Somewhere over at OCC
Jennifer K Mahal
Over the rainbow of our memories, Judy Garland remains alive. Near
holiday times especially, the strains of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and
“Get Happy” waft through the air, bringing back visions of the woman who
was a star almost since the day she was born.
“What attracts me [to Judy Garland] is that she always sang the best
songs from the best composers -- Gershwin, Porter, Berlin, Johnny Mercer
. . .,” singer Lisa Donovan said. “The way she delivered a song was
inspiring to so many people.”
Donovan and Peter Marshall will present a tribute to Judy Garland on
Saturday at Orange Coast College.
This is not the first time Donovan, known for her work as a regular on
the syndicated television show “Face the Music,” and Marshall, of
“Hollywood Squares” fame, have worked together. They shared the stage at
the Desert Inn in Las Vegas.
“Lisa is wonderful,” Marshall said. “She’s a great little singer.
She’s sending me all these songs I’ve never done in my life: ‘Over the
Rainbow,’ ‘How About You.’ I’ll be trying them for the first time.”
Most of Marshall’s songs come from the 1930s and ‘40s -- the big band
era. His soon-to-be-released CD, “Peter Marshall: Boysinger,” capitalizes
on his early career with such bandleaders as Bob Chester.
“It’s the best music to dance to and listen to,” he said.
Marshall, who has worked on Broadway, said the power of Garland’s
voice and presence was amazing. He knew Garland slightly through his
friendship with Sid Luft, her third husband, and his partnership and
friendship with comedian Tommy Noonan, who starred with Garland in “A
Star is Born.”
“Every decade or two, you have a giant,” Marshall said of the woman
who died in 1969, when she was 47. “If you touch people, you have a
lasting effect.”
Donovan agreed.
“I think now she’s gone to cult status,” said the singer who’s first
big break was as a finalist in the Miss America pageant. (She represented
Florida.)
Donovan said she doesn’t particularly sound like Miss Show Business,
but she admires Garland’s fearlessness in choosing music that had been
definitively done by other musicians -- such as “Rock A Bye My Baby,” an
Al Jolson tune.
That song and others -- including “The Trolley Song” and “How About
You?” -- will most likely be performed at the concert.
“I’m thrilled to be working with Peter,” Donovan said. “He’s just so
terrific, so smooth and charming.”
FYI
WHAT: A Tribute to Judy Garland
WHEN: 8 p.m. today
WHERE: OCC’s Robert B. Moore Theatre, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa
COST: $20-$29
CALL: (714) 432-5880 or (888) 622-5376
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.