Grammy Award-winning vocalist Debby Boone was a model of consummate elegance at the Café Carlyle on her opening night there, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Known mostly for her rendition of “You Light Up My Life,” Ms. Boone performed her program “Swing This” which featured songs from her upcoming album of the same name. The songs performed were quite different from “You Light Up My Life.” They were a collection of pieces inspired by her time with her father, legendary singer, Pat Boone, while he was headlining in Las Vegas when she was a kid. She had an amazing and spunky nine piece orchestra that consisted of musical director and arranger John Oddo on piano, Tony Kadleck and George Rabbai on trumpet, John Fedchock on trombone, Lawrence Feldman on alto sax, Aaron Heick on tenor sax, Ron Jannelli on baritone sax, Ed Howard on bass, and Jim Saporito on drums. Oddo did a stupendous job of arranging her songs. They are among some of the most exciting and joyous arrangements I have heard. Boone, by the way, also looked gorgeous. She had on an extremely form fitting black gown with spaghetti straps. Her figure is slim and model-like and her face is classically beautiful. Spiky, short, platinum blond hair finished off her femme fatale look for the evening. She definitely looked like a New York fashion plate rather than the wholesome singer of yesteryear – very refreshing and surprising.
Boone opened with a vixen-like attitude singing “I’m Gonna Live Till I Die.” She then did a sweet and powerful “Sway,” her movie star profile glistening in the white stage lights. In her introductory patter Boone let the audience in on a childhood fantasy. She was at the Sahara in Las Vegas at 8 years old with her family and saw a torch singer performing in a dimly lit lounge, draped over a piano and thought, “How do you get to do that?” She admitted to being a little sheltered and naïve despite her father’s great fame. They were a family who did not drink or gamble spending a lot of time in Vegas – quite the contradiction. She also told the story of going to Sammy Davis, Jr.’s home and seeing a shower made of floor-to-ceiling glass. Davis revealed that he liked to watch his wife while she was taking a shower! Boone said that Davis and his home were right out of an Austin Powers movie and Davis would wear high boots often. She dedicated “These Boots Are Made For Walking” to him and his boots! While singing this she also showed off to the audience the bootie-heels she was wearing with her gown. Boone went on to tell more stories of her experiences with legendary performers. She got to open for Frank Sinatra in Atlantic City and then invited him to her wedding. The story goes that he did not show up, but he sent 10 place settings of her chosen china as a gift. Boone reflected on her opinion that the Rat Pack members each had many personal problems, but that those problems made them shine even brighter on the Vegas stages on which they performed.
Mid-way through the set this shining star sang and acted out "Mack the Knife" to a samba beat. It was thrilling – one of the best songs of the night – with a high-energy arrangement by Oddo. Boone also took some time out to recognize some local glitterati in the audience. They were Alice Ripley, Tommy James, Marilyn Maye, and Mary Beth Piel. She then continued to tell some more stories of her enchanted life with her dad in Las Vegas. As a 12 year old, Boone met Barbra Streisand and watched her son Jason play by their pool. She dedicated “Cry Me a River” to Streisand. “I’m Waiting Just for You” was dedicated to her father and her mother-in-law, Rosemary Clooney, who, she mentioned, both had hits with this ballad. “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime” was sung in honor of Dean Martin and his family, who Boone knew very well. She closed out the set with “’Round Midnight” and “You And The Night And The Music.” Her encore was done with special guest Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar. It was the poignant piece, “Be Careful It’s My Heart.” Debby Boone, performer extraordinaire, will be at Café Carlyle through March 30. Make sure and catch this stunner!