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SPOSITA'S

Fine Italian Dining in a
Casual Atmosphere

Wishing Our
Customers &
Friends A
Happy Hanukah!

RISTORANTE

Tuesday thro Thursday:

11 am - lOpm

Friday:

11 am - 11pm

Saturday:

4 pm - 11 pm

Sunday:

4 atn- 9pm

332'10 W. 14 ile Ro S
In Simsbury Plaza
PBS IINS
Just East of Farmington Road RISTORANTE
West Bloomfield

(enlarged former Envoy Cafe location)

(248) 538-8954

country hits, as well
as a few new tunes
penned in collabo-
ration with a who's
who of Nashville
songwriters.
Listening to her
powerful, wide-
ranging voice, it's
puzzling why she
couldn't crack the
country charts as a
recording artist (she
released two records
on the Warner
Brothers label in
1995 and 1997).
She finally scored a
hit in Europe this
year with a single
from Memories.
Called "Cryin'
Time," it's a fine
example of Shaw's
ability to set a scene
and capture a mood
Victoria Shaw: One of the hottest songwriters in Nashville
in just a few words.
records her own tunes.
"I put the saddest
song on my stereo,
turned all the lights
Old Friends, New Memories by
in the house down really low, poured
myself a glass of wine. Oh yeah, this is
Victoria Shaw (Taffeta Records).
First, let's get your questions out of
cryin' time. Took the phone off the
the way. Yes, she's Jewish. No, she did-
hook, built a fire. Burned your letters
one by one, and watched the flames
n't change her name.
Shaw can trace her family name back
get higher.
to her paternal great-grandfather in
The most playful tune on the record,
England. Her mother, Carol Bergenthal,
"Waikiki Cowboy," written with ace
recorded for Capitol Records as Carol
Nashville tunesmith Gary Burr, show-
Bennett. Her father Ray, an actor,
cases Shaw's sense of humor. The gal-
played Sky Masterson in the first tour-
loping, euphoric chorus goes like this:
"Yippee-I-0, Don Ho, mahi mahi. It's
ing production of Guys and Dolls.
Shaw is one of the hottest songwrit-
a ty yii tiki, and some barbecued poi.
ers in Nashville. After years of trying
I'm riding the range in the waves of
Hawaii. I'm a Waikiki cowboy."
to make it as a singer, she signed a
publishing deal in the late '80s. By the
It's almost unbelievable coming
from a nice Jewish girl from New York
early '90s, country's biggest acts were
scoring polished country-pop hits with
who, along with her husband and
daughter, frequently dines (not on
her songs
The New York-born, California-bred
poi) with the rabbi of their Music City
Shaw isn't quite sure why her first songs
synagogue.
sounded country. She half-jokingly
In 1998, in an act of tzedakah, Shaw
took time our to write and produce a
credits watching Hee Haw and The
song to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis
Barbara Mandrell Show on TV as a kid.
Whatever it was, Shaw has the dis-
Foundation, then rounded up an all-
tinction of having her first three
star cast to sing it.
recorded songs reach No. 1 on the
"One Heart at a Time," featuring
country charts. Garth Brooks took
Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Olivia
"The River" to the top; Doug Stone
Newton-John, Michael McDonald
did the same with Shaw's "Too Busy
and Neal McCoy, among others, has
Being in Love," and John Michael
sold more than 250,000 copies since
Montgomery scored with "I Love the
its release.
Her albums, and the "One Heart"
Way You Love Me." Brooks had a sec-
ond No. 1 hit with Shaw's "She's
benefit single, are available through
Every Woman."
Shaw's Web site at
Old Friend, New Memories features
www.victoriashaw.net , or by calling
Shaw's versions of these and other
615-673-7800. LJ

"

.

Uno'8 Chicago bar 0 Gilt-
1 /2 OFF

r

Any Menu Item

when a 2nd menu item of equal or greater value is purchased

L..

12/15
2000

80

Not good with cn't other otter Expires December 31. KO
Valid Anytime • Dine in 0- ly

6745 ORCHARD LAKE RD.

Across from Americana West

(248) 737-7242

yet