Michael Sterling on Cabaret
Every evening when my mother, Rosalie, laid me down to sleep, she sang Brahms’ Lullaby. However, after several weeks of the nightly ritual, she decided to take a break and (instead) put on a 45-rpm recording of her favorite singer, Rosemary Clooney. The “A” side of that record was Ms. Clooney’s hit On the Street Where You Live from the Broadway musical, My Fair Lady. The “B” side just happened to be Brahms' Lullaby. (Gee, how lucky can a guy get? Not only was I introduced to the girl singer of my dreams, but to this day, never slept better). In the weeks that followed, my mother’s attempts to go back to singing me to sleep proved useless because I simply wouldn’t have it. Thus, her only other option was to teach this young music-man-in-the-making how to turn on the tiny, two-toned, faux-vinyl coated record player on the nightstand next to his bed, put the needle down on Ms. Clooney’s record, and listen to it as many times as he wanted until he fell asleep. In that same year (1956), Rosemary Clooney had her own, very popular weekly variety television series. My family would, of course, watch the show and I would sit frozen--inches away from the screen--just to hear that glorious, velvet, golden voice. Many years later, in the late ‘60s, I was on my way to Santa Monica beach with a friend, Bernadette Withers, a popular TV and film actress. As we were driving along Sunset Boulevard west to Santa Monica, Bernadette decided we should make an unsolicited stop in Beverly Hills to ask a friend of hers (Gail Stone) to join us. As we arrived at 1019 Roxbury Drive (just down the street from Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, and next door to Ira Gershwin), we pulled up the long driveway to the back of the house and knocked on the kitchen door. As the door opened, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Was it possible that the person answering the door was the girl singer of my dreams some 15 years before? There were hugs and kisses for Bernadette and, after a moment, I was warmly embraced by Gail Stone’s older, half sister…Rosemary Clooney! I’ll never forget that day, as it was the beginning of a deeply personal friendship with Rosemary that lasted until her passing in 2002. She taught me about every form of music, and its incomparable composers. She also gave me my first job in the music business as her road manager. It was the experience of a lifetime to tour the country with Rosemary and play so many of the great supper-clubs that existed then. As a result, I knew that one day I not only would--but absolutely had to--produce my own supper club. Rosemary always encouraged me to pursue that dream. So, in 2004, after recognizing that supper clubs, cabaret and sophisticated nightclubs in Los Angeles had and were becoming just a memory, it was my cue to take action and bring back the art form. I searched for two years until I was introduced to the owners of Vitello’s by my client Joan Ryan, one of musical theatre’s great singers and my ‘artist-in-residence’. Within seven weeks, STERLING’S UPSTAIRS opened its doors and it was with great pride that I dedicated the opening of the club to actually three of my favorite girl singers: My precious mother, Rosalie, whose voice still sings softly in my ear; the one and only Joan Ryan; and my dear Rosemary Clooney who will always be an angel on my shoulder and the rhythm of my heart and soul. ABOUT MICHAEL STERLING: Since the beginning of his career, Sterling has represented such stellar clients as Elizabeth Taylor, Lance Armstrong, Scott Hamilton, Dorothy Hamill, David Copperfield, Joan Collins, Alan Thicke, David Brenner, Ann-Margret, Elliot Gould, the Carpenters, George Harrison, the Bee Gees, Andy Gibb, the Fifth Dimension, “Mama” Cass Elliot, Robert Goulet, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor, Rip Taylor, Lola Falana, director Joe Layton and many others. Aside from his celebrity clientčle, Mr. Sterling has represented various national theatre and arena tours, Los Angeles theatre productions, Emmy Award-winning television specials, celebrity books, albums and motion pictures such as the recent 2007 mega blockbuster hit comedy Blades of Glory starring Will Ferrell and Jon Heder. Mr. Sterling is also a critically-acclaimed director of musical theatre in Los Angeles, and has produced various theatrical events and productions throughout southern California. About Sterling's Upstairs Sterling’s Upstairs at Vitello’s is produced by Michael Sterling of Michael Sterling & Associates, the Sherman Oaks-based entertainment public relations company founded in 1980. It is the only supper club of its kind in the San Fernando Valley and one of two in the greater Los Angeles area dedicated to presenting the best of Broadway performers and Nightclub artists on a weekly basis. Upon the club’s June 9, 2006 opening, the news of Sterling’s Upstairs at Vitello’s broke nationwide and throughout Canada with, perhaps, the Los Angeles Times putting it most succinctly, “Sterling’s Upstairs is L.A.’s cabaret destination.” Since the opening, Sterling has presented an impressive roster of stars who have made the quietly elegant New York style venue of yesteryear a resounding success. Headliners have included Eydie Alyson, Erika Amato, Kathy Buckley, Amick Byram, Julie Dixon Jackson, Joan Ryan, Kelby Thwaits, Robert Townsend, Bernadette C. Peters, Paul Stroili, James Denton, Nelson Kole, Russ Lorenson, Toni Morrell, Sierra Rein & Matt DeMars, Renee Laramore, Stepfanie Kramer, Maripat Davis & Richard Osborn, Nita Whitaker, Kevin Earley, Amanda Abel, Ilene Graff, Maura Knowles, Emily Allerton, Sylvia Brooks, Merissa Haddad, Three of a Kind (Gelo Francisco, Annie Nepomuceno and Bonifacio Deoso), Jeanne Page, Tricia Ridgway and Allison Jones, Four Friends (Wayne Moore, Brenda Silas Moore, Bryan Miller and Gilmore Rizzo), Stewart Rose, Mary Gutzi, Scott Dreier, Kyle Puccia & Friends: Ana Ortiz, Jeff Marx, Alistair Tober and Elysa Gomez, and this month the radiant Broadway, film and television star Rachel York (Sept. 9 and 15). Upcoming 2007 headliners include the one and only big band singer Tiba! (Oct. 7); Broadway star Tam (Bernier) Evans from Mamma Mia (Oct. 14); American treasures Sandy Zacky & Mike Clifford (Oct. 20); the beguiling Tricia Kelly of Beehive (Oct. 27); Broadway Star, Tony Award nominee and OBIE Award winner Beverly Bremers (Nov. 3); Three of a Kind (returning Nov. 4 for their fifth, unprecedented engagement since April 7, 2007); veteran Nightclub Star Jeanie Brandes (Oct. 10); Musical Theatre Star, the enchanting Amanda Abel who returns once again (Nov. 11); the smooth vocals of Recording Artist and Musical Theatre Star Steve Kirwan (Nov. 17); the hugely gifted musical theatre star Lisa Fishman (Nov. 18); the gorgeous lyric soprano and Musical Theatre Star Asunta Fleming (Dec. 9); and others on the books--plus the second exciting year of L.A.’S NEXT GREAT STAGE STAR (Nov. and Dec.) which was an overwhelming, seven night sold-out success last year. "I must also acknowledge that none of this would have been possible without Vitello’s owners and my partners Matt Epstein and his wife Jane for allowing me this opportunity and welcoming me with open arms; the extraordinary General Managers Trace Barnes and Craig Warner and the unbelievable staff of Vitello’s for their consistent courtesy and cooperation; the beautiful mind and steadfast support of my Associate Talent Producer Tony Monsour; my co-Associate Talent Producer John Peters and his gifted wife Jan and their amazingly talented daughters Therese and Bernadette; my brilliant colleagues Les Spindle, Lynne Heffley, James Sims, Julio Martinez, Evan Henerson, Don Grigware, Dale Olson, Marci Marks, Dana Miller, Leeza Gibbons, David Galligan, Ronn Goswick, Bruce Kimmel, Ron Abel, Les Michaels, Peisha McPhee, Bob Garrett, Michael Donovan, Brad Gilmore, Steven Dry, Victoria Morris, Craig Holzberg, Lee Melville, Les Traub, Les Michaels, Steven Applegate, Michael Orland, and Jeffrey Urband (to mention but a few) for always returning my phone calls and answering my endless emails.” An Invitation It is my greatest hope that I will see all of you at Sterling’s Upstairs at Vitello’s many times in the future, either as a guest or as a headliner. As the Los Angeles Daily News said on May 13, 2006, "If life is indeed a cabaret, then Michael Sterling is about to start living." Trust me, I’ve only just begun. In Closing I take great pride in bringing cabaret back to the cultural landscape of Los Angeles…and following in the famous footsteps of Tom Rolla; J.D. Kessler; and my friend--the always extraordinary--Michael Feinstein. I am also particularly proud to be a member of Cabaret West and deeply honored to be "spotlighted" in the month of my own birth. As the saying goes, "Everything old is new again." For additional information on STERLING’S UPSTAIRS and upcoming artists, please visit www.myspace.com/sterlingsupstairs
