Sherry’s Cherries – Warm and Tender

What do you call an hour with Johnny Mathis, Percy Faith, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Barbra Streisand, Steve Lawrence and more like that? I call it Paradise. Movies Broadway Singers and Beyond is happy to present Warm and Tender, some of the most beautiful songs from some of the best artists of any generation.

Johnny Mathis may have recently retired from performing but his sound and voice will never be retired. I have loved Johnny since I was ten years old. My Mother bought Chances Are on a 45rpm. I have every one of his discs. We feature three of his beautiful melodies on this show.

I also play some of my favorites from Sammy Davis. I can’t call him Junior because he was a giant of a talent (since his childhood). Look for The Shelter of Your Arms and Night Song by him. Early in Sammy’s career he played the resorts in the Catskill Mountains. My Mother said he would come off the stage and continue to perform in the lounge. He was a dynamo.

Several years ago I had an revelation. In 2009 Mark and I were watching New Years Eve with the New York Philharmonic conducted by Alan Gilbert and guest starring Thomas Hampson. I must have over 40 versions of Cole Porter’s Begin the Beguine. But there on that show, Thomas Hampson came out and sang several of Cole Porter’s songs including the one and only Begin the Beguine…I was transported. I thought I had heard them all. What a beautiful rendition of one of my favorite songs. I wrote to him (Thomas Hampson) and his assistant sent me a copy of the show on a CD. (How I wish we could buy a DVD!!!). I will treasure it always. Thomas sings it on this show.

Cole Porter was on a cruise when he created Begin the Beguine. No one knew quite what to do with it. Even the beautiful Josephine Baker could not ignite the audience to appreciate the melody. It wasn’t until Band Leader, Artie Shaw performed it with his orchestra, did the song take off. And that is why I have so many versions of it. So many people recorded it over time!!!!! Frank Sinatra and Johnny Mathis and others recorded several versions of it.
Enjoy this show. I sure enjoyed listening to the music and putting it together.

We open with Percy Faith’s Stranger in Paradise and close with Johnny Mathis’ Friendly Persuasion.

With a song in my heart, Sherry

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