tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11122973.post111156414049501685..comments2024-02-08T05:04:18.484-08:00Comments on J'S THEATER: Thom Mayne + Bobby ShortJohn Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073378940347627766noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11122973.post-1111722533146368622005-03-24T19:48:00.000-08:002005-03-24T19:48:00.000-08:00Bobby Short represented the cabaret scene and an e...Bobby Short represented the cabaret scene and an entire world (and performance style) pretty much lost now. Who goes out for a 'sophisticated evening' anymore?<BR/><BR/>Short did do a good job presenting and preserving the work of the "Great American Songbook" singers -- and extending that tradition to more African-American songwriters than are usually included in that 'songbook'. To the list of recordings in the NYTimes piece I'd add his Andy Razaf collection, "Guess Who's in Town": Born Andreamentania Paul Razafkeriefo, Razaf wrote 'Honeysuckle Rose' and (What did I do to be so) "Black and Blue" among others, and was member of the royal family of Madagascar...<BR/><BR/>Also mentioned was his work with Mabel Mercer, the regal African-American (Father)/ British (Mother), the Grande Dame of Cabaret. I remember seeing clips of the two of them together as a child (late 1960's/early 70's) and wondering what planet these black people were from! LOL But they were riviting with 'presence' and 'style', speaking somehow of a world of cocktails and dressing for dinner, like they'd stepped out of a film from the golden age of Hollywood.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11122973.post-1111601479049730462005-03-23T10:11:00.000-08:002005-03-23T10:11:00.000-08:00Bernie, very true. But you know, in fact he was i...Bernie, very true. But you know, in fact he was <B>internationally</B> famous. The more I read about him, the more I realize how totally the media shaped--and warped--his image, though at this point in life this is hardly surprising.John Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08073378940347627766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11122973.post-1111593243204266852005-03-23T07:54:00.000-08:002005-03-23T07:54:00.000-08:00I too always had a strange fascination with Bobby ...I too always had a strange fascination with Bobby Short. Who was he? Why was <I>he</I> famous with that frog-like voice? His obituaries have opened my eyes to a background I didn't know anything about, and thus to quote someone else, he did the very best with what he was given. There is no shame in being a cabaret singer known primarily to local audiences.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com