Elton John chooses godparents for Zachary

http://news.ph.msn.com/entertainment/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4568245

Sir Elton John and David Furnish have reportedly asked close friends Ingrid Sischy and Sandy Brant to be godmothers to their newborn son Zachary.

Sir Elton John and David Furnish have reportedly asked close friends Ingrid Sischy and Sandy Brant to be godmothers to their newborn son Zachary.

Sir Elton John and David Furnish have chosen godparents for their son.
The couple have reportedly shunned their showbiz pals and asked close friend Ingrid Sischy and her lesbian partner Sandy Brant to assist with the spiritual welfare of their son Zachary, who was born to a surrogate mother on Christmas Day (25.12.10).
A source told the Mail on Sunday newspaper: 'Elton could have picked anyone from the world of showbusiness to be godparents but he chose a couple of dear friends who will take their role seriously.
'Ingrid has been best friends with both Elton and David for years. They holiday in Africa together every year and they all spent Christmas in Los Angeles together.
'Ingrid and Sandy are two of the most genuine people they know. They were among a handful of people Elton entrusted with the details of the surrogate pregnancy.
'Zachary means everything to Elton and David and they have chosen Ingrid and Sandy as godmothers for the traditional reason: to take care of the child's welfare in case something happens to them.'
However, Elton - who is godfather to a host of celebrity children, including Elizabeth Hurley's son Damian, eight, Sean Lennon, and all three of David and Victoria Beckham's kids - and David have not yet decided how many godparents they want their son to have and are still considering asking other friends and relatives to play an important part in Zachary's upbringing.
The source added: 'Elton and David still haven't decided exactly how many godparents to have. They want to have a member of David's family and they may still choose someone else who is high profile.'
Magazine editor Ingrid, 58, refused to confirm whether 63-year-old Elton and David, 48, has asked her and Sandy, 55, to be Zachary's godmothers.
She said only: 'That is a private matter.'

photos Maxine Feibelman tiny dancer

Elton John (right) with Bernie Taupin and Maxine Feibelman on their wedding day in 1971

She was the inspiration for one of Elton John’s most popular songs, but Maxine Feibelman was never romantically interested in the British superstar – it was his longtime lyricist and songwriting partner Bernie Taupin who held a place in her heart. Taupin penned the track about Maxine after she joined him and John on tour as a seamstress. A trained dancer, she would spend most of the shows dancing at the side of the stage. The lyrics tell of Taupin’s feelings for his ‘Blue jean baby,  LA lady, seamstress for the band’. He went on to marry Maxine in 1971, the same year that the single was released, in his home village of Market Rasen in Lincolnshire. But he could not make it work with his new American wife; his reported drink issues and love of the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle saw the couple divorce five years later in 1976.





The song is literally about Maxine Feibelman, Bernie Taupin's first wife. (Taupin is Elton's long-time lyricist.) There is a picture of Maxine early in the video, and at the end.There is also a wedding photo, as well as various pictures of Elton.

More Than Words: Elton's Blue Jean Baby

• April 1st, 2010 9:23 am PT

Bernie & Maxine on their wedding day. Elton is on the couple's right.

Photo: www.marketrasenmail.co.uk

Have you ever loved a song to the point of ridiculousness but no matter how hard you try, you just can’t understand the lyrics? What was the artist thinking when writing your favorite tune? More Than Words, a weekly column, will help to delve a little deeper…
Tiny Dancer, Elton John (Madman Across The Water, 1972)
“Hold me closer Tony Danzer” – say what now? Contrary to popular belief, this Elton John classic is not an ode to the ‘Who’s The Boss’ star. To those who know the song’s title, the chorus lyrics may seem a little more obvious.
Made popular again thanks to the tour bus sing-along in 2000’s cult movie classic Almost Famous, Tiny Dancer was written in 1971 by Bernie Taupin, Elton John’s long time lyricist. The "Blue jean baby, LA Lady, seamstress for the band" is Maxine Feibelman, Bernie Taupin's girlfriend. She was a dancer and traveled with the band on their early tours, often sewing together the costumes and fixing their clothes. She and Taupin married in 1971.
“Coming to the U.S. (California specifically) for the first time, Bernie was describing the spirit of the era through the women (particularly Maxine) he met on the sunset strip at the different restaurants & bars.... free spirits, sexy, ethereal... The way they moved - so different to what he was used to in England.” Lyric Interpretations.
According to Elizabeth J Rosenthal, author of “His Song: The Musical Journey Of Elton John", a lot of the lyrics can be taken quite literally. “The line "seamstress for the band" memorializes the fact that Maxine was actually the seamstress for Elton's band at one time. Bernie and Maxine were divorced within a few years, and Bernie now says that the song was really a general tribute to the young women of Southern California, but we know better. The song has always been one of Elton's favorites to play live. The song's use in the movie (Almost Famous) led to numerous covers, including Tim McGraw's (which he performed live with Elton at the 2002 American Music Awards).”
Ben Folds also covered Tiny Dancer on his live album Ben Folds Live. The original version was ranked #387 on the 2004 List of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

JOEL TO RETURN TO STAGE WITH ELTON?

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/221923/Joel-to-return-to-stage-with-Elton-

Saturday January 8,2011

BILLY JOEL is reportedly set to celebrate his speedy recovery from double hip replacement surgery by joining his pal SIR ELTON JOHN onstage in March (11) when the Brit plays New York's fabled Madison Square Garden.

The 61-year-old singer had the operation in November (10), but was already back on his feet and hobbling around with the help of two canes within two weeks of the surgery.
And, according to the New York Post's Page Six column, the Piano Man is preparing to make his live comeback by performing alongside the Rocket Man for a special appearance at one of his upcoming gigs in the Big Apple.
Representatives for both stars had yet to comment on the rumours as WENN went to press.
John is due to play Madison Square Garden on 16 and 20 March (11).
The rock legends are frequent collaborators and reunited in 2009 to tour the U.S. with their highly successful Face 2 Face show.


Billy Joel to make comeback on Elton's show

http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?Section=Movies&ID=ENTEN20110166065&subcatg=MOVIESINDIA&keyword=music&nid=78080

Pianist Billy Joel, who was on a break for his double hip replacement surgery, is all set to make a comeback with Elton John onstage.

The 61-year-old singer, who underwent the surgery in November last year has had a speedy recovery and is now preparing to make his live comeback for a special appearance at New York's Madison Square Garden, reported Contactmusic.

The Piano Man hitmaker is due to perform on March 16 and 20.

The two music legends, Joel and John, are frequent collaborators and had reunited in 2009 to tour the US with their highly successful show Face 2 Face.

Elton John to christen new MACC pavilion

http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/544763/Elton-John-to-christen-new-MACC-pavilion.html?nav=10

His ‘Greatest Hits Live’ concert set for Feb. 25

January 7, 2011 - By RICK CHATENEVER, Entertainment Editor

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KAHULUI - One of the biggest names in the music industry will launch the next chapter of history at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center when Elton John and his band inaugurate the new Yokouchi Pavilion with a "Greatest Hits Live" concert at 7 p.m. Feb. 25.
"Elton John is an icon in the music industry, and his music has stayed classic throughout the decades," said center Chief Executive Officer and President Art Vento on Thursday.
Over his five-decade career, which includes a British knighthood, the piano-playing singer/ songwriter's classic hits include "Your Song," "Daniel," "Rocket Man," "Bennie and the Jets" and the proverbial many more. His "Candle in the Wind '97" was the biggest-selling single of all time, with 37 million copies. With 35 gold and 25 platinum albums, he has sold more than 250 million records worldwide.
Presented by Concerts West, Tom Moffatt Productions and the MACC, the event will be the only Hawaii appearance for Sir Elton and his band, including Davey Johnstone on guitar, Bob Birch on bass, John Mahon on percussion, Nigel Olsson on drums and Kim Bullard on keyboards. It also will be John's first performance on Maui, according to Vento.
John's shows with the band are known for having audiences standing, dancing and singing along. The song list also includes selections from "The UNION," his Grammy-nominated collaboration with Leon Russell.
"The Maui Arts & Cultural Center is ecstatic to have Elton John perform in the new Yokouchi Pavilion. It is an honor to add the MACC to the list of venues in which Elton John has performed during his incredible career," Vento said.
Ticket prices are $77, $97, $152 and $252, with applicable fees added to each ticket. Tickets go on sale to MACC members at 10 a.m. Tuesday, continuing through noon Jan. 14. They go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Jan. 15.
"We highly encourage becoming a MACC member before tickets go on sale Tuesday," said Box Office Manager Jason Carbajal.
The maximum number of tickets that can be purchased by an individual will be determined by the level of membership, from two to six. There also will be a six-ticket limit per customer when tickets go on sale to the general public.
Tickets and more information will be available from the MACC box office, online at mauiarts.org/tickets or by phone at 242-7469.
John's appearance will be the first public event in the glass-roofed, $12.8 million pavilion that has transformed the outdoor space previously known as Yokouchi Founders Court. Occupying the same footprint as the previous stage, the capacity of the A&B Amphitheater remains the same, at around 5,000. Vento said fundraising for the pavilion project is ongoing and about $750,000 short of the amount needed.
Vento attributed booking an artist of John's stature to fortuitous timing.
"We were just lucky," he said. "We had been talking over a series of months. There was the possibility that Elton would come to Hawaii at the beginning of the year, and Maui had made the investment in upgrading the facility that would possibly be completed during that time frame. So we very aggressively pursued the idea. We kept in dialogue as we were building, and the timing became a realistic possibility. The fact that the pavilion is built and able to handle a show of this magnitude allowed for the discussions to continue."
The center's staff is inviting audiences to "celebrate a new beginning with the opening of the Yokouchi Pavilion," which will bring state-of-the-art capabilities to producing outdoor shows.
Work on the pavilion has been going on over the last 20 months, generating about 155 jobs. Vento had called the project "a leap of faith" on the part of the MACC's board of directors, embarking on major construction during a recession.
While he observed last summer that it had helped "put Maui back to work," he also noted it was the worst of times to try to fundraise.
Now that the pavilion is complete, he pointed out, "The stage doesn't stick out any further than it did before, and the rock wall at the back didn't move. It's just that there's a real concert pavilion there now, able to accept shows with larger production capabilities."
He saw the project as continuing the legacy of its namesake, Pundy Yokouchi, the visionary cultural trailblazer who shaped every aspect of the unique facility, generated support for it and oversaw its construction to fruition.
Likening it a "Field of Dreams" approach - if you build it, they will come - Vento described Yokouchi's approach as "build it right, build it once." It was a bold approach that resulted in putting Maui on the map of world culture.
"Why build the Castle Theater in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in the first place? And why invest $13 million in a 16-year-old facility?" Vento asked rhetorically.
"The complete package allows us to move forward for the next 16 years. We have to keep reinventing ourselves."
* Rick Chatenever can be reached at scene@maui news.com.

BILLY ELLIOT Debuts In Minneapolis, Closes 1/9

http://minneapolis.broadwayworld.com/article/BILLY_ELLIOT_Debuts_In_Minneapolis_Closes_19_20110109


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Billy Elliot The Musical, winner of ten 2009 Tony Awards including Best Musical, debuts in Minnesota at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre December 16, 2010 to January 9, 2011. Billy Elliot is based on the international smash-hit film and features music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry. It is presented by Hennepin Theatre Trust as part of its 2010/11 Broadway Across America-Minneapolis season. Tickets for Billy Elliot are on sale now. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.HennepinTheatreTrust.org or call 1.800.982.2787.

Billy Elliot the Musical is the joyous celebration of one boy's journey to make his dreams come true. Set in a small town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a surprising talent that inspires his family and his whole community and changes his life forever. Casting for the second national tour of Billy Elliot the Musical features Tony Award-winner Faith Prince starring as Mrs. Wilkinson along with Giuseppe Bausilio, Michael Dameski, Kylend Hetherington, Lex Ishimoto and Daniel Russell who share the role of ‘Billy.' Also featured are Rich Hebert (Dad), Patti Perkins (Grandma), Jeff Kready (Tony), Joel Blum (George), Griffin Birney and Jacob Zelonky (Michael) and Rachel Mracna (Debbie).

The production has been awarded 73 national and international awards including ten Tony Awards, Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle. Musical Koch.

Ben Brantley of the New York Times says that Billy Elliot "Sends audiences into a mass swoon!" and Time Out says it's "The most electric and passionate show in years." The Daily News calls Billy "So exhilarating that you feel like leaping!" Liz Smith calls the show "Absolutely awesome," The New York Observer raves that Billy is "The best thing to happen to Broadway in a long while" and WOR's Dave Richardson cheers, "All I can say is WOW!

TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for Billy Elliot range from $33 to $133.50 and may be purchased in person at the State Theatre Box Office (805 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, 55402), online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org, or through Ticketmaster by calling 1.800.982.2787 or visiting a Ticketmaster Ticket Center. Groups of 15 or more should call 612.373.5665 for information and reservations. Additional information about Billy Elliot the Musical is available at www.BillyElliotTour.com.