* Macomb Center *
for the Performing Arts
Ai I
he began pursuing his music
more earnestly after the school
band director recommended him
as a local musician-for-hire for a
Barry White concert.
"Everybody loved what I did,"
G remembers, "and after that
weekend, I had the confidence
that if I could impress people in
Barry White's entourage, I must
be pretty good."
Nevertheless, he did get his
accounting degree from the Uni-
versity of Washington, graduat-
ing Phi Beta Kappa and magna
cum laude. But rather than pur-
sue that — or join his father's
plumbing wholesale business —
G chose music. He started with
the Jeff Lorber Fusion and
wound up impressing executives
at Lorber's label, Arista, who of-
fered the saxophonist his own
deal.
G's career exploded in 1987,
when his Songbird flew into the
Top 5. Since then he's stayed at
a lofty level, winning readers
polls in Playboy and Rolling
Stone magazine, being tagged
the No. 1 jazz artist of the '80s by
Billboard. He's made some fa-
mous friends along the way, too,
recording hits with Michael
Bolton, Peabo Bryson, Smokey
Robinson and Toni Braxton
(who's opening for G's Detroit
concert).
Then there's a sax-playing
buddy who happens to spend his
days in the White House.
'Tye had the opportunity to sit
in a room with him for 15 or 20
minutes as we put our horns to-
gether," says G, who jammed
with President Clinton during
the 1992 campaign and is slated
to play at this year's inaugura-
tion.
"I took advantage of the op-
portunity to get to know him a
little, catch the vibe. At first ... it
didn't occur to me how important
a person this was who was my
fan."
But G's favorite place to play
music is actually back home in
Seattle, where he lives with his
wife, Lyndie, and their 3-year-
old son, Max.
"Out of all the things I do mu-
sically, when I get to sit at home
in my practice room for a couple
of hours, that brings me the most
pleasure," says G, an avid golfer
(eight handicap) and pilot who
bought himself a seaplane for his
last birthday. "It's that moment
that I get to play by myself, and
that makes me feel fantastic." ❑
St Kenny G and Toni Brax-
ton perform 8 p.m. tonight at
the Palace, Lqpeer Road at I-
75, Auburn Hills. Tickets are
$40 and $27.50. Call (810)
377-0100.
perfect
gift...
* e" ft git
SLEEPING BEAUTY ON ICE
A
subscription
to
FAMILY SPECIAL BUY 4 TICKETS FOR $50*
(Prior Sales Excluded)
THE
JEWISH
NEWS
1-810-354-6620
8 P.M., THURSDAY, JANUARY 30 & 8 P.M., FRIDAY, JANUARY 31
Adult $29 • Student/Sr. Cit. $26 • Golden Circle $33
GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
1p
For more information
on the
MACOMB CENTER
1996-97 season
and
to
order
tickets,
.= 5
" For The Performing Arts
Hall (M-59) at Garfield Road
call the
-
One mile east
Macomb Center Box Office.
of Lakeside Mall
A
community
service program of Macomb Community College.
(810) 286-2222
HUDSON'S, HARMONY HOUSE
& BLOCKBUSTER MUSIC
Call-For-fix (810) 645-6666
OAKLAND
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
ENTERTAINMENT SERIES
JANUARY 24
RON CODEN &
JOSH WHITE, JR.
Royal Oak Campus
Lila Jones-Johnson Theatre
8 p.m.
Memorable Music of the
60s, 70s and 80s
FEBRUARY 7
TODAY'S BRASS QUINTET
Highland Lakes Campus
Student Center Arena
8 p.m.
One of Michigan's
finest ensembles
FEBRUARY 7
MICHIGAN OPERA
THEATRE
Orchard Ridge Campus
Smith Theatre
8 p.m.
Presenting an evening of
Broadway music with local
high school students
FOR INFORMATION CALL
(810) 360-3041
Highland Lakes
(810) 544-4903
Royal Oak
1
1 Congregation
Beth Shalom
presents
Cabaret Night
Saturday January 25, 1997
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Place: Congregation Beth Achim
21100 W. 12 Mile near Lahser
Southfield, Michigan 48076 irr
Price: 12.50 per person,
$14 at the door
Featuring Nancy Gurwin and Company
in a musical production of
FOREVER IBILICAIDWCY
The show will be narrated by Edgar A. Guest III and will take you back to some of the great old and new Broadway hits -
excerpts and melodies from "Funny Girl", "Gypsy", "Guys and Dolls", "Fiddler on the Roof", "Les Miserables", "Phantom",
r--
C,
C)
"South Pacific", "Carousel", "My Fair Lady", and more. Join us for this talented group of entertainers.
N-
in our
Classified
Section
•CZ
87