Cream Of The Crop
As I sit here this morning high up on the 38th floor, I look out my window at New York City, 5:30 AM, just barely coming awake – the city that never sleeps. From my perch here high up over the city I have a spectacular view all the way south from 42nd street to the Statue of Liberty and beyond New York Harbor to Staten Island. If you’re gonna live in NYC, live above it all if at all possible.
I’ve been fortunate. I’ve watched the city grow and change from this perch for over 25 years. I love NY. It’s been a lifetime sittin’ on top of the world watchin’ 10 million people go by, but I’d leave now if I could. 40 years of concrete and glass can wear you out on certain levels and sometimes the Missus and I just want to take a walk in the woods.
But I can’t leave this wondrous city – at least not yet. Most of it I’ve seen now and certainly experienced, but there’s one thing that still keeps me here.
The talent.
There is no group of singers and musicians anywhere in the world quite like this one and I am most fortunate to be able to work with the cream of the crop.
My last few days have been just that. I just finished building a choir with 6 of the world’s finest – the NY studio singer. These are people you’ve probably never heard of but often heard. They are the people who back up the stars, sing on the commercials, and fill the albums you listen to with their rich and wonderful voices.
The list of their personal accomplishments runs like a Who’s Who in world-class entertainment. Here’s just a smidgen of the people they have supported in their rich and varied careers.
Angela Clemmons – She has sung with such stars as Celine Dion, Cyndi Lauper, Donald Fagan (of Steely Dan), Jewel, Vanessa Williams and George Benson. She also performed in the Elton John/Tim Rice Broadway musical Aida.
Margaret Dorn – She has sung with many artists, including Celine Dion, Bette Midler, Jennifer Lopez, Carly Simon, Lionel Ritchie, Donald Fagen, Michael Bolton, Boz Scaggs, Willie Nelson, Barry Manilow, Jessica Simpson, Michael McDonald, Garth Brooks, The Chieftans, and Diana Ross. She is the leader of The Accidentals. With their original songs and distinctive arrangements, this 8 voice a cappella group won many awards, including MAC Awards and Back Stage Bistro Awards, all awards for Best Vocal Group, and were the 1995 National Champions of the Harmony Sweepstakes.
Kevin Osborne – Kevin is a virtuoso trombonist as well as a backup vocalist with an impressive group of recording artists including David Bowie, Bobby McFerrin, Carly Simon, Aretha Franklin, Bon Jovi, 10,000 Maniacs, and reunion tours of the classic rockers The Rascals & The Monkees. Kevin also was an original cast member in the on-stage band of the Tony Award winning musical Movin’ Out – music by Billy Joel.
Vaneese Thomas has worked with an array of internationally known performers including Luciano Pavarotti, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson, Chaka Kahn, Joe Cocker, Celine Dion, Annie Lennox, Patti LaBelle and many others. In 1987 Geffen Records released Vaneese, which included the Top Ten R&B hit, “Let’s Talk it Over.”
John James has performed and recorded with some of the music industry’s greats such as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Ashford & Simpson, Dr. Maya Angelou, Bette Midler and Patti LaBelle. For six years, John toured and recorded with five-time Grammy Award winning band “TOTO”. John was hired by Maurice White and Maurice Hines to cover the lead vocal parts for both Maurice White and Philip Bailey in the “Earth, Wind and Fire” Broadway Musical “Hot Feet”. Other artists John has worked with include Michael McDonald, Olivia Newton-John, Lionel Richie, Melissa Etheridge, BeBe Winans, David Byrne, Yolanda Adams, Boz Scaggs, and Phoebe Snow.
Darryl Tookes – He began his career working with Roberta Flack on a world tour that included performances on three continents, and a concert at Carnegie Hall in New York, where he received a standing ovation for his duet with Ms. Flack.
Since that time Mr. Tookes has continued to work with some of the most notable entertainers in the world. A partial list of his credits includes the Grammy Award-winning “West Side Story” CD and Great Performance television special with Leonard Bernstein; “A Soulful Messiah” with Quincy Jones; The Radio City Music Hall performance of “Man In The Mirror” with Michael Jackson; and a multiple Grammy winning recording – “Brand New Day” – and tour with Sting.
They, of course, all have their own solo careers as well.
This last weekend I got them all in one room together and we churned out some music that promises to knock your sox off.
More on this amazing session in my next post.
For more inspiring music you can download
and information about Peter Link, please visit Watchfire Music.
That was a useful article,I just now subscribed to your feed.
Hi there Peter and Julia, Trust you are both fine, even if you can’t get to the woods for a walk just yet! Peter I enjoyed reading about all those talented people, really interesting, and wow, what a lot of well known names among them, with whom they have performed. You have had really freezing weather, whilst we, on the other hand , are cooking in very hot, steamy days, but no doubt in your 38th floor studio or office you have excellent heating arrangements to keep you snug.
Best wishes and thanks for all the interesting items you write about,
Rosemary, in sunny Cape Town,