PAUL ANKA BRINGS VEGAS TO THE GREAT AUDITORIUM. SUMMER 2011. Blogfinger reports:
Paul Anka in the Great Auditorium. Photo by Tracey James, Blogfinger staff.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net
Shelley Belusar, who books the acts for the CMA, was amazed when Paul Anka’s crew arrived at the GA on Saturday morning. He brought a synchronized production team that included sound, lighting and staging personnel. They set up a massive backdrop of drapes that turned out to be dazzling light reflectors. They placed small platforms around the auditorium for Anka to stand on as he moved through the room, and they prepared a multimedia presentation that recreated Vegas.
When Anka came on stage, he was surrounded by a 12 piece orchestra. The allocation of musicians was a bit peculiar: 2 trombones, 1 sax, 3 trumpets, synthesizer and a bongo player—in addition to the mandatory piano, bass, drum and guitar. But they were a superb stage band with a big brassy sound. The show was a model of professionalism, showmanship and glitz. The program included a wide array of musical styles, performed with great zest and skill; it was a satisfying show in terms of musicianship. Among the best songs were Mack the Knife, For Once in my Life, Jump, She’s a Lady, It Doesn’t Matter Any More, and many other famous hits.
We tend to think of Paul Anka as a rock and roll kid whose friends included performers like Buddy Holly and Annette Funicello, but those years passed and Anka became a show business great whose mentor was Frank Sinatra and whose friends included the big stars of that Copacabana, Las Vegas, New York-New York and Hollywood era. Over the last half century, in addition to performing, he wrote music for many stars besides himself, including the theme song for the Tonight Show.
Last night, Paul, dressed in a dark three piece suit, shirt and tie, was a dynamo for 1 1/2 hours of pure energetic entertainment. He is tan, trim and fit, and his voice is still magnificent. You couldn’t avoid imagining Frank Sinatra on stage, because Paul Anka is built like Frank, sounds like him and even has mannerisms like “old blue eyes.”
A remarkable element to Anka’s performance is his enthusiasm. He seemed to be having a wonderful time as he went out into the audience and interacted with the crowd in a way that had a few thousand people standing, shouting, whistling and even running up and down the aisles.
Paul Anka works the large crowd in the GA. Photo by Tracey James
The show was less about his famous hits (“Diana, Put Your Head on My Shoulder, etc.”) than it was about music from his entire career. He paid tribute to Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Van Halen and Sammy Davis, Jr.
A giant screen came down several times to show photos of himself as a chubby kid and then a teen-age heart-throb. He showed a movie performance of Sammy Davis singing an Anka song, “Let Me Try Again,” and then, in a brilliant staging maneuver, the band and Anka seamlessly joined in that performance from fifty years ago . It was thrilling.
Here’s Paul Anka with a song from his album “Live in Las Vegas.” He sang “For Once in My Life” last night in the GA.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to Shelley and the CMA for bringing this exciting show to the GA. It should be noted that Paul Anka, like Tony Bennett, remarked on the uniqueness of the Great Auditorium. Performers love the structure, the crowd and the acoustics. Parking gets tight on such a Saturday night, but the concerts tend to be only about 2 hours long.
Thank you for reposting this. I was there for this performance and it was EXTRAORDINARY !! His level of talent and professionalism beats all!
One of the BEST shows at the Great Auditorium.
November 17, 1908
Claude Yuerin, representing the Ocean Grove taxpayers, who appealed to the State Tax Board to compel the Ocean Grove assessors to assess the auditorium in Ocean Grove on the grounds that it was not used exclusively for religious purposes, withdrew the appeal today for himself and associates.
It is said here that this action is the direct result of the threat of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association to stop having concerts in the hall unless the appeal to assess the property was withdrawn.
It’s sad that this magnificent venue is no longer used for secular concerts on Saturday evenings. When we moved to town in 1984 many of the residents and others as well, had subscriptions to each Saturday performance.
The subscription model provided a guaranteed number of attendees. There must be something that can be done to resurrect the Saturday night shows.
Perhaps your reader’s have some suggestions that the Camp Meeting would be willing to pursue.
The CMA has asserted that such shows are unaffordable in the GA. But if they charged $100 per ticket it would still attract a large crowd.
No, this is just an excuse to explain their swing to the religious right as they try to return the Grove back into a Christian enclave exclusively, like it was in 1869.
The best concert I’ve ever seen at the Great Auditorium. Thanks to Scott and Nancy Hoffman and their staff for a wonderful evening of world class music.
I was the lucky lady chosen to dance with Paul when he sang “Put Your Head On My Shoulder.” I believe I was in shock at the time. What a thrilling experience! Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of it.
I really liked your review of the Paul Anka show. You made it come alive. It sounded like an amazing evening of entertainment. And he looks great in the photos.
What a magnificent performer Paul Anka is………We were really treated to a fabulous concert and one that we will remember for a long time to come. Kudos to Shelley for her tireless effort in bringing the brightest and the best talent to Ocean Grove.
People don’t realize what a significant musical presence Paul Anka is in the “Great American” song book. Do you know he co-wrote with Michael Jackson the song “I Never Heard,” which was retitled and released in 2009 under the name “This Is It.” This guy had/has chops!!