April '10 Entertainment—Little Anthony's This and That Column

My Return To West Point—The Academy And Beyond

T
Ike Hall Theatre

he concert at West Point on March 26th—absolutely incredible—that is all I will say—absolutely incredible. Let me digress for a moment—when I was a kid my mom and my aunts used to take the summer cruises up the Hudson River—the Circle Line. The boat would stream up the Hudson heading for Bear Mountain and West Point. It was so beautiful or should I say, breath-taking—take it from a kid from Ft. Greene/Brooklyn.

I admit it—I am an avid American armed forces historian. I can tell you all sorts of things and battles—from the Revolutionary War to World War II. So, being at West Point was a “homecoming” in some ways and it brought back memories.

The Imperials and I were performing at the Ike Hall Theatre—really Eisenhower Hall. You know, it becomes “Ike Hall” for short. Right on base at West Point and let me tell you, we had to go through more security checks. It’s impressive man. They do it right.

Charlie Thomas and The Drifters were also on the bill and there were over 2,200 people attending. It too was impressive. The theater is a classic vintage era venue and some of the great performers of our industry have headlined there like Pavarotti, Tony Bennett, Bon Jovi, Jerry Lee Lewis, Kenny Rogers and the late-great Bob Hope to name a few. I love theaters with history and tradition behind them and “Ike Hall” is one of them.

It was a Friday night and the economy of the Hudson Valley is still bouncing back. People are looking for a night out where it is reasonable. I think the show we did with Charlie and company was a success in tough times. I’d like to thank that audience.

One disappointing aspect of my return to West Point was missing the Museum. I did not have time to visit the Museum At West Point. All of the legendary generals are chronicled there. I was hoping to get there before their late afternoon closing, but it just was not to be. It is a distinctive museum and

being a history buff, always on my radar.

I have a lot of respect and admiration for many of the generals featured at the Museum. From Generals Grant and Lee to Eisenhower to Patton—let’s not forget Gen. McArthur or Sherman or Custer. I’m gonna return to West Point and this time make sure there is time on my schedule first and foremost for one of America’s best museums.

To the Administrator at the Museum, Jean and her staff, I’ll be seeing you hopefully in the months to come. Thank you for the kind invitation and sorry I had to take a rain-check this go-round. Our travel was late, but like McArthur said, “I will return.”

That next morning, after the West Point show, we had very little sleep. We were on a plane by 11 a.m. heading to Cleveland, but boy, do I love Cleveland.

Cleveland’s Moondog Coronation Ball 2010

LeBron James

We were dragging a bit as we flew into Cleveland for the classic Moondog Coronation Ball. It’s a fairly quick flight so once you get settled, you’re there. We were tired. It struck all of us as we checked into our hotel. We’re going to help close out the show—17,000 people—the Quicken Loans Arena—home of LeBron James. Don’t tell me you don’t know who LeBron is? You would have to be from another planet not to know who he is. Would anyone argue that LeBron is the best player in the NBA?

We were invited by The Cavilers last year—the day after our induction into the Rock HOF. I watched LeBron and man, he is natural basketball player. It comes easy to him and man he could give Michael Jordan a tough one-on-one game back-in-the-day.

So we’re heading for the Quicken Loans Arena and we’re tired and excited all rolled into one. Two shows back-to-back and states apart can get you. I’m looking out from the wing of the stage, there are thousands of people out there. It looked like Madison Square Garden when we did the 25th Anniversary—The Rock HOF concert last October. Wow.

The arena was packed and I’m kinda thinkin’—we packed the place. I don’t want to take anything away from everyone else on the show—that is not my intent. It’s a fun thing and you keep it to yourself. It puts a smile on your face even though you know the thousands out there in the audience are “a collective effort” of talent—some more equal than others.

The Moondog show was a blast and I loved how LA&TIs got to share a stage with groups like Grand Funk Railroad, Paul Revere And The Raiders and The Turtles. The production on the show was flawless and they could not do enough for us. I have to commend Clear Channel for continuing the Moondog and making my job, as the singer, the pleasure I know it to be.

The production crew behind-the-scenes at the Moondog Coronation Ball were real pros man. I cannot speak more highly about how I just loved singing that night. The standing ovations we received also put a smile on our faces. We were good and starting off with “Heard It Through The Grapevine” we set off the audience in a frenzy.

Tom, your production crew made the Moondog even more memorable for me. It was one of those great shows you long remember. With our new Ultimate Ears, our singing is more amazing than ever. Combined with your pro production and Cleveland, our third home away from home, we could not miss. We rocked the place and it was fun.

Thanks for getting the equipment we needed. I know it was last minute. The Imperials and I wanted you to know how much we appreciated all your hard work. And they ask me why do I love Cleveland so much and I tell them “the people there are some of the best.”.

Oh Canada—Oh Canada

The Imperials and I are heading out of the country—well Canada. Of course, it is another country, but some people here in the States think differently. There are a number of concerts, mostly all casino dates, across the entire country. The routing of this mini-tour is OK and a lot better than some of the awful booking agents we’ve had. Oddly enough, we have a concert in Naples, FL—the Philharmonic Center For The Arts—Friday, April 8th—this is another great gig.

Once again, I love singing at venues like the Philharmonic Center, because you know that everyone on the show is a real professional. We’ve performed at shows—some open air—and the monitors are off/broken and the acoustics—well, it is what it is. I don’t expect perfect, but when you are a singing group, there is nothing to hide behind if you mess up.

Then we fly straight up the East Coast to Niagara Falls—the Canadian side—two nights the weekend of April 9–10—at the Fallsview Casino Resort. This show is the start of the 9-day Canadian mini-tour. Now, in case you are unfamiliar with the Fallsview Casino Resort—it is one of the most beautiful resorts you’ll ever set your eyes on.

I’ll bet you are saying how lucky we are and you’d be right. This is a cool gig and once again, it will be amazingly professional, staged and presented. We haven’t been there is about a year or more—I’ll send you a post card. This is a quality gig no question.

We proceed to Moose Jaw for a concert at the Mae Wilson Theatre on April 13th—I always think of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in “Road To Utopia” when I hear Moose Jaw. They were very funny—all the “Road” pictures.

We then do a concert at the Casino Regina on Thursday, April 15th and onto British Columbia for a concert at Boulevard Casino on the 16th The Imperials and I know how fortunate we are—thank you Canada. I can tell you love us Canada—thank you. It means a lot to us.

Now, for all of our Canadian fans, note my last name is “Gourdine.” That’s right I have Canadian blood in me—you figure. I like kinship—don’t you? Leave the light on Canada—we’ll be “home” soon. Sorry—I could not help borrow from the Motel 8 commercial.

I understand that I will be doing two interviews with the Regina Leader Post and the Moose Jaw Times. I love to do interviews and I meet the most interesting people. Remind me to tell you about Rick Lander and his interview for guitarinternational.com—that will have to be my next column.

There’s No Place Like Home—Las Vegas

Dorothy was right though—there is no place like home. We’re heading home to Vegas, but this time we are headlining the Las Vegas Hilton on Friday, April 30th. Believe it or not, we have never headlined that room and it is

“a dream come true”—like I said in a previous column. I mean it. A dream come true.

We’re gonna have strings and there will be LA&TIs billboards all over town. Coming home will be a “coming home” like no other. This is a perfect example of how our career has changed and blessed in the last year or two.

We took chances, made a bad choice or two, ended the “doo wop cast of thousands concerts” and went on TV performing with Paul Simon and Paul Schafer (HBO 25th Anniversary of the Rock HOF concert and David Letterman). Our induction into the 2009 Rock HOF added the accolade we have always chased, recognition by our peers. We’re on a roll. Catch us while you can—I’m tellin’ ya.

The results speak for themselves: our audiences have grown remarkably, The Imperials and I do preferred full 90-minute performances and we are in demand (again). I’m glad we did what we did. There were some lean months, but the rest of 2010–2011 is a world apart from say even 4–5 years ago. If that ain’t a blessing, I don’t know what is.

The return to Vegas will be a joyous one. The Canadian min-tour will be fun, a week-and-half long and road-weary successful. We’ll be rehearsed, primed and rested as we headline the Las Vegas Hilton.

For me, The Imperials and the thousand plus seated in the audience that Friday night will be a keeper. It will be a home-town Little Anthony & The Imperials benchmark concert. I can tell already. I wish we could film some of it. Maybe I should look into that.

Welcome to Las Vegas