ABOVE: Remembering Silent Era hottie David Rollins.
BONUS HOT PIECE:
Hard at work! (Image via Facebook)
BELOW: Keep reading for a loss in the queer comedy community, Luca Guadagnino on a gay James Bond and more ...
ABOVE: Mark Harmon, perennial dream man.
BELOW: Keep reading for a Drag Race ass, Mia & Patti joining forces and more ...
@boyculturedotcom Born 100 years ago today, the great James Baldwin (1924-1987). #jamesbaldwin #gay #queer #lgbt #lgbtq #love #boyculture ♬ Ooh I Love It (Love Break) - Salsoul Orchestra
ABOVE: James Baldwin was born 100 years ago today. One of the LGBTQ+ community's brightest lights, and he only lived to be 63.
BELOW: Keep reading for controversial bulges, Ryan Phillippe's blossom, Trump's vile history and more ...
The Voice (Images by Matthew Rettenmund)
On Friday, I sprang for a VIP ticket to see An Intimate Evening with Jennifer Holliday, presented by Daniel Nardicio, Adam Klesh, Samuel Benedict and Taylor Shubert. She was making her first of two NYC-area appearances in two days at the Red Eye on W. 41st. It was an unusual choice for me, as I'm not a big-voice fan, but I decided I should see and hear for myself a woman who is considered one of the 20th century's great voices.
I'm so glad I went, because it turns out she is also one of the 21st century's greats — she's still got it.
Red Eye is a great little club for intimate performances. With no more than, say, 75 in the room, it felt like I was at a private party, and I was front row. A man next to me brought his 17-and-a-half-year-old Chihuahua, adding to the informality.
Holliday emerged looking glamorous as ever, clad in rainbow sequins. She later discussed aging, noting that at 63 she has been dating younger men. “I'm not a cougar,” she noted, before — with expert timing — admitting, “Kinda real close, though.”
Her first number was a satiny “Feeling Good” that immediately demonstrated the colors in her voice, and I never lost interest for a second for the next hour-plus. She moved from A+ tune to A+ tune, and her banter was sincere, warm, self-deprecating and often hilarious, as when she covered Broadway's race hang-ups or mentioned Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross, only to warn that she wasn't trying to pretend she was a close friend of either great lady.
Love her forever
An example of how personal her set was — she transformed “I'm Still Here” with Holliday-specific lyrics that were heartbreaking and yet triumphant.
She sang “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever” in tribute to her mentor-from-afar Streisand, telling us that Michael Bennett of Dreamgirls, when offering her the part that changed her life — that of Effie — had urged her to study Streisand's films in order to learn how to act, and not just sing. Though Holliday had initially reacted with resentment, questioning who this Streisand was, she fell in love with the films and songs, and said a wonderful memory she has was when Streisand asked her to represent the boycotting icon at the Oscars she year Streisand was frozen out of a Best Director nod for Yentl.
Of course the highlights of the night were Holliday's signature Dreamgirls numbers “I Am Changing,” “One Night Only” (she did the ballad AND disco versions in a mash-up) and, of course, “And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going.”
I was blown away.
After, she popped right out for the meet-and-greet, graciously posing with everyone and chatting. She'd said during the show how grateful she is to the LGBTQ+ community, and that warmth continued.
Just an unforgettable evening. See her if ever you get a chance.
Keep reading for “And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going” ...
ABOVE: President Joe Biden spoke out at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday about his historic decision to stand down from the presidential race, extolling the virtues of our nation of “promises and possibilities.”
Bonus Hotness:
(Image via Facebook)
BELOW: Veepstakes, confessions of a love junkie, Mindy Cohn unloads and more ...
ABOVE: Finn Cole and the cast of the new play Red Speedo. One of those images reminds me SO MUCH of this one:
(Image via NYPL)
BELOW: Keep reading for Emmys, Dems in disarray and more ...
ABOVE: Because acupuncture.
BELOW: Keep reading for French buns, Biden's poll boost, abortion's role in November and more ...
Vince went all the way. (Image via vintage beefcake photo)
ABOVE: Remembering Vince Edwards on his birth anniversary. More here!
