitan Theater that seems somehow appropriate at this defining moment in U.S. History. "There's no place in a community," Miss Hayes said, "save perhaps a church, where so much fellowship takes place among people as in a theater."

And so Saturday's concert of fellowship went on, as it should have. Miss Tennille sang nearly two dozen songs with the inimitable, smoky, band-singer style for which she always manages to go a step or two beyond sensational. Using a huge number of Sammy Nestico arrangements for a host of great American songs - by Gershwin, Mercer, Arlen, Kahn. to name but a few - the tall, trim singer, dressed in a gorgeous white satin, off-the-shoulder beaded gown, held a love fest of song with an audience that absorbed it all with a love that radiated back across the footlights in one of a lifetime's most memorable evening's of music.

It was Nevada Opera's season kick-off concert and it was perfect in every way. From the graciousness and talents of Miss Tennille, to the extraordinary pianistic fireworks of Nevada Opera Artistic Director Robin Andrew Stamper, who played a knockout and rapturous Gershwin Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra, everything was just right. The sumptuous 72-piece symphony orchestra, with a full sax and rhythm section to boot, brought back memories of the lavish sounds of MGM musicals and the rich, soaring arrangements that helped make Frank Sinatra one of the world's most endearing singers.

If all those superb things weren't enough, Tennille accompanist pianist Kathy Rubbicco, who made the Washoe County Community Concerts Steinway concert grand sound like a symphony orchestra by itself, was all things in all ways to all the songs performed. She's simply a superb musician and pianist. The Nevada Opera Orchestra, already enhanced, was made even more spectacular by the presence of showbiz drummer Tony Savage and rhythm bassist Hans Halt. Rusty Higgins conducted. He's a major show-business conductor who did complete justice to all the orchestra played, including conducting the Gershwin as a stand-in for Stamper's scheduled conductor (who could not make it to Reno because of air traffic restrictions) for a robust collaboration with the pianist for the Concerto in F.

The concert was filled with thrill after thrill, but nothing quite like the not-a-dry-eye-in-the-house burst of patriotism seeing the flag of the United States carried on stage by a young man in uniform. The rousing performance of the "Star Spangled Banner," as played by the orchestra and sung with pride and passion by an audience spontaneously turned into something akin to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, will never be forgotten by those who experienced it.

Nor will anything else be soon, if ever, forgotten. The Gerswhin, one of the most truly American piano works in concerto form, was given the jaunty, brash kind of lusty performance a young, sure-of-himself George Gerswhin might have engendered. Mr. Stamper brought the work's formidable keyboard virtuosity off without a hitch and with tremendous flair. Given the pianist's age, not much older than Gerswhin when the Concerto in F was introduced, and confident, upbeat temperament, it was as if Gershwin himself had honored Saturday's audience with his presence.

"An Evening with Toni Tennille" had it all, including the star herself. "Incurably Romantic," a Sammy Kahn tune and the title of Tennille's new CD, was hushed, velvety smooth, and - incurably romantic. "Fascinatin' Rhythm," in a blazing Sammy Nestico setting, was given a finger-snappin' flippant nonchalance that drove to the tune's spunky rhythmic nitch with verve. Tennille's masterful and seductive "Blues in the Night." was nothing short of splendid, a torment of full-throated Sarah Vaughan sound. She infused "Guess Who I Saw Today?" - in fact all she sang - with a personal intensity that comes as much from her experience as a mature woman who has experienced the dents and bruises of life as from her throat. She's a formidable singing actress

Daryl Dragon, the keyboard half of the Captain and Tennille team (the couple was married in 1975), also made an appearance. When he backs his wife without clowning, as he did with Melissa Manchester's "Come in From the Rain." his extensive talent shows. Poignantly and quietly, "Come in from the Rain" - the evening's underlying theme for healing in a time of trouble and sorrow - ended a concert that was as fresh and right as a cleansing summer rain.

Nevada Opera's 2001-2002 season includes a double bill of Puccini's "Sister Angelica" and Leoncavallo's "I Pagliacci" November 2 and 4, 2001, Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" February 15 and 17, 2002, and Bizet's "Carmen" May 3, 5 and 7, 2002. For information call 775-786-4046.