This year's Cabaret theme of "The Late Show: Music of the Dear Departed Legends of Song" would most certainly bring memories of songs and times gone by. Saturday's show, like Friday's, paid tribute to some of the dozen "late" people whose music may have been a big part of your world.

Songs…and their singers…are great markers in one's life as to where you were and what you were doing. Like, I suspect, a great deal of the audience, I grew up in the 60's. I hit a baby boomer milestone this year, celebrating my 50th birthday, and according to a popular Internet quiz making the rounds these days, I am also officially "older than dirt." Thus, there were very few songs and artists noted that I didn't recognize.

Here's a look at some of the songs and artists honored (in parenthesis) by the ever-stellar Cabaret musical lineup, along with a few of my own musical memories…perhaps they are similar to yours.

Can you "imagine" John Lennon and Janis Joplin meeting in heaven? As played in the opening sketch by Dan Chouinard and Julie Madden, they do, much to each other's chagrin. But then along comes Bob Marley (played by—who else?—Cyril Paul), to spread the spirit of Jah and "One Love".

In thinking of the departed legends of songs, I couldn't help but recall one of the Righteous Brothers' last significant hits, "Rock and Roll Heaven" (singer Bobby Hatfield having made it there himself nearly two years ago) and sure enough, that was one of the songs featured in the kickoff "monk" group number, along with "I'll Fly Away", led off by Robert Robinson, and "And When I Die" (written by Laura Nyro, who passed away in April 1997).

If you grew up in the late 50s, 60's and 70's, top 40 radio was king. At that time, of course, we had no idea just how long-lasting the impact of those artists we heard on our transistors or table radios would be. Here are a few songs of that era the performers chose to spotlight:

As a 60's child, I didn't get my parents' fascination for big band and vocalists of the early 40s and 50s. Well, there was something here for them, too, tribute-wise:

Not to leave out those from the video age of the 80's:

Some of the other tribute highlights of the evening: The closing number went from the solemn ("Angel Band") to the shoutin' ("When the Saints Go Marchin' In", led off by Jim TenBensel).

In the program, the musicians answered the question of "when in your musical life did you think you'd died and gone to heaven?" Each year's Cabaret that I've been to gave me that feeling…but especially for me this year for two reasons besides the music alone. The first is once again having the honor to serve the musicians by helping sell their product. The second is the artist/fan hierarchy line at times present in other musical circles being non-existent here, and seeing the musicians cheering on and encouraging each other.

Writer, speaker, consultant, administrative professional, Wendy Vickers, has been an active supporter and encourager of local musicians in the Twin Cities music community for several years. Her online newsletter on local coffeehouse performers and other music-related activities can be found on her website at www.wendyv.com.
In the end, this year's Cabaret was a great night of remembrance…celebrating those who have gone on and creating new memories for years to come.
Peg LaSota comes from a photography background. She now works in the digital world, computer instruction, and with "videography" and the restoration of family films. She is enthusiastic about capturing family memories and preserving them digitally. Along with that, her time is spent with her family and her love for learning Spanish, piano, recorder.....and of course singing with the choir!


Back to Cabaret Reports

Back