CATCHY NEWS HEADLINES

DIVAS OF JAZZ AND CABARET AS CATCHY COVER GIRLS by Arlette Lagrange and Myrna Hughes

Photo: George Evans, Canadian jazz singer wonders "My goodness, are there no male vocalists in the cabaret and jazz industries worthy of a cover?"

The Federation of American Musicians, Singers and Performing Artists (FAMSPA) and Times Square Press published a most impressive encyclopedic series of 6 volumes on Jazz, Cabaret and the performing arts around the world "World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment" authored by the international best selling author Maximillien de Lafayette who has to his credits 105 books, 3 encyclopedias and 10 volumes on entertainment and divas. The Who's Who is an overwhelming accomplishment encompassing 400 chapters and including 40,000 entries. Basically, it is a thematic and biographical compilation of the world of showbiz, singers, divas and musicians. One of the most appealing and intriguing aspects of this series is the cover of each volume. Don't expect to see Berlin, Porter or Sondheim on the front or back covers of this massive series. Instead, gaze at the beautiful photos of legendary female singers, icons and divas.

ONLY WOMEN!! NO MEN!?

Cover of Volume III of the World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment. Photos from L to R, clockwise: Sarah James, Jill Corey, Barb Jungr, Peggy Judy.

Yep! women invaded the cover. Not a single male performer featured on the front cover. However, James Gordon Beck from the UK and Frank Jackson a veteran Jazz musician from the United States appeared on the back cover of Volume II of the World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment. What is the deal here? Why so many women were selected to crown the covers and not men? George Evans, a highly respected jazz singer in Canada asked Carol Lexter, associate editor of the Who's Who :"My goodness, are there no male vocalists in the cabaret and jazz industries worthy of a cover?" Lexter explains: "Those ladies who appeared on the 3 covers (so far) are something else...they are different, unique and original in their style, persona and career highlights. In a sense, they are the four winds of world entertainment. Each one of them represents a particular era and a distinctive style. They are the perfect formula for the covers."

Cover of Volume II of the World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment. On the cover, international star Erika Luckett, Dame Marlene Verplanck, and rising star Canadian singer Randa Ghossoub.

How about those big names...people like Tony Bennett, Mark Murphy and Little Richard? You could consider them "different winds of world entertainment" as well? "I agree, said Carol Lexter, "but our cover girls, I mean those great ladies on the covers are more exciting, prettier, bubbly, intriguing... we want something exciting, not always the same old cliché." added Lexter.

WHO ARE THOSE BUBBLY DIVAS?

Germaine Poitiers, a senior contributor and member of the editorial board of the World Who's Who said: " those divas are the best of the best in the business. Some are a household name, legends in their own right, and  some are the rising stars of the new wave of jazz and cabaret. We were very selective...and we are happy with our selections. We got great people, Jill Corey, a living legend, Barb Jungr, first lady of cabaret in the UK, the one and only Peggy Judy, Judy is phenomenal...and Sarah James, a superb artist, composer, musician, philosopher and singer....we had those 4 great stars on the cover of Volume III. And on the back cover we have Rebecca Spencer, one of the best singers and performers in the civilized world, she is pure gold, also we have Teri Roiger, a sparkling and intelligent jazz and American standards composer-singer."

Canadian prima dona Carol Welsman on the cover of Volume I of the World Who's Who.

And on the other covers, I asked Poitiers. "Same formula, on the front cover of Volume I, we have Carol Welsman, winner of the best singer and pianist award by the Canadian Jazz Association, JUNO and so many other groups. On the back cover, we have Amy Banker, a world class singer who performed worldwide and  before heads of states, including President Bill Clinton. You can say the same thing for the cover of Volume II. There we had, Marlene Verplanck, America's first lady of American Standards and classical jazz, Erika Luckett who was chosen twice as best international singer by numerous organizations, including the World Art Celebrities Journal, and finally we had Randa Ghossoub, a rising star of contemporary jazz. We got everything here, la crème de la crème."

Diva Rebecca Spencer (left) and Teri Roiger (right) graced the back cover of Volume III.

WHO IS GOING TO APPEAR ON THE COVER OF VOLUME IV?

Amy Baker, an international singer appeared on the back cover of Volume I.  with this caption next to her photo: "International singer and entertainer, Amy Baker. From St. Petersburg, Russia, to a command performance for President Clinton."

That is the QUESTION! Lexter said: "We are still debating. Maybe this time, we will choose the opposite sex!! I don't know. Everything depends on the decision of Mr. Maximillien de Lafayette, the author and our editorial board." Poitiers added: " appearing on any cover is a big deal. It is in fact a statement, a recognition we give to artists who excelled in their fields and made their mark. Yes, we have a list of contenders and favorites, but again, we have to wait and see...I love to see Maureen McGovern, Placido Domingo, Petula Clark and Julio Iglesias on the cover of Volume IV...Oops, this is a premature wish!"

Legendary Maureen McGovern, a favorite candidate for the cover of Volume IV of the World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment. However, Ms. McGovern is not the only candidate. Petula Clark, Julio Iglesia, Placido Domingo are highly considered.

Insiders told the International News Agency, Volume III is a hot tome, because it rates singers, performers and musicians. Cynical minds and unsatisfied cabaret singers claim that the chapter on "Legitimate Cabaret Singers in the United States" is insulting, because the author for incomprehensible reasons decided on his own "who is and who is not a legitimate cabaret entertainer."

The great Jill Corey graced the cover of Volume III of the World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment. Ms. Corey is making a spectacular comeback. De Lafayette called her "The Ultimate Diva!" The New York Times wrote: "A performer of unusual depth and insight . . . Jill Corey has made one of the most spectacular comebacks in cabaret . . . Corey's return is more than welcome, it's downright exciting." 

Maximillien de Lafayette is not bothered at all with the complaints he received. Why should he? This is his 11th book on showbiz and he is doing just fine. In addition, he is currently working on the first "Universal Encyclopedia of Jazz, Music and the Performing Arts." However, we must admit, Lafayette is known for discovering talents and offering artists a wide and international exposure, regardless of their status and level of fame and fortune. The World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment is a fascinating compendium and an outstanding achievement.

About the Author: International best-selling author, and world leading authority on Cabaret and performing arts, Maximillien de Lafayette wrote 105 books, 3 encyclopedias, 2 world premiere musicals (one play was produced at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., USA) and 10 volumes on divas, cabaret, jazz and entertainment. Fluent in 7 languages, playwright, director-producer, syndicated columnist and entertainment critic who has visited 46 countries, de Lafayette is in a privileged position to bring to us the known and hidden world of stars, divas, femmes fatales and ultimate musicians. His columns, articles and books are read by more than 20 million readers around the globe. His latest international best-seller is "Entertainment: Divas, Cabaret, Jazz Then and Now". It hits the top chart, the world 25 most popular items on the international market of Amazon. Uk.com on November 17, 2006. He currently lives in Paris and London. 

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