September 25, 2000
The Hartford Courant
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Kissing In Between
By PAT SEREMET
When a man loves a woman, well, that's a song. But when a man loves a cause, well, don't
we all want to wail along with him? One of Connecticut's dearest and cutest singers -
especially since he shed those long locks - Michael Bolton was in Hartford Friday night
for an intimateconcert at the Wadsworth Atheneum. The event, for which about 200 people
paid $250 each, benefited Bolton's favorite charity, "Prevent Child Abuse
Connecticut,'' a chapter of "Prevent
Child Abuse America.'' "He's just one of those icons in the musical world,'' said a
slightly starstruck Diane Alverio, who as mistress of ceremonies was bowled over by his
"powerful voice, passion and soul.'' "I liked him before,'' Alverio said.
"Now, I'm in love.'' Well, love was in the air. Gov. John G. Rowland arrived with
wife Patty. U.S Senator Chris Dodd soon followed. "Are you my second favorite
senator?" Rowland asked Dodd. That's when Dodd laid this one on the governor: "I
just gave Patty an Al Gore kiss.'' Rowland recovered ably, saying yes, and Patty "was
so disappointed," elaborating that ever since Dodd got married, well, his kisses
haven't delivered the same punch. But, what was this? Rowland also said that instead of
appointing a new senator- should Gore- Lieberman win - he thinks Dodd can cover both
spots.
"Who needs another senator?'' Rowland quipped. Does that mean he's surrendering the
election already to junior Sen. Joe? Quick, call Dick Cheney. Another amusing political
moment came when Dodd said that when he first saw Bolton, he told him: "I noticed
when you walked in, you shuddered [because you had seen] Joe Lieberman sing on Conan
O'Brien, and you thought I might sing tonight.''
"Lieberman can't sing,'' Dodd told Bolton. "Neither can I."
But then, there's always family who can forgive anything.
J. Bernblum, a lawyer with Wiggin & Dana in Hartford, New Haven and Stamford, is a
cousin of Bolton. Their grandfathers were brothers who emigrated from Russian and settled
in New Haven. Bolton's real name, according to Bernblum,was Bolotin. They reunited Friday
after many years apart. . "He's got all the singing ability,'' Bernblum said. And
Bolton probably doesn't know his way around a tort. Friday night, who cared?
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June 8, 2000
The Hartford Courant
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Bolton Will Be Beltin'
Michael Bolton is coming to Hartford to sing at the Wadsworth Atheneum for a gala limited
to 200 people.
The Westport resident will perform Sept. 22 to benefit Prevent Child Abuse Connecticut, a
program of the Wheeler Clinic in Plainville. Tickets are $250
apiece. Bolton, who is honorary chairman of Prevent Child Abuse America, is honorary
co-chairman of the Connecticut Gala, along with Gov. John Rowland and his wife, Patty, and
U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd. Diane Alverio, partner in Baldwin/Alverio Marketing Media in New
Britain will be the emcee. "Just me and Mike up on the stage,'' Alverio said.
"I'm thrilled with the honor.''
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March 7, 2000
The Washington Post
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Chart-topping troubadour Michael Bolton comes to Capitol Hill tomorrow
morning to rally against domestic violence. "Nearly one in every three adult women
experience at least one physical assault by a partner," the
46-year-old crooner told us from his home in Westport, Conn. "That's a pretty
frightening statistic." Bolton, along with actress Erin Gray and more than 150
domestic abuse survivors, will present Congress with a 40,000-signature petition calling
for the extension of 1994's Violence
Against Women Act, which provides funding for shelters and other services. "The act
expires in October, but not everyone runs on the same cycle. There are facilities and
shelters that will be out of money six months before that," said Bolton, a divorced
father of three daughters. "We need to get Congress to move on this immediately. It
is a no-brainer. When you look at the numbers, you can see why they passed it in the first
place." Bolton, whose hits include "Love Is A Wonderful Thing" and
"When a Man
Loves a Woman," told us he has been active in the cause for seven years, since he set
up a foundation to help at-risk women and children. Aside from his do-gooding, Bolton said
he's busy on a new album, although it will be a departure from his typical love songs.
"It's going to have an international feel. What I'm feeling is exotic soul,"
Bolton said. "It's really time for me to express myself in a fresh new way." In
addition, through his L.A.-based production company, Passion Films, Bolton is working on a
couple of projects for the big screen, including a "coming-of-age" tale that
could start filming this summer. "It's a teen-driven film, a kind of cross between
the 'Summer of '42' and 'The Flamingo Kid.'" Bolton would produce it-and make his
acting debut. Finally, we couldn't resist asking Bolton about his hair-those long lost
locks that he cut 2� years ago. "I can't believe how people still ask about
it," Bolton laughed. "It's still short. I love not dealing with it. I had it
long for 30 years, and the day after I cut it, I was so glad I did it. I was just certain
I made the right decision." Plus, he added, "Women really seem to like the short
hair."
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May 11, 2000
Naples Daily News
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-Michael Bolton takes a musical leap with Andrew Lloyd Webber
By JEFF CLEMENS, Staff Writer
Here's Michael Bolton, learning how to sing. The man has sold more than 52 million albums
and singles, as well as
having grossed hundreds of millions at the box office. He has won two Grammy Awards for
Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Male. He has sung with many of the world's greatest
vocalists, including Luciano Pavarotti and
Renee Fleming. And yet, he stands in front of a voice teacher and takes instruction like a
high school choir student. OK, maybe it's not to that extreme, but Bolton, who has
expanded his reach in the past few years, by moving into the classical music genre, has
had to learn some new tricks. "It's kind of like being led into a library," said
Bolton in a phone interview. "Or like having a more powerful engine in the same
vehicle." Bolton always had a naturally incredible voice. He spent his early years
using it to sing rock 'n' roll, before making it big with a mix of R&B and pop music
standards. But it wasn't until recently that he began to unlock the potential of his
singing by learning how to use his body appropriately and sing in a technically correct
manner. Bolton's newfound strength will be on display at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts
Hall this weekend when he stars in "The Music of Andrew
Lloyd Webber," a mix of Webber's Broadway tunes sung with an orchestra. "Singing
R&B is brutal on the voice," Bolton said. "Now, when I come off stage, it
seems as if my voice is still going. It has the ability to endure." Still, the
transition from pop music to classical and Broadway tunes is not as easy as taking a few
voice lessons. The songs in this show, as well as the arias he has performed, are very
specific. Bolton has much less freedom to play around with the vocal lines, but he doesn't
seem to mind.
"They're different animals," he said. "The people who run the show are giving
me some liberties because they want me to be me. But, really, how much liberty do you want
to take with these songs? These melodies are endless and powerful for a good reason."
Bolton admits to a bit of nervousness. Although he has tackled classical music in recent
years, he doesn't feel he has conquered it, by any means. He's a long way away from his
roots, so to speak.
After some involvement in a couple of hard rock bands, Bolton struck out on his own for
good in the early 1980s. At the time he was releasing his own albums, he scored his first
songwriting hit credit with Laura Branigan's take on "How Am I Supposed To Live
Without You," which Bolton would later reclaim as his own, taking it to No. 1 in 1990
and securing his first Grammy. Leaving behind his hard rock experiment (he opened for Ozzy
Osbourne on a
1988 tour), he put his effort full-force into songwriting and performing pop songs with a
blues tinge, a nod to his Motown heroes. He is the first to admit he doesn't have any
classic musical training. But he has been able to find a connection between his pop past
and current classical work. "The common denominator is that no matter what you do, it
has to feel and have life," Bolton said. "After I began really working with the
arias, I found I would wake up thinking in Italian. "It's a little intimidating, but
I think you'll find that vocally and musically, there's a great
marriage there." Many of Webber's songs are structured well for a singer with
Bolton's range. Included in the show will be songs from "Sunset Boulevard,"
"Cats," "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat," "Evita" and "Phantom of the Opera."
Webber himself has won six Tony Awards and three Grammys.
Once again, Bolton will get a chance to tackle the unfamiliar, a luxury that few singers
have, and fewer still could pull off well. He realizes there could be some resentment from
the musical theater and classical music worlds, both notoriously exclusive. But he hopes
his enthusiasm for the music will override the dissent and allow him to introduce some of
his fans to the music. "I get to step into a new world and explore it," he said.
"Strangely, as soon as I start to feel that this is too different for me, that's when
I begin to feel more comfortable with it. It's all about trying to expand my creative
muscle."
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Rolling Stone
Encyclopedia of Rock
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Michael Bolton
Not since Barry Manilow has a singer/songwriter at once inspired such enduring enthusiasm
among fans and such chronic irritation among critics as Michael Bolton.
Bolton became infatuated with soul music at an early age, listening to records by Ray
Charles and Marvin Gaye. He took up the saxophone at seven, began playing guitar at 11,
and by his early teens was singing with the Nomads, a local bar band. The Nomads were
signed to Epic Records when Bolton was 15, but were dropped after two singles. Two more
record deals later -- one as a solo artist, one with a hard-rock outfit called Blackjack
-- Bolton was still struggling, now with a wife and three children to support. In 1982 he
signed a solo deal with Columbia. Bolton’s eponymous first album for the label peaked
at #89 in 1983; that same year, though, Laura Branigan took his song "How Am I
Supposed to Live Without You" to #12. Soon afterward, superstars as diverse as Barbra
Streisand, Kenny Rogers, and Kiss recorded Bolton’s tunes, while he established
relationships with such successful songwriters as Diane Warren, Eric Kaz, and Barry Mann
and Cynthia Weil, who would later contribute and collaborate on material for Bolton’s
own albums. In 1987 the singer cracked pop’s Top Twenty with "That’s What
Love Is All About" (#19), cowritten by Kaz. The following year, Bolton reached #11
with a cover of Otis Redding’s "(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay,"
which Redding’s widow pronounced her favorite rendition
of the song. Bolton’s next album, Soul Provider, shot to #3, and included
Bolton’s own #1 version of Branigan’s hit. In 1990, two other tracks,"How
Can We Be Lovers" and "When I’m Back On My Feet Again," made #3 and #7
respectively. The next year’s Time, Love and Tenderness topped the charts, and
generated the singles "Time, Love and Tenderness" (#7) and a #1 rendering of
Percy Sledge’s "When a Man Loves a Woman." The album’s #4 single
"Love Is a Wonderful Thing" which Bolton cowrote with Andrew Goldmark, caused
some trouble for the singer. In 1994 a federal jury found that his song
borrowed significantly from the Isley Brothers’ 1966 composition of the same name,
and ordered that the Isleys receive 66 percent of all the single’s royalties (an
amount that could reach $15 million). In 1992 Bolton released an album of covers, Timeless
(The Classics), which followed its predecessor to #1 and produced a #11 single with the
Bee Gees’ "To Love Somebody." (Also in 1992 the singer scored a #12 duet
with saxophonist Kenny G, "Missing You Now.") The One Thing peaked at #3 and
yielded the #6 hit "Said I Loved You…But I Lied." Born Michael Bolotin,
February 26, 1953, New Haven, Connecticut
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July 3, 2000
Akron Beacon Journal
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Michael Bolton joins concert tour
BY KERRY CLAWSON
Pop star Michael Bolton is branching out into another realm of music as headliner in the
touring production of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. `It's completely unexpected,''
Bolton said of joining the tour, which will play at the Palace Theatre in Cleveland's
Playhouse
Square Wednesday through Sunday. ``I didn't know that there were road shows of The Music
of Andrew Lloyd Webber.'' The theatrical concert tour began in October, with Bolton coming
aboard in May as special guest for concerts in the last seven cities. Cleveland is the
show's second-to-last stop. Bolton, best known as a blue-eyed soul belter, was
rejuvenating for a couple of days last week at his home in Westport, Conn., which his
assistant said he hadn't seen in eight months. He also squeezed in
three of his own band's concerts before rejoining The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. `I've
never done this material in my life,'' the raspy-voiced singer/songwriter said. ``It takes
a lot more focus on individual
characters to sing these songs.''His musical portrayals range from the tortured Phantom in
Phantom of the Opera to the anguished Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar. Bolton said he took
some direction from the singers who
originally performed these roles, yet said it was important to make the music his
own.``You can't necessarily deliver it the way they (audiences) remember it. You want to
take it to your own place, give it your own perspective and fresh approach,'' the Grammy
Award-winning tenor
said.The musical showcase also includes hits from Cats, Evita, Starlight Express, Joseph
and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Song and Dance, Requiem, Aspects of Love, Sunset
Boulevard and Whistle Down
the Wind. Bolton is backed up by a 28-member orchestra as well as a 16-member cast of
singers and dancers.He chose his own numbers, with the company's arranger working with him
to tailor the songs' keys to his voice and embellish the endings for the concert stage.
`They're beautiful by nature,'' Bolton said. ``They're beautiful in
composition. They're great emotional passages.'' He said his operatic vocal training with
Seth Riggs of Los Angeles
and Bill Shuman of New York not only prepared him for his 1998 album, My Secret Passion:
The Arias, but it also served him well with Webber's material. ``I don't know if I would
have said yes to the Andrew Lloyd Webber tour if I hadn't had the classical training.''
After years on the road with his band, Bolton is used to sleeping in until noon. Not so
with the Webber tour, which has him singing at matinees for the first time in his career.
He looks forward the most to the showstopper Memory, a new arrangement that Bolton said
generates an overwhelming response from
the audience. The singer also enjoyed shopping for Gucci, Prada and Armani outfits for his
four wardrobe changes.
Bolton hopes Webber himself sees the tour, especially before he makes final casting
decisions for his expected Phantom of the Opera movie.``I'd love to be the Phantom,'' said
Bolton, who is interested in acting. In the meantime, he is busy with several other
projects, including a
new CD.`I call it exotic soul. It's an international-feeling record,'' he said. His new
film production company, Passion Films, also is shooting its first movie, Good Advice,
starring Charlie Sheen and Law & Order's
Angie Harmon. If Bolton's CD is done on time, some of the music could be used in the
film.`There's a chair out there (in Los Angeles) with my name on it,'' he said. ``It's
exciting, except that I can't be there because I'm on the road.''
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June 26, 2000
Billboard
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Michael Bolton Splits With Columbia
Michael Bolton and Columbia Records have parted ways. Bolton signed with Columbia in 1983,
and has since sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, according to the label. Although
his last album, "Timeless: The Classics, Vol. 2," released in November 1999,
failed to chart on The Billboard 200, manager Louis Levin says it sold well overseas.
Levin would not comment on reports from sources that the singer is still in talks with
Sony regarding his international contract. Bolton's most recent single, a cover of Marvin
Gaye's "Sexual Healing" that appeared on "Classics, Vol. 2," peaked at
No. 28 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart in February. His last track to appear on
The Billboard Hot 100 was "Go The Distance"
from the "Hercules" soundtrack. It peaked at No. 24 in July
1997.
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June 6, 2000
Daily Southtown
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Michael Bolton up for challenge of Webber's
music
By Betty Mohr
Michael Bolton — the international pop icon known for his emotionally compelling
interpretations of some of the best-loved songs of our time — is crossing over from
R&B and pop tunes onto the stage. Bolton, whose string of hit songs includes "How
Am I Supposed to Live Without You," is blazing a new trail with "The Music of
Andrew Lloyd Webber," opening tonight at the Shubert Theatre.
With his four-octave vocal stretch — for which his fans have dubbed him "the
voice" — Grammy winner Bolton is a perfect match to interpret Webber's great
theatrical moments. Accompanied by 28 orchestra musicians and a cast of dancers and
singers, Bolton will deliver Webber's classical favorites. From the ravishing romanticism
of "The Music of the Night," taken from "The Phantom of the Opera,"
and the operatic "Don't Cry for Me Argentina"
in "Evita," to the lush melody of "Memory" from "Cats" and
the playful tunes from "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," Bolton
will highlight a wide variety of the mesmerizing tunes from Webber's theatrical
songbook."Singing Webber's music is definitely a high point in my career,"
Bolton said by phone. "This is the first time I'm doing this kind of form. It's not
like singing a pop hit. I'm not just singing the songs, but I have to get into the
characters as well. Reaching inside such a variety of
personalities and projecting their inner emotions and feelings is an invigorating
experience for me."
Bolton, who was once offered the role of Jean Val Jean in "Les Miserables" but
had to turn it down because he had so many other commitments, says that he's driven to
explore all venues and paths open to him. From songwriting to singing and performing,
Bolton has become a one-man talent whirlwind. Rushing into such creative work is Bolton's
way of making up for decades of struggles that still impact his career. "Once I had
the opportunity to explore and to use the success I was having, I was never going back to
how poor I had been. I was never going back to those years in the desert," he says.
"Right now, I feel like Forrest Gump, who, in the movie, crossed the finish line and
kept on running." Though Bolton began singing when he was about 8 years old and
signed a record deal with Epic when he was 16, it took him two decades before he had a hit
record. "I was married, had three daughters and was writing songs to make a
living," he says. "I was having a really hard time making money, and was getting
eviction notices and couldn't pay the bills." When asked what kept him going all
those years, Bolton said with a laugh: "I guess temporary mental illness kept me
going." But seriously, "there was always a little bit of light at the end of the
tunnel, egging me on. I didn't know at the time, however, that the tunnel was going to be
so long. It was a 20-year trek into the desert and the only way out was success."
Bolton recalls that the darkest time for him came in 1981, when he had a two-album deal
and became part of a group, but was completely broke."That was the only time I wasn't
sure how I was going to take the next step," he says.
Bolton says he learned invaluable things during that time of hardship, lessons he
remembers today. "One of the things I learned is that you can work very hard, stay
focused and generate your passion, but it doesn't make all the stars align." But all
that work finally paid off for Bolton, who has sold more than 52 million singles and
albums worldwide, and has won two Grammys, six
American Music Awards and a slew of other awards for songwriting. He's written a string of
more than 100 hits for other renowned artists, which include "We're Not Making Love
Anymore" for Barbara Streisand, "Living Without Your Love" for Joe Cocker,
"Just the Thought of Losing
You" for Kenny Rogers, "I Found Someone" for Cher, as well as for other
artists, such as Patti LaBelle, the Pointer Sisters, Gregg Allman, Lee Greenwood and
Conway Twitty. Bolton also collaborated with Bob Dylan for the song "Steel
Bars," which is the highlight of Bolton's "Time, Love & Tenderness" and
"Greatest Hits" albums. He has performed at the White House, sung with Ray
Charles, and joined Luciano Pavarotti on stage in Modena, Italy, for the "Luciano
& Friends" concert. Now, Bolton has started his own production company, Passion
Films, with film and television projects in development.
Performing a concert of Andrew Lloyd Webber songs is a new foray for me," Bolton
says. I'm enjoying it so much that I'm thinking that, in the future, I might take a part
in a theatrical production." Bolton has wasted no time exploring every outlet.
"If I were planning or dreaming my life, I would never have been able to dream this
life."
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May 23, 2000
Detroit Free Press
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Michael Bolton noodles around with clique after
Fox concert
NAMES & FACES
Michael Bolton, in town over the weekend at the Fox Theatre for his salute to the music of
Andrew Lloyd Webber, ended Sunday night with five -- count
'em -- five women believed to his back-up singers and a bodyguard at his table at Mario's
Italian restaurant in Detroit. Proprietor Vince Passalacqua and Bolton kidded each other
about Mr. P's prowess in the kitchen and Mr. B's satisfy-all-the-women voicings. A
vegetarian, Bolton
opted for spinach noodles, skipped the soup and was cordial to all who stopped by.
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October 5, 2000
Liz Smith
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... MICHAEL BOLTON, the powerful belter, has
sure looked like a movie star ever since he chopped off his long locks. Now he wants to be
a movie star! He's looking for a script. A romantic comedy. No singers (too obvious). No
serial killers (too icky). He wants to get the girl, but he wants her alive!
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July 31, 2000
Page Six
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Jive talker
MICHAEL Bolton may be label-less no longer. Sources said the pop crooner is in talks with
Jive Records for a
three-album deal with the label that has *NSYNC, Britney
Spears and the Backstreet Boys. The problem is the
advance money. "Bolton wants like $10 million to $15
million dollars and Jive is only prepared to give him $2
million - $5 million tops," said a source. Sony, which
owns Bolton's last label, Columbia, owns rights to his
catalog work, which makes money, and sources say Jive
fears that Bolton's new material won't sell. "He hasn't
had an original album in a while," a spy said. Neither
Bolton's agent nor Jive reps returned calls.
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June 6, 2000
On The Town
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GOLF GUYS: Singer Michael Bolton, who performed
at the Wines for Life gala Saturday night, snuck in 18 holes with Steve Farber at Green
Gables County Club before the concert. Filling out the foursome were Ken Rickle, husband
of oil heiress Nancy Davis, and investor Jim Lustig. Farber and his wife, Cindy, spent
time gabbing with Bolton after the show. The famished Farbers, who were too busy table
hopping to dine at the gala, ended up
grabbing breakfast at Pete's Kitchen on Colfax in the wee hours.
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April 7, 2000
Page Six
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Joni jam
THE guest of honor at China Club on Thursday night was
Joni Mitchell. TNT had just taped a tribute to her at
the Hammerstein Ballroom with performances by Elton
John, k.d. lang, and Cyndi Lauper. But Michael Bolton
was ready to rock. He jammed with the house band singing
"Knock on Wood" and "(Help Me Find) Somebody Else" to the likes of
Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Laurence Fishburne and Goldie Hawn. Then Mitchell-impersonator John
Kelly started singing her classics, and Joni came toward the stage transfixed. Later,
Bolton jumped onstage again to wail Chuck Berry's "Lucille."
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July 13, 2000
Boston Herald
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Soul man tries classical pop: Undaunted by critics, Michael Bolton sings
`Andrew Lloyd Webber'
by Brett Milano
Depending on where you stand, Michael Bolton and Andrew Lloyd Webber are a match made
either in musical heaven or somewhere well south of that. But the singer and the composer
do have much in common: They've been slammed by critics and intelligentsia, while gaining
massive popular (some would say lowbrow) success.
``That goes with the territory,'' says Bolton, who is featured in a ``Music of Andrew
Lloyd Webber'' showcase at the Wang Theatre starting tonight. ``If you have success to the
extreme, you're basically labeled as fair game. But as far as I'm concerned, your audience
casts the real ballot. It's not about whether I'm happy or not; I just want my audience to
appreciate what I'm doing. And when you can see and feel the response from the audience
every night, that has to be the confirmation that you're doing the right thing.``The fact
that the audience is out there makes me feel more inspired and motivated to do more. It
confirms that these powerful musical moments are gratifying to a lot of people, that they
translate.'' Bolton probably is immune to criticism by now, having built
his career on a squeaky-clean brand of white soul. More
recently he branched out to an album of operatic arias.
``People have said to me, `It took a lot of guts to do that.'
But you know, I never thought of it that way,'' he said. ``I
just thought it was something exciting. The purists don't like it, but guess what - I'm
not doing it for them. If I can hit high Cs and do something with those arias that appeals
to people who've never been to an opera in their life, then
that's great. But the point is that I'm going to love the
process. I don't mean this as a bitter statement, but the
reality is that the critics don't figure in. I've worked long
and hard in my field, and that gives me the license to
explore.''After the Lloyd Webber tour ends, Bolton will go back to work on his next pop
record. ``It's a new direction, with more of an international flavor - I call it exotic
soul. I traveled to Europe promoting my last album and heard a lot of different
instruments, from Egypt and Turkey and Africa; and I wanted to bring those sounds into my
music. It's going to be a feel-good record.'' This week's showcase is something of a Lloyd
Webber ``greatest hits,'' drawing from all his shows; with Bolton featured among a cast of
singers and dancers and a 28-piece orchestra. It's the singer's first experience with
stage musicals, a move he
has considered before.`The only problem is that I don't wish to park myself in one place
for six months in a row. For instance, I was very drawn to `Les Miserables' and was
offered the part of Jean Valjean, which really appealed to me - I love Victor Hugo and I
love that character. But when I was faced with the thought of
staying in one place for that long, I turned it down. Even
when I write my own music, I'm always moving between New York, Nashville and Los
Angeles.'' Though some critics would disagree, Bolton considers Lloyd Webber's work to be
closer to classical music than to pop. `People may relate to them as popular songs, but
musically they're not close to anything that's going on in the contemporary pop world. For
instance, I'm singing `Gethsemane' (the big soliloquy from `Jesus Christ Superstar') and
the payoff of that song has a classical approach. The drama there is closer to opera,
where you have a lot of license to pour it
out there. There is a lot of angst, a lot of anguish, a feeling of betrayal and finally
resignation. After all, it's Jesus about to be nailed to the cross.'' Given the critical
reaction that usually greets Bolton's work, you have to figure that he can relate to that.
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May 13, 2000
The Naples News
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Review: Bolton, Webber come off the bench to star at Barbara B. Mann
By MAXINE GINSBERG
Put down the golf clubs and pick up the telephone. The Andrew Lloyd Webber fest at the
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall is a superb evening of musical theater, well worth
the trek from the Naples area. But it didn't look so hot on paper. "The Music of
Andrew Lloyd Webber" was a replacement for the mysteriously canceled "Sunset
Boulevard," a production many local theater aficionados were gleefully anticipating.
And the star power, Michael Bolton, seemed a dubious choice. What was a pop icon doing in
Webber's milieu? Reading the cast biographies in the program was not reassuring —- of
the 12 cast members, 10 were either making their professional debuts, still studying or
listed as recent graduates. Green kids, it would seem. The dread was all for naught. Once
Jack Gaughan strode on stage, picked up
his baton and brought the 28-member orchestra to life, it was clear the audience was in
for a night of masterful music. Dramatic arrangements ranging from the softly sensual to
the thunderingly theatrical were delivered expertly by a mature ensemble centered by a
young drummer who was a show in himself. Once the six men and six women opened their
mouths, there was no question
about their abilities, not only to perform the music well, but to sell the songs with
their own special interpretations.
Clever lighting substituted quite satisfactorily for conventional scenery, and by
ingeniously moving the performers in pairs and trios and larger groups, the static look of
typical concert presentations was avoided. So what about Bolton? Well, there may not have
been enough of him for his fans — he sings one song at the end of the first act and
three in the second, but for the unaffiliated he was a delightful addition to an already
excellent show.
Bolton began with "Gethsemane," from "Jesus Christ Superstar." The
tortured lament poignantly written by Webber and Tim Rice was movingly performed by Bolton
with all the emotion and vocal artistry required. Two
numbers from "Phantom of the Opera" showed his new vocal confidence with show
music a la Webber, and his finale of "Memories" from "Cats" brought
the cheering audience to its feet. Bolton's demeanor might have disappointed some —-
he spoke not a word —- but endeared him to others. This was no superstar strutting in
to liven up the show. He entered and exited without fanfare and with humility, seeking no
more attention than any other in the cast, but contributing his undeniably charismatic
presence and talent. It was too bad cast members did not get program credit for their
performances. It would be good to know who the blonde was who put over Sunset Boulevard's
"As If We Never Said Good-Bye" so dynamically. Who was the brunette Christine
who had the audience roaring approval in "Think of Me" from Phantom, and who was
her blonde counterpart who was equally electrifying with Bolton in the "Phantom
Duet?" While the talent of the cast was a continuous surprise, the brilliance of
Webber's music and the lyrics of his collaborators are no secret. These
well-loved songs were blended in a pleasing program of ballads, foot-tappers and
show-stoppers that constituted an excellent evening's entertainment.
|
September 27, 2000
Stamford Advocate
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Bolton puts on auction for relief of women,
children
By Eve Sullivan, Staff Writer
Singer Michael Bolton hosted a 500-person gala last night to raise money forabused and
poverty- stricken women and children. The event, held at the Stamford Marriott, began with
a silent auction, followed by a dinner and was topped off with performances by Bolton,
comedians John
Carfi and John Pinette, and singers Deborah Gibson and Pattie Darcy Jones. "I want
people to remember it as a fun evening," Bolton said, because "everybody's got
lives, children and responsibilities" and he has to give them
a reason to come back next year. This marks the eighth annual black-tie gala held by The
Michael Bolton
Charities, which distributes grant money to different agencies. "If we wind up
raising $350,000, we'll all be smiling about it," Bolton said. Every dollar is
another bed or another meal for a woman or child at risk, he
said. "You go to the facilities and you see a difference being made," he said.
Joan Lunden was mistress of ceremonies at the event, while music producer Phil
Ramone received The Michael Bolton Lifetime Achievement Award for his work on behalf of
children.
Gibson, a 1980s pop singer who recently starred on Broadway in "Beauty and the
Beast," said she came to support Ramone and the cause. "When a celebrity takes
such a personal interest in a charity, it's important
for other celebrities to come out and support it," she said.
Bolton, a two-time Grammy Award winner, is also sponsoring a Celebrity Golf Classic today
at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich for his charity. The outing is replacing
Bolton's usual celebrity softball game. Bolton will participate in the tournament, along
with tennis coach Nick Bolletieri, soap-opera star John Callahan of "All My
Children," ABC News Correspondent Ron Claiborne and actor Kevin Dobson of "Knots
Landing." Last night's guests munched on hors d'oeuvres and perused the items
auctioned, which included an autographed picture of Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, an
album cover signed by Simon & Garfunkle, a painting of Jimi Hendrix, and
guitars signed by musicians such as Lenny Kravitz. David Abelman of Westport was looking
at sports memorabilia. He said he waits until five minutes before the silent auction ends
and submits his price. "I know the pieces I want, and then I go for the kill,"
he said. Joe Vearlong of New Jersey was eyeing a picture of Babe Ruth, which was in
a frame with an autographed piece of paper. It had a minimum bidding price of $500.
"I just bid on that Mickey Mantle baseball and I have a few other things I'm
contemplating," Vearlong said. Vearlong said he follows Bolton's charity and just
attended an event in Hartford with Bolton and Gov. John Rowland. "We try to support
him," he said. Other items auctioned included dinner for two at local restaurants, a
day of beauty, golf clubs, a cooking lesson, a trip to Beverly Hills and tickets to
"Late Night with Conan O'Brien." "It's all donated by various people and
companies," said Jackie Smaga, director
of the charity. Smaga said The Michael Bolton Charities was launching "Balloon of
Dreams," a balloon-shaped pin made of sapphires and diamonds. Cassis, the jeweler who
sells the pin, will donate a portion of the pin's $1,350 or $1,850 cost to the charity.
"The balloon represents the ability of women and children to soar when not faced with
obstacles such as neglect, poverty and abuse," said Elizabeth Sahakyan, creator of
the pin. Bolton, who started his charity in 1993, provides assistance, through local and
national charities and "safe house" shelters, to children and women at risk from
poverty and emotional, physical and sexual abuse. With the help of Rowland, Bolton created
Safe Spaces of New Haven, which provides a place for young people to meet. The facility,
opened in 1996, utilizes the arts to provide an environment to foster self-esteem,
leadership skills and job training. Bolton, a New Haven native who now lives in Westport,
decided to open the facility after witnessing first-hand the obstacles facing many of the
city's youths. Proceeds from the dinner and golf tournament support Safe Spaces and
programs
such as Prevent Child Abuse America, Kids in Crisis, Boys Choir of Harlem and the Domestic
Violence Crisis Center. Last year, 72 percent of the organization's income went to
charitable institutions.
|
September 27, 2000
Connecticut Post
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Judge dismisses Bolton appeal over house wrecking
By RITA PAPAZIAN Singer Michael Boltons court appeal of a town ruling against his
planned demolition of a Kings Highway North farmhouse struck a sour note with a judge.
Stamford Superior Court Judge William Lewis last week dismissed Boltons appeal, filed in
November 1998 against the towns Historic District Commission. "It confirms that the
HDC acted fairly and properly," said Town Attorney Ira Bloom.
Boltons attorney, Robert Fuller of Wilton, said Monday he "was not in a position to
discuss the case at this time."
The HDC ruled in November 1998 against an application to demolish the entire 1905
farmhouse that Bolton owns. The house is in the Kings Highway North Historic District and
listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The singer subsequently filed suit against the rejection. However, the commission -- after
denying two other demolition plans -- later approved a scaled-down proposal, which remains
in effect. The property is adjacent to Boltons main residence which overlooks Nashs Pond.
The singer wanted to demolish the house
in order to make way for formal English gardens. In his lawsuit, Bolton claimed the HDC
did not issue its original ruling to deny the demolition request within the required 65
days. He also claimed the commission disregarded evidence supporting the houses lack of
historic or architectural significance.In dismissing the appeal, Lewis said the HDC acted
reasonably in denying the application and that Boltons representatives asked for
continuance of
the HDCs public hearing, thereby waiving the time limit.
Boltons appeal claimed the house was located on the historic districts southwestern
boundary line and has no architectural, historic, archaeological or engineering
significance. An addition was built in 1973 and a detached garage was added in 1993. Also,
Bolton claimed a hardship because water and sewer lines were disconnected and an oil tank
was removed in order to meet the Building Departments demolition preparation request.
The HDC had claimed the house is historically and architecturally "vital to
continuity of the streetscape."
Boltons modified plan to partially demolish the house was denied by the HDC in December
1998. His third application the following month -- in which he sought to remove 75 percent
of the house, including the cross gable -- was also denied by the HDC. But in February
1999, the commission unanimously approved a certificate of
appropriateness to demolish the garage and tear down part of the farmhouse. In the last
plan, Bolton promised not to tear down the houses front porch and cross gable. The
commission indicated removing those features would
destroy the architectural integrity of the house.
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June 13, 2000
Sunspot
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By J.D. Considin
Taking a chance on Andrew Lloyd Webber: Michael Bolton has his choice of the songbook -
everything from "Jesus Christ Superstar" to "Phantom." Michael Bolton
is on his cell phone, talking about his current concert
tour while sitting in a Chicago dressing room, when a member of the production crew
interrupts him. "I'm sorry," Bolton says, cutting the conversation short,
"They're telling
me the show has begun. I have to get into my stage clothes, and go out and get nailed to a
cross." Under any other circumstance, one would take that to mean Bolton was about to
perform for a crowd of rock critics. In this case, however, he's being quite literal,
because the opening number in Bolton's current show - a semi-theatrical spectacular
entitled "The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber" (which opens at the Lyric Opera
House this evening) - is a little ditty called "The Garden of Gethsemane."
"It's a fun song from 'Jesus Christ Superstar,'" he says. Naturally, Bolton
performs the song in the persona of J.C. himself. "Then, the next time I come out,
it's as an entirely different character," he adds. And so it goes throughout the
evening, as Bolton works his way through the Lloyd Webber songbook. "I don't want to
tell you about exactly what happens," he says. "But I'm playing one song after
the other, and before you know it, I'm the Phantom out there, and am doing some songs from
'Phantom of the Opera.' " That may seem quite a leap for a guy best known for rock
power-ballads and heavily stylized - some would say overwrought and inauthentic - versions
of soul classics. But as Bolton tells it, singing the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber was
actually a fairly logical step in his career. It started, funnily enough, with opera. This
wasn't a musical style Bolton ever expected to become involved with, until one day in 1996
when he got a call to participate in a benefit concert and recording.
"I was invited to sing with [Luciano] Pavarotti in Italy," he says. "I got
into opera because I had to learn what I was going to perform." That bit of private
study soon became an obsession, and in 1998, Bolton released an album of opera arias,
entitled "My Secret Passion." In it, he took on
everything from "Celeste Aida" (from "Aida") to the famously tearful
"Vesti la giubba" (the crying clown show-stopper from "I Pagliacci").
Exploring the world of opera opened a whole new world for Bolton. Part of
it was that singing opera involved a totally different discipline from rock and roll,
taking him to "a different place in the voice, a different kind of presence," he
says. But singing opera also involved a much wider range of interpretive freedom than he
had ever imagined. To take an aria or character and animate it, bringing something unique
to the part, greatly appealed to him. "When I started studying opera, I started
listening to everything I could
find on Caruso and Gigli, all the way up through the three tenors," he says. "I
saw how different all of their interpretations were. Different tenors took liberties that
sometimes ruffled the feathers of purists, and probably ticked a few people off. But I
think that's what made those
singers great. Their true personalities spoke through the songs." Get Bolton talking
opera, and he speaks with unabashed enthusiasm. Like many opera buffs, he believes that
the oldies are goodies. As such, his all-time favorites are two singers who were in their
prime long before he
was born: Enrico Caruso and Beniamino Gigli. "Caruso had the ultimate, king of the
jungle voice, the lion's roar," he says. "Gigli had wonderful tone, one of the
most beautiful, sweet, soothing voices that I have ever heard. I understand that with
Pavarotti, Gigli was one of his inspirations." OK, so Bolton has a bad case of tenor
madness. That still doesn't answer how he went from singing opera to singing "The
Phantom of the Opera."
Once again, it all started with a phone call: "A friend of mine who's working with me
in some areas outside of music called up and said, 'I had a meeting with these people
today, and I'm just going to run this idea by you.' " The idea was a musical revue
based on the songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber, and built around Bolton. "He said, 'You
can pick any songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber's entire catalog, anything he's done that's
been part of one of his shows.' And that was great news for me," says Bolton. "I
got to pretty much hand-pick some phenomenal songs - singer's songs." Although Bolton
has his regular band with him onstage, he's also backed by a 30-piece orchestra and 20
singer/dancers. It's a very different environment from the rock concert circuit, and
frankly, he finds the change refreshing. "Backstage at rock shows, it's not about the
pure love of music," he says. "Here, it is. Here, it's about people who love the
theater, who love the moment they get onstage. And it's great to actually revisit your
youth,
when you're awakening your love and passion for music."
Not that Bolton was a Broadway baby himself. Although the 46-year old singer grew up in
Connecticut and started his career in New York, he says he never had a hankering for the
stage. "I've never done a Broadway show in my life," he says. "Of course
I've been to shows. But I certainly didn't grow up studying this." Bolton doesn't
seem anywhere near as well-versed in musical theater as he is in opera, but he has seen
his share of Lloyd Webber shows. "I've seen 'Phantom' and probably five or six other
of Andrew's great shows," he says. "And of course, I have CDs of everything from
'Jesus Christ Superstar' to'Aspects of Love,' including everything that's being done in
this show." But don't bother rushing to the store looking for a CD of Bolton singing
the works of Lloyd Webber. No such disc exists - so far, anyway. Bolton is negotiating
with Lloyd Webber's representatives, and hopes eventually to
release an album drawn from this show. In fact, he'd like to do even more than that.
"I'd love to take this further, I really would," he says of the show's current
nine-week tour. I would love to take the show to Europe, and they're talking about London
even as we speak." Even if Bolton doesn't take his Phantom, Jesus and other Lloyd
Webber
characters any further, he's glad he got to know them. "I honestly didn't know if I
would love doing this, or would be kicking myself after I made the commitment," he
says. "I'd never done anything like this before. But it's a great show. And not only
do I not regret taking this on, I'm so happy that I did. It's a great adventure."
|
June 30, 2000
Patriot Ledger
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The music of the knight / Michael Bolton makes
Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's music his own
Summary: For Michael Bolton's fans, the idea of the pop music star singing the theater
music of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber may be a bit of a stretch. Bolton says it has been a
journey for him, too, but one that both he and his fans are finding rewarding. For the
greater part of the '90s, Bolton haunted the top of the pop music charts with his
blue-eyed soul ballads. Now he's touring theatrical venues with the music of the night.
From July 13-16, Bolton and a cast of
supporting singers will present "The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber" for six
performances at Boston's Wang Theater Center. In the show, Bolton sings songs from
"The Phantom of the Opera," "Jesus Christ Superstar" and
"Cats" and such lesser-known Webber musicals as "Song
and Dance." The song that gets to him more than any other, he said in a telephone
interview last week, is "Memory," from "Cats "Melodically and
thematically, it's the most powerful," he said. "It's so beautiful to sing and
so easy to embrace. It forces you to dive into what it's about. It's the most powerful
moment of the night for me." Though he is thrilled to be able to sing these emotion-
filled songs, Bolton is especially looking forward to bringing them to his own fans.
"My audience has been scattered throughout the theater audience," he said.
" I know that my hard-core fans want me to sing more, but watching their response to
the whole show is real love, which is really great for the cast because they cheer a bit
louder than the true theater lovers." The audience crossover has been greatly
successful, but Bolton admits that Webber's songs require a different kind of singing from
the soul and pop classics he has come to be known for. "It's different in respect to
the hits my fans have come to recognize," he says. "But it's not that different
from the classical music I have studied
and sung with (Luciano) Pavarotti and (Placido) Domingo, in terms of knowing how to hold
the notes and perform the aria while bringing who I am to the pieces without being
intimidated by the classical approach." In fact, Bolton notes, the experience has
expanded horizons both for himself and his fans. "I've found it a very refreshing
return to the pure love of singing," he said. "It's a great thing to be around
after years of working through all the business of the music business." Performing on
the theatrical stage,
Bolton has had the opportunity to see a whole new side of the entertainment industry.
"It's a refreshing visit for everybody," Bolton says. "Music is about
feeling. It's about moving people internally. The great musicals do exactly that. If you
listen in order to be moved, and somebody delivers, that's it. If you go in with
preconceived notion and are committed to your own idea of what it should be, I'm not sure
what you're doing in the theater." Bolton seems to know exactly what he's doing in
the theater, and he hopes to do more of it. "I will definitely do a Broadway album at
some time," he says. "I am not sure if it will be all Andrew Lloyd Webber, but
these songs are wonderful." As far as whether or not Bolton sees himself strutting
the boards in a full production, that
remains to be seen. "I have temptations more than aspirations," he said.
"There are moments during 'Phantom' when the Phantom takes over and I think that I
could go there and be that, but the commitment would be very difficult for me." In
between Webber shows, Michael Bolton is still performing his own music and running his new
production company, which currently has five films in the works, including a new one with
Charlie Sheen in a role which was originally written for Michael Bolton himself. Still,
the 47-year-old performer does have some theatrical aspirations. "I hope to bring
this show to Europe and Asia and to tour it in new cities next year," he says, noting
how that he is making every effort to fit such performances into his full performance
schedule. It is
fitting that these two mega- entertainers should finally meet. Webber is one of the most
popular and best-selling composers on stage and Bolton has had similar successes in the
recording industry. The show of music by Sir Andrew Webber is not Bolton's first
experience with taking the works of others and making them his
own. On his latest album, "Timeless, Vol. 2: The Classics," he takes on the
challenges of Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, Sam Cooke and Al Green. After singing the songs
of a reverend, a knight should be no problem.
|
September 22, 2000
PRNewswire
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LOS ANGELES, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- FansRULE.com, an
entertainment/information Web site providing fans of sports and entertainment
personalities with on-demand news, celebrity participation,
fan interaction and merchandise opportunities, has acquired Fan Emporium, Inc. and related
website fanemporium.com. Fan Emporium hosts official fan
clubs for celebrities, such as Mariah Carey, John Mellencamp, Michael Bolton and Cyndi
Lauper.
FansRULE.com caters to an entertainment audience seeking round-the-clock industry-insider
news, access to online celebrity appearances, trivia-driven games and contests. In
addition to the membership benefits of an online presence, FansRULE.com offers an array of
offline services typically associated with fan club membership. The combination of
coupling an on-demand information source with more traditional fan club offerings creates
an
entertainment package with wide audience appeal.
Fan Emporium, Inc., founded in 1983 by Joyce Logan, operated successfully as a fan club
management company. Logan, the author of Celebrity Fan Clubs, expanded the company's fan
club offerings and format with the creation of an online venture, fanemporium.com. Logan's
innovative approach recognized the need to service both computer-friendly online surfers
and long-time, offline
subscribers. Logan has been named the vice president of fan services for FansRULE.com and
will manage offline fan club services. In acquiring Fan Emporium, Inc., FansRULE.com
assumes ownership of fanemporium.com, the company's individual celebrity online fan club
sites,
and the offline fan club management agreements. Financial terms of the acquisition are
confidential.
FansRULE.com employs a proprietary profiling application designed to capture and retain
user profile information. Operating as eBackStagePass(TM),
this sophisticated fingerprinting engine allows for targeted e-commerce promotions,
on-demand polling and focused consumer interaction. FansRULE.com partners with
entertainment and sports celebrities to manage fan club memberships and activities. By
providing fans with on-demand and traditional fan club management services, innovative
entertainment options, exclusive news for members and merchandise selections, FansRULE.com
creates an opportunity for fans to celebrate and interact with their favorite celebrities.
For more information, contact Michael Fortino of The Fortino Group, 412-322-2271.
|
March 17, 2000
USA Today
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Q: People magazine made mention that Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche have
talked to Michael Bolton about doing what David Crosby did for Melissa Etheridge and Julie
Cypher. What truth is there to that? - Terrie Neilson,
Bradley, Ill.
A: Yes, Ellen said Bolton "is going to be the father of our child." Great
kidder, Ellen, but these days you never can tell. I asked Bolton, and he said, "First
of all, I love Anne and Ellen. Can you believe they expect me to have sex with two
beautiful women, impregnate one of them, father a child and then take absolutely NO
responsibility for it? What do they think I am - a man? But seriously, we're still trying
to work out the details, like where I fit in." Bolton has three daughters of his own,
so he knows the dad role. Is he really serious? "You never know." Speaking of
roles, in addition to work on songs for his next album, the star is busy with his movie
production company, Passion Films - he'll only make those he's passionate about. It's not
a vehicle for him to star, though he has taken acting lessons for some time. He begins
production in May on Good Advice, a romantic comedy starring Charlie Sheen, if Bolton can
wrap it up in time for Sheen to step into Spin City. The singer will appear in a second
film, as a character; it's a coming-of-age tale set in Miami's South Beach, where the
fashionistas and models play. Movies need music, and Bolton hopes he or friends in the
business will supply some of it.
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June 14, 2000
Denver
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Saturday's Wines for Life gala at the Adam's
Mark Hotel featuring singer Michael Bolton raised more than $3 million, one of the most
successful charity fund-raisers in memory. "This is definitely one of the biggest
single fund-raising events in Denver history," said Sharon Whiton Gelt, who heads
numerous charity functions. "Carousel Ball and Western Fantasy would be the others in
that league." The $3 million is earmarked for a cancer-detecting Positron Emission
Tomography (PET) scanner at the University of Colorado Cancer Center.
The event, which attracted more than 1,200 guests, was founded by Michael and Suzan Geller
in honor of Michael's brother and only sibling, James, who died from bone cancer more than
20 years ago. Also honored was the late Gloria Cook, who died from cancer. Her daughter
and son-in-law, Cindy and Steve Farber, co-chaired the event. In November, the Western
Fantasy gala drew a crowd of 1,600 and raised $3 million for Volunteers of America.
Society maven Florence Ruston said the Carousel Ball, with hosts Marvin and Barbara Davis
from 1978 to 1985 in Denver, was at least as lucrative
as the more recent two."I think the Carousel Ball raised $3 million, too. I remember
Marvin (Davis) would always say, 'In honor of my wife let's give the little lady
another million."'A 1993 Denver Rocky Mountain News story stated that in 1985, the
ball, which benefited the Children's Diabetes Foundation, raised $2.5 million
and that Marvin Davis personally matched that amount.
Guests at Saturday's event included U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell and Reps. Diana
DeGette and Mark Udall.
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October 10, 2000
Entertainment Wire
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Press Release
Michael Bolton, James Ingram and Jon Secada to Perform At City of Hope Gala
October 19 Honoring BMI's Frances W. Preston
David Foster is Musical Producer
NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Oct. 10, 2000--Michael Bolton, James Ingram and Jon Secada
will perform at the City of Hope's annual Spirit of Life Award
presentation to BMI President & CEO Frances W. Preston at a gala dinner October 19 at
the Barker Hangar, Santa Monica Airport. Producer/composer David Foster is
serving as Musical Producer. The dinner, part of the Music and Entertainment Industry
Group's annual
fund-raising effort, benefits the California medical and research center. Since the group
was founded more than 20 years ago, it has raised more than $30 million in support of City
of Hope programs. The City of Hope was founded in 1913 as a haven for those stricken with
tuberculosis. Today, the center stands on a 108-acre campus at the base of the San Gabriel
Mountains and has become an internationally recognized medical and research facility.
|
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