Music Man Blog: Rich Bono

Showing posts with label Rich Bono. Show all posts

Monday, March 2, 2015

Rich Bono and Poupee Boccaccio, A Desert Treasure

Rich Bono and Poupee Boccaccio have been hosting their highly successful "Open Mic" show on Wednesday nights at the Indian Wells Resort Hotel for the past several years. But don't mis-understand what "Open Mic" means. Rich and Poupee start their show with their own performances for the first hour. This dynamic duo is loaded with major league talent and show business experience. Rich Bono singing and playing the Keyboard is about as good as you will hear from any major professional singer. Poupee, also has had a remarkable career as an actress, singer and dancer. She has a bachelor of art degree in romance languages from the University of San Diego and sings songs in several languages. She also has a BFA degree from the Otis-Parsons School of Design. An added treat is when the two team up to perform several duets. After the first hour, what happens next is nothing like the Karaoke that you might find in entertainment places in the Valley. With Poupee acting as the Mistress of Ceremonies and Producer of the Show, she brings up some of the most talented musicians in the country and they perform two songs with Rich providing support at the Keyboard. Poupee keeps total control on the flow of the show and as a result, the performances by the talented musicians flow in a most professional and entertaining way. Poupee has a great dry sense of humor and uses it to make sure the evening moves in the direction she wants without any drama for herself or the performers who genuinely love her and Rich.

Rich Bono is one of the most sought after pianist by all of the best singers in the Valley because he has the ability to provide wonderful support and yet never over-powers or over-shadows the singers. Rich has one of the best musical resumes' any performer could wish for. He toured with the Harry James Orchestra for years. He attended North Texas State studying Piano, Theory and Arranging, all skills that he has practiced successfully for years. He played at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas for 15 years, the Desert Inn Hotel for 7 years and the Mirage and Treasure Island Hotels.
Rich had been an accompanist for many major musical stars including Jack Jones, Tony Bennett, Frankie Laine, Linda Darnell, Mary Kaye, Jane Morgan, Don Cherry, Pat Boone and Bobby Milano.

Poupee Boccaccio has had a long and successful career in both Television and Hollywood Movies. When you visit the Indian Wells Resort Hotel on Wednesday, the Hotel plays short cuts from the many movies and TV shows Poupee stared in such as "The Venetian Affair" with Robert Vaughn, "Pocket Money" with Lee Marvin and Paul Newman, "Last Movie" with Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda and "April Fools" with Jack Lemmon. She also appeared on the TV shows "Columbo", "I Spy", "Wild, Wild, West", and she was a guest on "The Johnny Carson Show" twice. And, if these credits aren't enough, Poupee was the star of the Follies Bergere at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas.

Whenever you want a fun night of entertainment provided by some of the best musicians around, go to the Indian Wells Resort Hotel any Wednesday night and catch the Rich and Poupee "Open Mic" night.

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Michael Dees Joins the Great Singers in the California Desert

Michael Dees, Allen Goodman, Larry Holloway and Barney McClure

Larry Holloway and Michael Dees

Michael Dees and Barney McClure

Allen Goodman and Larry Holloway

Allen Goodman, Larry Holloway and Rich Bono

Ken Steele

Jeanie Monroe

Several of my musician friends recommended I should go to Vicky's on Tuesday night to hear Michael Dees. Michael moved to Palm Springs from LA about 6 months ago and now performs every Tuesday night at Vicky's. Michael has an impressive resume and has sung songs for movies like "A walk in the Rain", "Day of the Locust", "The Happy Ending", and "Sabrina". His vocals were also featured on two episodes of "The Simpsons". Michael is a marvelous singer especially on great American ballads. More than this, Michael has written music and lyrics for some simply wonderful songs. He also has a crowd-pleasing personality and a professional stage prescence.

Michael's show consists of some of the best tunes from the "Great American Songbook" and songs he has written with lyrics and music you will love instantly. He has a great voice and even better sense of delivery. Michael will be a welcome addition to our Desert musical community. Make plans now to get over to Vicky's on Tuesday to hear Michael perform.

Supporting Michael tonight were Barney McClure on Keyboard, Larry Holloway on Bass and Allen Goodman on Drums. Barney McClure is a sensational Keyboard player who could be every singers' dream accompanist! I could listen to Barney play for days. Some of his improvisations reminded me of one of my all-time favorites, Dave Brubeck.

Larry Holloway continues to impress everyone with his beautifully-constructed solos. He is a perfect fit with the Drummer and leader of the group, Allen Goodman. Some of you might be familiar with Allen who leads the big band performing on Sundays at Vicky's for the last several years. Allen's Drum work is an excellent compliment to the group. Allen has a special talent of putting the right talent in the right place at the right time. Allen told me that he had been trying for two years to get Michael to perform in the Desert. He certainly has been proven right about putting this group together.

Rich Bono was in the audience tonight and as soon as Michael noticed him, he asked him to play a couple of songs with Larry and Allen. I think it is wonderful that Rich and other major stars here in the Valley come out to support fellow performers. They deserve more recognition and credit for all the support they give our Jazz community. Next Michael asked Jeanie Monroe to sing. Jeanie was married last year, and she is singing better than ever. No doubt being happily married is having a great effect on her performance. Also in the audience tonight was Ken Steele was asked to sing. I have to say that I have never heard Ken sing better than his performance tonight!

What a great night of music; it's what the Desert music scene is all about!

I have a treat for your ears in the attached YouTube of Michael singing "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life" which he sang for the movie "The Happy Ending". Music by Michel Legrand, lyrics by Alan & Marilyn Bergman.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Ron Kalina leads The "Harmonica Convergence Jazz Trio" on Mondays at The Indians Wells Resort Hotel

Ron Kalina

Larry Holloway, Gino Antonacci and Ron Kalina

Rich Bono & Poupee Boccaccio

Rich Bono

Carolyn Martinez

Ken Steele

Gordon Camp

My first posting of the 2014 winter season in the California Desert is a review of Ron Kalina and the "Harmonica Convergence Jazz Trio" currently performing at the Indian Wells Resort Hotel. Mondays are usually a dark night for live music, but we were given a present when Ron Kalina and his Jazz Trio were moved into the Monday spot at the Indian Wells Resort Hotel. The Indian Wells Resort Hotel continues to be a leader in presenting great live Jazz and now has live music 7 days per week.

Ron Kalina is simply a musical treasure that keeps giving to music lovers in the Valley. Ron sings and plays the keyboard, but his harmonica playing is what makes him such a special musician. I don't know if Ron is the greatest Harmonica playing performing today but he is certainly the best that I have heard. Ron has a special feel for the great ballads from the "Great American Songbook". The fact that you can hear Ron and his Trio playing every Monday night with no music or cover charge is just another reason you need to get to his show.

Joining Ron in his trio are Gino Antonacci on Vibs and Larry Holloway on Bass. These two remarkably talented musicians are both at the top of their game. How often do you get to hear a world class Vib player these days? Gino is one of the great ones and he is still performing because he just loves to play. Larry Holloway in the short space of a few years of arriving here in the Desert has firmly established himself as one of the great Desert Bass players. Larry's solos are highly intelligent and organized. When he solos, you don't just hear a series of notes. You hear carefully constructed musical ideas that really explain what Jazz is all about!

There were several special friends in the audience that Ron called up to the stage to perform tonight. First, Carolyn Martinez the talented singer who has been impressing all of us over the past couple years sang a couple of songs with the Trio. Carolyn is currently performing across the street at Vicky's every Thursday night and is a delight to hear. Next everyone's friend, Ken Steele came up to sing a couple of songs. Ken is well known to people in the Desert and his voice is lush and smooth as silk. It is seldom that you get to hear a voice as pure as Ken's in today's music scene. Rich Bono was next to come up to play the keyboard to the delight of the audience. Rich is well known to all music fans in the Valley and with good reason. Rich is extremely talented and simply a job to listen to. I have talked to dozens of singers in the Desert and when they get a chance to sing, they all pick Rich as the "Go To" pianist they want to play for them! Rich's talented partner and singer, Poupee Boccaccio also made an appearance and sang for us. Rich and Poupee hold court at the Indian Springs Resort Hotel every Wednesday as the hosts of "Open Mike" night that has become stable for everyone that enjoys great singing and instrumental performance. The last friend to join the party was Gordon Camp. Gordon is a fine Trumpet player that can handle Jazz, Pop and anything out of the "Great American Songbook". He joined in with the Trio and thrilled the audience with his supportive playing.

Don't miss the opportunity to hear Ron Kalina and his Jazz Trio playing every Monday starting at 6:00 PM.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

The Music Man's 2012 "Coachella Valley Live Music Hall of Fame"

Dreaming Of LaQuinta
Oil by Robert Nicosia

Well the winter music season is just about over and it's time to publish the 2012 "Coachella Valley Live Music Hall Of Fame." This year has been a wonderful season for live music, and I had the great pleasure to meet and hear the marvelous musicians listed below. I would like to personally thank all of these musicians for the hours of great music they provided me and all the music lovers in the Valley. I know there are other great musicians that I have probably missed and I apologize for any oversights. Please keep the music playing, and I look forward to another great season next winter!

I would like to give special recognition to two new music venues that excelled in their efforts to support live music in the Desert this past season.

The first is "The Indian Wells Resort" that brought Frank Di Salvo to us last year. This year they expanded their music program to 6 nights a week to the delight of all of us. I can't wait for next winter to return to this great hotel for more great food and music! For those readers that live in the Desert year-round, please continue to support The Indian Wells Resort so we can keep the live music playing.

The second is "Woody's Burgers & Beer" in Palm Springs. Woody's opened this past year and has booked live music 6 nights a week to sell out crowds. It used the formula of reasonably-priced good food and great music with no cover charge to become one of the hottest music spots in the Desert. Woody's will continue to have live music through the rest of the year, so anyone staying in the Desert, please continue to support this great live music gem!