Too

Ce„

24gAl.0010

Leslye Sklar D'Ascenzo

Wendy Rogelle, who sings with Nouveaute
(Modern) and defines her age somewhere between
Brittany Spears' and Cher's, started out as a back-
ground singer in a touring R & B band and moved on
to the stability of party entertainment.
"I like that Jewish weddings incorporate dancing
right away," says Rogelle, who has learned some
Jewish songs filling in with People's Choice and
Colours. "I also like that Jewish weddings usually are Rick May
held in one building and the band starts playing as
soon as the doors open to the party.
"I try to personalize the music for every wedding,
but I've found that 'Brown-Eyed Girl' is a surefire
hit that gets people dancing. I have a repertoire of
1,000 songs, and that includes the horas."
When couples want authentic Jewish songs, they
can turn to Avy Shreiber, a singer and pianist who also
works with bands, or the Schmaltz Klezmer Ensemble,
Stella Actis Aldo
a quartet that features Rick May on vocals.
"I like to do the fun, energetic songs," says
Schreiber, 37, who has been in a capella groups,
Beat'achon and the Clefhangers, and performed his
own song, "Hinach Yafa" ("Behold You Are Beautiful")
for his bride at their wedding.
"The most popular Jewish wedding dance songs
I do are 'Od Yishama,"Ketsad Merakdin,"Yiddin,'
`Ma'aminim' and `Uvaiu Ha'ovdim,' but I also do secu-
lar songs as well."
Wendy Rogelle
May, 60ish, is a retired special education teacher
who also plays trumpet and trombone.
"Weddings are so special that we want to do songs that are meaningful
and well-constructed," May says. "We frequently do 'Ich Hob Dikh Tsufil
Lieb' (`I Love You Much Too Much') and the Benny Goodman hit 'Bei Mir
Bist Du Schon."
Stella Actis Aldo, a graduate of the University of Michigan School of
Music and leader of the band Intrigue, performs at about 25 Jewish wed-
dings a year. When she started Intrigue in 1983, Jewish weddings were
part of the mix.
"Jewish weddings are always very festive," she says. "We love to do the
medley of horas as well as the secular songs."
One wedding at Temple Beth El brought a truly diverse experience to
Intrigue and a trip as well.
"An engaged couple from out of town was attending the Michigan wed-
ding and getting ready for their own party in Jackson Hole, Wyoming," Aldo,
46, recalls. "They booked us and asked that I sing a song from Italian
opera - '0 Mio Babbino Caro' CO My Dearest Father') to honor the father
of the bride.The whole room found the moment breathtaking."

Arropkdabl

"Rtofessiov‘al

Avxy Whei/ke) Any Time

LApscale

Dowvlscale

Avxy Whi/ke) Avxy

111

Pvivai-

Covkpovtate

Arxy Whevte, Any Time

tits at 248.737.5010

avid discover ► that we aye;

So Mutch Movte Than A

"Temple" Catevtet"

exceilevAceToo Catevkivl s

1223880

celebrate: 2007

13