“The Young Victoria” Producer Visits Houston
The evening is still young inside of Neiman Marcus at the Galleria. Everything seems normal inside this department store, customers browsing the jewelry cases and strolling through clothing racks, when suddenly they all seem to balk. Cell phones come out from purses and pictures are snapped as Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York, makes a beeline through the store.
The duchess was is town for a tea party to commemorate the re-release of Clive Christian’s “X,” “1872” and “Clive” fragrances. Read more
Bright Star: Subtle and Witty Romance
As a Romeo and Juliet love story by default, Bright Star is a film about 18th-century forbidden young love. Shot in traditional opaque London, this film recounts the story of a poet, John Keats and his object of affection, Fanny Brawne.
Brawne, a young fashion-obsessed seamstress, finds one of Keats’ most famous poem, Endymion, which widens her curiosity towards literature. Read more
Exclusive Interview: JC Fisher of The Texas Tenors
The fourth season of America’s Got Talent, not only hit home for auditions, but it selected one of our own. Since early this year, JC Fisher, from Katy, has been preoccupied with singing with his two friends on national TV.
Although their country music contender, Kevin Skinner took the prize, the Texas Tenors have earn the respect of many fans across the country that cannot wait for them to hit the road. Read more
The Talents of the Texas Tenors
If anyone can attest to “overnight success,” it’s the guys from The Texas Tenors. The group formed in our own backyard less than year ago with big dreams of landing a spot on NBC’s talent show competition, America’s Got Talent, are now on the cusp of taking the grand price of $1 million.
The trio is made up by Marcus Collins from Houston also known as, “The Contemporary Tenor,” John Hagen, also from Houston known as “The” tenor and our very on Katyite, JC Fisher known as the “Romantic Tenor.
Aside from their obvious vocal talent, the group’s combination of opera and country music have quickly made them judge favorites, which include actor David Hasselhoff, Piers Morgan and talent super manager, Sharon Osbourne.
“You‘re my early on favorite, don‘t let me down… I hope you get vote back,” rambled Hasselhoff.
But judging from their run on the show and the standing ovations, America also agrees. The trio ranked top four because of viewer votes and their most resent rendition of, “God Bless the USA” has garnered quite the fan following and commentary on YouTube.
American Docu-Thriller Hopes to Save Japanese Dolphins
In a time when healthcare and resuscitating the economy take precedence in our national news, there is an upheaval brewing off the coasts of Osaka, Japan. A group of activists that include a billionaire, a dolphin trainer, marine techs and the noted photographer, Louie Psihoyos, set to capture the realities of what really happens in “The Cove.”
The docu-thriller sheds light on the inhumane mass killings of dolphins in a tranquil cove next to a dolphin themed tourist attraction. Because dolphins are not protected under the commercial whaling ban, the ocean’s mammals are killed for Japanese consumption. Read more
William Shine: Reminiscing on Broadway’s Heyday
It’s about twenty-three minutes past 6 pm. The apartment is lit with natural light from the partially opened blinds. William Shine, 82, is sitting in front of his Mac computer in his kitchen table that doubles as a desk, watching television.
We exchange formalities and he makes his way from the kitchen to his recliner, two steps away, and he dives into it.
“Well first of all, I have a Master’s degree in music,” he says; Shine attended the Manhattan School of Music. “A hard school to get into and an easy one to get thrown out of.” Read more
Celtic Collaboration: An Interview with Katy’s Hugh Morrison of The Lone Star Stout
This year the Houston International Festival, better known as iFest, will pay homage to the country of Ireland. Katy residents have an incentive to attend this year as one of their own will join the roster.
Hugh Morrison from the trio, Lonestar Stout will join his band mates, Mason Brown and Jed Marum to perform Celtic tunes. Morrison, a native of Scotland, is excited to perform in honor of Ireland. Generally, Celtic music brings thoughts of men in kilts striding in unison, gusting on bagpipes. And yes, traditionally those thoughts are correct, but Lonestar Stout takes it up a notch combining banjos with harmonicas and has been known to collaborate with rock bands. Read more
Profile: Disc Jockey Maziel Rodriguez
The face, or voice of the disc jockey has come a long ways since its birth in the 19th century. In retrospect, the disc jockey also known as a d.j has been a driving force in music since the debauchery and excess of the Studio 54 days to the rags-to-riches origins of rap. The d.j is not exclusive to radio anymore, some superstar d.j.s spin for trust fund 20-somethings in the Hamptons during the summer and rub elbows with European glitterati on their yearlong pilgrimage to make people dance.
Houston’s Southern Songstress: Dixie Trahan
“Mom, do you have a song for everything?!” says Dixie Trahan’s young daughter of mom’s ability to lecture in song. “I probably do,” replies Trahan as she flashes a coy smile.
Talking to Trahan is easy. Southern belle comes to mind, even; except Trahan writes music and can really serenade an audience. When she was nine, she toured North America, singing in churches with her family. Now a mother, she has instilled musical expression to her children; from Bluegrass to Rock, this modern-day Brady Bunch family has no boundaries for musical taste, Read more
Steph Jones: R&B’s “Mr. Ordinary” on the Rise
In the MySpace universe, a comment from your favorite artist is the cause for eternal bliss, and Steph Jones has them hooked; his page is littered with compliments and fan requests for shows from England to Australia. If you haven’t heard of his name before, remember it because this R&B singer-songwriter-model is on the threshold of chart domination. Already, this Fort Bend County native has been signed to Ford Models in New York, was part of Def Jam Records thru DTP Records and has penned songs for Jordin Sparks and Jesse McCartney. Read more
Powerpop With a Purpose: The Wayne Kerr Band
Sitting in the courtyard at La Centerra during the midday lull, Wayne Kerr pensively drawls, “even if I quit today, I will feel like it was a total blessing, God thing.” You see, Kerr is the front man for the Wayne Kerr Band, a Christian band who’s found success across the U.S and Asia with a handful of teen-oriented albums. His agenda is booked through the summer of 2009 and his philosophy about his musical crusade and life is simple: “To reach as many people as possible” about God. Read more
A Trifecta of Blues, Soul & Rock in Katy: Hamilton Loomis
Music has been forever changing since the 8-track. Even the instruments are synthetic now. Finding an artist who hasn’t gone heavy on the vocal manipulation is like finding a love song that doesn’t have the ubiquitous “baby” cooed somewhere on its hook. And if authentic is the topic, Hamilton Loomis manifests the real artistry that takes us back to where it all began. Clearly oozing in musical talent and passion for his profession, this Katy resident talks music, New Mexico peppers and Gibson Les Paul. Read more
