Theater: Weird Al, Cyndi Lauper and More

It’s a packed week at Count Basie, with a range of music that is sure to provide something for everyone’s taste. The lineup includes quirky legend Weird Al Yankovic, The Midtown Mean, Jay Black, Ron White, and the legendary Cyndi Lauper and Dr. John.

“Weird Al” Yankovic hits the stage first this week on Tuesday, Oct. 11.  Known for his hilarious songs that poke fun at pop culture, Yankovic is the biggest selling comedy recording artist of all time.

Yankovic began his career as a self-conscious teen playing the accordion. In 1976, California comedy radio personality Dr. Demento spoke at Yankovic’s school, and sparked a dream in Yankovic.

Later that year, Yankovic gave Dr. Demento a homemade tape which featured Yankovic performing parody songs on the accordion. Dr. Demento saw something he liked in Yankovic, and played his song Belvedere Crusin’ on his comedy show, and launched his career.

Since that first premier in 1976, Yankovic has sold over 12 million albums which included more than 150 parody songs. Yankovic is also known for making clever music videos to accompany his parody songs. Throughout his career, Yankovic has won three Grammy Awards and earned 12 nominations. He has also had four gold and six platinum records.

Yankovic is best known for his classics Eat It, Like a Surgeon, Fat, Smells like Nirvana, and Amish Paradise. His 2006 album Straight Outta Lynwood, reached higher on the Billboard charts then any of his previous records. The album’s best known hit, White and Nerdy, landed in the Billboard Top Ten Singles, and the video spent two months at number one on iTunes.

On Thursday, Oct. 13, The Midtown Men—4 Stars from the Original Cast of Jersey Boys-- take the stage. This concert brings together Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Richard and J. Robert Spencer, four stars of the Broadway hit Jersey Boys. The stars will perform a unique concert honoring the music that defined the 1960’s.

The show will feature classics by such artists as The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Jackson 5, The Mamas and The Papas, and The Four Seasons. Between songs, the artists will delight the audience with true stories from behind Broadway’s curtains.

On Friday, Oct. 14, the 1960’s theme continues when Jay Black with special guest Gary Puckett and the Union Gap Band take the stage. Known as “The Voice,” Black rose to fame in the 1960’s with his band Jay and the Americans.

The band had some of the 1960’s most notorious hits with Cara Mia, Come a Little Bit Closer, Some Enchanted Evening, This Magic Moment, Walking in the Rain, and Only in America. Throughout his career, Black has scored 22 charted singles, with one third of them million sellers. Throughout the British invasion, Black almost singlehandedly represented America with his classic voice and hits.

On Saturday, Oct. 15, comedian Ron White takes the stage. Born and raised in a small Texas town, White first got his start on the Blue Collar Comedy Tour; a tour that included comedians Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy.

White is best known for smoking cigars and drinking Scotch as part of his act, and for his famous punch line, “you can’t fix stupid.”  For the last five years, White has been one of the top three grossing comedians on tour in the US. He has two Grammy nominations, over 10 million in sales of comedy albums and DVDs, a bestselling book, and three of the top rated one hour comedy specials in Comedy Central history.

On Sunday, Oct. 16, Cyndi Lauper and Dr. John stop at the Basie as part of their From Memphis to Mardi Gras tour. Cyndi Lauper is the woman that needs almost no introduction — the 80’s pop queen with the multi colored hair who rose to fame on such hits as Girls Just Want to Have Fun, She Bop, Time After Time, True Colors, and I Drove All Night. Lauper is one of the best selling artists of all times.

Lauper takes the stage with Dr. John, a man called the “living embodiment” of funky Southern music from New Orleans. The recipient of five Grammy Awards, Dr. John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame in March of this year. He is considered one of the best blues artists in recent history.

Schedule:

Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011: Weird Al Yankovic, 8 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011: The Midtown Men, 8 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 14, 2011: Jay Black, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 15: Ron White, 7 and 10 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011: Cyndi Lauper and Dr. John, 7:30 p.m.