| A very special meeting for me. Mr. Ed Ames in Concert, Swing, Swing, Swing. at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, CA. February 10th, 2011 |
| Finally the handshake I have dreamed about. |
Well I did make it to this most special concert at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert on Thursday, February 10th, 2011, Swing,
Swing, Swing starring Mary Ann Mobley, Monty Hall, the Jive Aces, and the Gene Krupa Tribute Band were great. That being said, let
me go on to the true star of this show in my opinion and most likely all who are reading this feel the same way, Mr. Ed Ames.
,I'm not sure if Mr. Ames would say this about himself, but this is how I feel. There is an elegance about him when he walks on to a
stage. Still tall and handsome in his double-breasted tuxedo, distinguishing silver hair, and a smile that warms every person in the theatre.
He gives an old school feeling of days gone by, when going to see and hear a performer in concert meant just that; that you would see
and hear the performer, not a light show, or a smoke screen, but a true entertainer, one to one with his audience.
And that is what we saw with Ed Ames this night.
He opened with a lively rendition of "There's No Business Like Show Business," then "Wind Beneath My Wings" And I know it's hard
to believe, but I probably will not be able to recall every single song. I apologize, but will do my best to remember. He said one of his
favorite songs and singers was Judy Garland, and sang "The Trolley Song" from her movie, Meet Me in St. Louis.
He then mentioned how he started singing way back when, in his hometown of Boston, Mass with his three brothers, Patty, Maxine, and
LaVerne, then laughing he said, Vic, Gene, and Joe. And he said we really did have some big hits, really, and had lots of fun too. He
sang a medley of Ames Brothers songs, RagMop, Melodie D'amour(with a bit of choreography), Sentimental Me, You, You, You, and
finally Naughy Lady of Shady Lane.
He pulled up a stool to the edge of the stage, sat down and sang Jim Reeves' country hit, He'll Have to Go. Then putting the stool back
by the piano, he unbuttoned his jacket and went into character as Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof, performing If I Were A Rich Man
just as he did many times on stage. This, I think had to be my favorite because I never got to see him in any of his stage shows like
Shenandoah, or Camelot, or South Pacific, or Man of La Mancha. This type of stage performance showcased not only his musical
talent, but his dramatic talent as well. And it was quite obvious that he enjoyed doing it, as much as the audience enjoyed seeing him.
After taking a drink of tea, he told us how he loved opera, but never really got to sing it very often, and then gifted us with a beautiful
aria, which I am sorry to say I don't recall what opera it was from. But it was wonderful.
He then continued with his own solo hit songs of My Cup Runneth Over, Try To Remember, and The Impossible Dream from Man of
La Mancha.
He then did talk a bit on the disturbing present day happenings in the world and in our own country. He said he remembers when it was
always, God Bless America, and now what he often hears is, God D--n America. He ended by saying, I love this country, I always have
and will, and sang his final song of the evening, Lee Greenwood's, God Bless the USA, having us all stand and sing the last verse along
with him.
Acknowledging his own accompanist, Andy, and the Gene Krupa Band which had backed him the entire show he then thanked us all for
coming and left the stage to a rousing, standing ovation. He came back out for a second bow, and then left.
A truly remarkable evening of music, and for me it was not over. I had taken a chance and emailed the McCallum Theatre asking if there
might be any type of Meet and Greet after the show. Never thinking the answer would be yes, was I shocked when they emailed me
back and said we have put your name on the list for the Ed Ames Meet and Greet after the show.
I had missed meeting him two times before in the past, but not this time. I have to say Mr. Ames is the most charming and gracious
gentleman. He is everything you have ever heard about him, warm and caring to each person who got to talk with him. When the flash
was not set right on my camera, I told him I did it on purpose so I could stand with him longer to get a picture. Laughingly he said it was
sabotage. Then when we finally did get a picture, he looked at it and said his head got cut off. I told him it was because I was so short
and I started to stand on my tip toes. He said no, let me take care of this, and he scrunched down closer to me and well as you can see
by the smile on my face, the photo and the experience of meeting him is a memory I will forever treasure. My only regret was that my
best friend, Paula Davis was not able to be there with me, having just finished her radiation treatments for breast cancer. But Mr. Ames
graciously autographed a picture for her, sending her his best wishes for a full recovery.
Finally the handshake and meeting I have dreamed of. I wish anyone who is reading this the chance to meet this most wonderful of men.
Thank you, Mr. Ed Ames, the purest voice and the finest singer...you are what every melody and lyric dreams of.
Susie Coffman
Erie, PA
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| I'm still smiling. |
| Other admirers meet Mr. Ames at the Meet and Greet. |
| I met Mrs. Ames too, who is charming and very beautiful. I shared with her some early pictures of Mr. Ames when he starred in the musical, Shenandoah in the 70's with the Kenley Players in Ohio. She had not seen them before and enjoyed them very much. |
| And I met Monty Hall too. |
| Thank you to my MingoWomen friends, Suzy H. and Cynthia C. for taking the pictures of Mr. Ames and myself. |
| All in all, it was a great evening and an experience I will never forget. Thank you again, Mr. Ames. |
On stage at the McCallum Theatre
| A real Ed Ames treat, he becomes Tevye, and performs "If I Were A Rich Man" from Fiddler on the Roof. |
| Mr. Ames sings Melody D'Amore, one of the songs from his Ames Brothers Medley. |
| Mr. Ed Ames sang. We sat back and enjoyed. |
| In my own defense, there was no announcement saying no photos were allowed, so I did take a couple, without flash of course. I will share them here. |
