Tuesday

July 27, 2010

Lincoln County's daily news and Information source

Written and/or edited by Harold Oakes. Click here to email

Today's Events

Upcoming Events

Meetings

ENTERTAINMENT news

The Turtles Starring Flo & Eddie at Spencer Theater August 7 (posted July 27, 2010)

Regional Musicians converge for performances (posted July 10, 2010)

Southwestern Arts Alliance Inc. announces the premiere presentation of their "Arts in the Neighborhood" program for the combined Mescalero Boys and Girls Clubs at the Mescalero Apache Reservation gymnasium on Thursday July 15th from 10-11 a.m. The 501 (c) (3) exists for the purpose of the non-profit advancement of cultural enrichment and public education in matters pertaining to music, visual art, theater and dance. Members are passionate about sharing the American art form, jazz, with youth of all ages.

  The organization recently received a $10,000, Federally funded grant from HELP NM.  They have just finished the curriculum for the special three week music / dance program. “Arts in the Neighborhood” is designed to reach out to at-risk youth and involve them in the arts. The idea was inspired by high incidence of teen suicide in the state of New Mexico and in Lincoln and Otero counties.

Lincoln resident and jazz pianist, Michael Francis, is executive director of the organization.  Besides Francis, participating Southwestern Arts Alliance volunteers include President Duane Evans; Vice President Tom Blake; dance instructor Cecilia Francis; and vocal music instructor Martha Hall. The live music ensemble includes El Paso percussionist, Ricky Malichi, Roswell bassist, Dave Hett; Roswell Latin percussionist Lanjur Abukusumo; and Ruidoso guitarist and flautist, Rich Chorne'. 

  New Mexico Alliance for Children and Ruidoso Regional Arts Council are event co-collaborators.

The music ensemble will be performing later the same evening at 7 p.m. at Ruidoso's Casa Blanca Restaurant.

Charo at the Spencer (posted July 6, 2010)

Only a few people in show business are recognized by just one name; Charo is one.

Actually, it’s María Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Moquiere de les Esperades Santa Ana Romanguera y de la Najosa Rasten, but going by Charo is a heck of a lot easier.

Since the 70's, the Spanish-American gold & platinum Flamenco guitar recording artist –  (in addition to being a singer, comedienne, stage and screen actress), has been an integral proponent of contemporary Latin music, making the name Charo a trope for sultry rhythms.

Charo has twice been voted the “Best Classical Flamenco Guitarist in the World” by Guitar Player Magazine and is a winner of the Billboard International Latin Music Award. The prestigious honors continue with recognition as Female Pop Album of the Year Award for her flamenco inspired platinum album, Guitar Passion, and her dance club hit - España Cañí, which won Charo a 2009 World Dance Music Award Nomination.

She’s forever known for her flamboyant stage presence (she was one of Johnny Carson’s favorite guest stars and appeared on “The Love Boat” more than any other star), her provocative outfits, loveable accent and her trademark phrase “cuchi-cuchi”, but it is Charo’s mastery of the guitar that keeps her shinning bright in the spotlights year upon year.

Born in the town of Murcia, Spain, Charo learned to play the guitar at an early age and studied under the legendary Flamenco guitarist, Andres Segovia.  Becoming a recording artist in her early teens, Charo caught the attention of famed Latin Band leader Xavier Cugat who invited her to join his band’s tour at all the major casinos in Las Vegas.  Soon, Charo began performing as a solo artist at the Congo Room at the Sahara Hotel and Casino, sharing the stage with the likes of Johnny Carson and George Burns, and launched her American recording career with tunes that became major hits at nightclubs worldwide.

While taking a break from her Vegas show at the Riviera Hotel & Casino – which has been hailed by critics as “The best show of her career” -- Charo comes to the Spencer Theater on Friday, July 16 at 8 p.m., blending heart and soul in classical Flamenco masterpieces. Accompanied by her multi-instrumental band, this will be an evening full of fast-finger strumming, unique style and playful wit – Charo style! Excellent seats are available for $79 & $76.  Call the Spencer Box Office at 575.336.4800 or go online to www.spencertheater.com for tickets.

Museum  to host “Simply Silk: Silk Painting Workshop!”  (posted June 25, 2010)

The Hubbard Museum will present a special workshop entitled, “Simply Silk: Silk Painting Workshop!” on Saturday and Sunday, July 17th^th and 18^th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Johnny & Marty Cope Learning Center.  New Mexico artist Sandy Hopper will be teaching the workshop, while the Hubbard Museum serves as host.  There is a fee of $165 to participate in the workshop.  For more information about the workshop, or to register, please contact Jeannine Isom, Curator of Education at the Hubbard Museum, by calling 575.378.4142.  

Sandy Hoppers’ unique wearable silks and framed fine art flow with energy and glowing color.  Each piece is as unique as the surroundings that inspired it.  The southwest has always been her home, growing up in El Paso, Texas and now living near Elephant Butte Lake in New Mexico.  She is a skilled, self-taught, multi-media artist whose creative energy is boundless.  Her home studio, Grasshopper Silk [http://www.grasshoppersilk.com/], is a New Mexico Fiber Arts Trails site #55, where visitors are always welcome.

“My creations are expressions of my intimate relationship with the spiritual and    cultural diversity of the southwest,” commented Hopper, “Silk is a natural medium; the luminosity and texture of the fiber gives exceptional dimension to the finished work.  Painted silk elicits a joyful reaction as it suffuses one with a feeling of euphoria.  It is, pure and simple; love of color that enticed me to paint on silk and vibrant, glowing color that has made it my passion.  I love to experiment and explore the art of painting on silk so each piece is one of a kind and unique to that moment.”

The Hubbard Museum of the American West is located at 841 Highway 70 West, and is open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas Days.  Admission to the Museum is $6.00 for adults, and reduced admission is available for senior citizens and youth.  Visit our web page at www.hubbardmuseum.org for information about other events, exhibits, and activities at the Museum.  The Hubbard Museum of the American West, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is owned and operated by the City of Ruidoso Downs. 

Herman’s Hermits at the Spencer (posted June 23, 2010)

Spotlights shine on pop-rock sensations at 8 p.m., Friday, July 2

One of the biggest heart-throbs of the 60s pop-rock British invasion lands in Spencer spotlights at 8 p.m. Friday, July 2.

Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone will perform their roster of light-hearted and utterly unique pop-rock story-songs like Mrs. Brown, you’ve Got A Lovely Daughter, I’m Henry VIII, I Am, I’m Into Something Good, Just A Little Bit Better, Wonderful World, For Your Love, Listen People, and Dandy, an upbeat repertoire that continues to shine over time.

Excellent seats are available for $79 & $76. Call the Spencer Box Office at 575.336.4800 or go to www.spencertheater.com for tickets.

Noone has performed as the band’s “Herman” since he was just 15, establishing the groups’ four decades of international success.  His voice has always stood apart from his rock peers Mick Jagger and Paul McCarty because he consciously sang with a British accent.  It made the band utterly different to American ears, as did it’s curious name “Herman’s Hermits,” its clean-cut image and its approach to songs like the two-time Grammy nominated Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter, which starts off with a banjo intro rather than a guitar lick, or the upbeat pub-like story song of King Henry VIII and its blazing guitar solo.

Noone’s band sold over 60 million recordings and charted 14 singles and seven albums that went gold. The Hermits were twice named Cashbox’s “Entertainer of the Year” and the photogenic Noone graced the cover of nearly every international publication, including Time.

In addition to the Hermits, Noone has performed and composed songs with David Bowie and Debby Boone, and guest-starred in hit TV shows like: Married With Children, My Two Dads, Quantum Leap, Easy Street, Too Close For Comfort and Laverne and Shirley. He also starred in the U.S. National Tour of the smash Broadway hit Romance, Romance and most recently in the recurring role of “Paddington” on the CBS daytime drama, As The World Turns.  But it is Herman’s Hermits and they’re up-beat, witty songs, that keeps him traveling the world over and making spirits soar.

3 Redneck Tenors - A New Musical Adventure (posted June 16, 2010)  

Saturday, June 26 at 8 p.m.

Alto, NM – In the melodic wake of the renowned appearances of the operatic trio, The Three Tenors, comes a new breed of tenors from more humble origins...3 Redneck Tenors - A New Musical Adventure.

The musical comedy, featuring classically trained artists, is like Greater Tuna meets Das Barbecu - down home laughs with big city music!

The foot stompin', knee slapin' uproariously funny musical redneck romp takes place at the Spencer Theater at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 26.  Orchestra pit seats (only) are available for $49; call the Spencer Box Office at 575.336.4800 for tickets. (There is a pre-performance catfish fry at 6 p.m. in the Spencer lobby for $20 per person. Call the Box Office for details).

Featuring tunes from Elvis to Puccini, Country to Opera, the Redneck’s adventure begins outside the boys’ Paris, Texas trailer and, upon being discovered by a shrewd city slicker, goes all the way to their triumphant debut at New York City's famous Carn-iggy Hall.

Yep, this is a tale about the search for the perfect venue (that's French for place) and style for the three redneck boys in ballcaps who can sing like Pavarotti.  Watch their hilarious musical journey and see them shine like the afternoon sun on a bald man's head!

Written by opera-veteran Matthew Lord with music arranged by Craig Bohmler, 3 Redneck Tenors - A New Musical Journey features a cast of veteran opera and Broadway stars including John Wilkerson, Alex Bumpas, Matthew Lord and Dinny McGuire.

“It's not a big secret that the 3 Redneck Tenors aren't real rednecks. After all, it's easier to fake being a redneck than an opera tenor,” raves the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “But the mullet-haired trio playing the Luxor through Tuesday keeps surprising people anyway.”

Rodney Carrington tickets on sale today (posted June 10, 2010)  

Ticket go on sale today at 10 a.m. for Rodney Carrington's performances Aug. 26 and 27th at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino. 

Rodney Carrington is a multitalented comedian, actor, and writer who has recorded eight major record label comedy albums selling over two million copies. 

Two of these albums have been certified gold by the RIAA. Rodney starred in his own TV sitcom Rodney, which ran for two seasons on ABC. 

He also co-wrote and co-starred with Toby Keith in the feature film Beer for My Horses.  According to Pollstar, Rodney was the 4th highest grossing touring comedian in 2009. He regularly performs to sold out crowds across the US and Canada.

Del Castillo headlines Summer Celebration (posted June 3, 2010)

Ruidoso welcomes the breathtaking rhythms of Grammy sensation, Del Castillo

The Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce knows how to celebrate with a fun-filled outdoor festival culminating in an evening concert with world-renown Del Castillo.  With a mix of Flamenco, Rock, Latin, Blues and World music, the Grammy nominated band is sure to rock the stands on June 19 at the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack.  

“We are honored that this caliber of group is playing for us in Ruidoso.  Del Castillo has played with such legendary groups Styx, Los Lonely Boys and Don Henley. They’ve made numerous national TV appearances, and now they are playing right here in Ruidoso!” commented Sandi Aguilar, Executive Director of the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce, “And with the concert being outdoors in the cool, stunning mountains of Ruidoso, it is sure to be a night the band, as well as the fans, are sure to remember.”

Del Castillo has not only won an astonishing 18 national awards including SXSW/Austin Music “Album of the Year” and “Band of the Year,” and also been honored in 2009 with six Grammy nominations.  They have performed at Willie Nelson concerts and the Eric Clapton Guitar Festival.  They have also caught the ear of Film Directors Robert Rodriquez and Quentin Tarantino and their music can be found on the soundtracks of “Spy Kids 3D”, “Once Upon a Time in Mexico,” “Sin City” and “Grindhouse.”   Quentin Tarantino loved their music so much that he re-did the ending sequence of “Kill Bill Vol. II” to fit a song into his movie.

The concert is part of the Summer Celebration Music Festival to be held on June 19 at the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack. Tickets can be purchased for a mere $15 by calling the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce at 575-257-7395.

The outdoor festival, filled with music, performers, food, exhibits and crafts is free to the public and open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The Del Castillo concert begins at 8 p.m. and tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door.  

For more information and a complete listing of events, call the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce at 877-RUIDOSO or log onto www.RuidosoNow.com/SummerCelebration.

“A Mighty Wind” (posted May 25, 2010)

The Hubbard Museum announced that a special presentation of the 2003 film, “A Mighty Wind” will be held in the Johnny & Marty Cope Learning Center June 5, at 2 p.m., along with a brief introduction of the film from Museum Director Jay Smith.  

Following the film, Smith will lead a brief discussion of the film for those patrons wishing to discuss how the film related to the history of American music and the folk tradition.  

The event is being held in conjunction with the special exhibit “New Harmonies:  American Roots Music” developed by the Smithsonian Institution and sponsored in New Mexico by the New Mexico Humanities Council.  There is no additional charge other than regular museum admission fees to attend the program.  Members of the Museum will receive free entry to the museum as well. 

“A Mighty Wind” is a film parody about a fictitious former folk band that reunites for a tour, reliving and reinterpreting past highs and lows, arguments, and incidents in the band’s history.  

“The wonderful thing about parodies,” commented Jay Smith, “is that they take place in a contextual reality that both exposes and introduces the ironies within. ‘A Mighty Wind’ is a hilarious trip back to a period in time when the folk revival was a massive cultural force in the United States and I think it will be a lot of fun for people who remember that period of time, as well as for fans of popular music in America.”           

The Hubbard Museum of the American West is located at 841 Highway 70 West, and is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.   Admission to the Museum is $6 for adults, and reduced admission is available for senior citizens, military personnel, and youth.  Visit our web page at www.hubbardmuseum.org or call 575-378-4142 for information about other events, exhibits, and activities at the Museum.  The Hubbard Museum of the American West is owned and operated by the City of Ruidoso Downs.

Mary Wilson of the Supremes Headlines at Spencer Theater

Sunday, May 30 -- Memorial Weekend - at Spencer

Alto, NM – The unforgettable Motown chartreuse Mary Wilson showers the Spencer with her supreme energy and musical power on Sunday, May 30 at 8 p.m. She'll be joined on stage with her awesome band of instrumentalists (guitars, piano, keyboards, bass guitar, drums/percussion) and backup vocalists at the one-night-only concert.  Excellent seats are available for $79 & $76.  Call the Spencer Box Office at 575.336.4800 or go online to www.spencertheater.com for tickets and information.

The stylish vocalist known for her vibrant ballads -- the only singer with the original Supremes to endure throughout the group’s two-decade life-span at the top of the charts -- will be singing classic Supreme hits like Stop In the Name of Love, Baby Love, Someday We'll Be Together and Come See About Me, as well as rhythm & blues, easy rock and jazz favorites like Fields of Gold, You Are So Beautiful. Good Lovin', Hero and Walk The Line

Wilson’s concert, which kicks off the Spencer’s Summer Season 2010, is sponsored in part by Bruce & Lynn Morgan and Steve Carter.

The Supremes were the most popular female harmony trio in history and the second most successful group of the 60s, after the Beatles. They first shot to super-stardom when they enjoyed five No.1 singles in succession from 1964-65, four additional mega-hits in 1967, chart toppers in 1968 and 1969 and some popular tunes in the late ‘70s with the coming of disco.

The Supremes’ upbeat, harmonic unity and glamorous style fueled their incredible crossover appeal, which helped break down racial barriers for other black performers. Wilson, using her many gorgeous Supreme gowns, just recently highlighted how their exquisite fashion impacted social issues in the United States during the height of the country’s racial unrest. Her collection of 50 gowns were recently exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and at additional museums in the U.K. and Europe before being returned to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Wilson is credited with not only protecting the group’s legacy (through the Truth in Music legislation) but also with keeping the trio’s songs booming in concerts around the world. In addition to her solo concert career and various TV and screen acting ventures, her most successful post-Supremes venture has been “Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme” -- an autobiography outlining the tumultuous inner workings of the group; response to the book kept Wilson on the national best-seller list for several months, and it would eventually prove to be one of the most successful music biographies in history. A second volume, “Supreme Faith: Someday We’ll Be Together” was published in 1990. Wilson released two singles in the second half of the 1990s, but live performance continues to be her primary endeavor.

A Little More Background: Reared in a Detroit project, Wilson had early ambitions to be a professional singer, a dream that became realized at the young age of 15. Together with fellow schoolmates Florence Ballard and Diana Ross, she was recruited by Milton Jenkins to sing as The Primettes, the backup female counterpart to his all male doo-wop group, The Primes (which later became The Temptations). The Primettes set about establishing a name for themselves by recording a release and in performances at local clubs, “sock hops”, and talent competitions. At the start of 1961 the group was finally added to the Motown label by Barry Gordy --- but with the condition that they call themselves something other than The Primettes. They became The Supremes, a name suggested by Ballard, and their dramatic rise up the charts, starting with Where Did Our Love Go? launched their place in American musical history.

Theater Kick off event held (posted May 19)

Kaleidoscopes artist Steve Fallows talks with Lynn Kidder, l-r, Pam Witte and Josie Parsons at the Lincoln County Community Theater Spotlight on the Season Party at the Lodge at Sierra Blanca Tuesday, May 18. The Community Theater Group will present the play A Bad Year for Tomatoes at the Community Youth Center Warehouse in July (see Upcoming Events). Auditions for the play, directed by Don Madaris, will be held soon.

Morning of Fire winners (posted May 14)

KBUY 1360 AM Morning Show host Perry Champion hosted the Morning of Fire competition Friday, May 14.

The three judges, H.E.A.L. Director Coleen Widdell, Community United Methodist Church pastor Todd Salzwedel and Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce executive director Sandi Agular judged salsas, pico de gallo, hot sauce and green sauces.

The winners were: Best Salsa - Bobby Baca; Best Pico de Gallo - Jorge's Restaurant; Best Hot Sauce - Shrimpy's Restaurant; and best green sauce - El Comino Nueva.