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Rushing on her way to dinner with her dear friend and artistic collaborator, Wesla Whitfield, award-winning vocalist Terese Genecco had some time to chat about her life, as well as her new show, "Drunk with Love: The Sequel," which will be a one-night-only performance at the Empire Plush Room on Sat. Oct. 27 at 10:30 PM. (Terese and her San Francisco band will then be on the road in New York City for three nights, November 7-9 @ 10:30 PM, at The Metropolitan Room.)
A transplant from Canandaigua, a lakeside town in the western part of New York State, Genecco is pleased to call the San Francisco Bay Area her home. Most importantly, she is at home in the cabaret community, doing what she loves most.
"Ever since I can remember, I wanted to sing. And when I went to college at Syracuse University, I majored in musical theater," she said.
From a close-knit Italian-American family, she had lots of confidence to pursue anything. Genecco described Canandaigua as "a little sleepy" when she was growing up, known for its scenery, with water sports in the summer, snow sports in the winter, and beautiful foliage in the fall.
Following her life-long dream required some traveling, and she was eager to leave Canandaigua. "It was either New York City or Hollywood," she said. So like many aspiring hopefuls, she went to Hollywood to find work. Despite her best efforts, "I was not able to find a support system there, so I used my business and computer technology skills to fall back on," said Genecco. Friends, who had moved out west earlier, encouraged Genecco to join them in Sacramento, where she found a job in the insurance industry.
Yet instinctively, Genecco knew being "settled" in a nine-to-five job in Sacramento was not the answer. When family in Canandaigua needed her, she was there for them with her support. Time back home was a chance to evaluate, ponder and recharge energy. Genecco was determined to find the pathway toward her dream.
After relocating to the Bay Area, she happened to see an ad for a cabaret competition in San Francisco in 2003, and entering that competition set her on the path. "I made lots of great friends and contacts," said Genecco. To her surprise she won the competition in her (debut) category and was acclaimed best over-all. "To win the entire competition was a shock! It was my equivalent of an Academy Award acceptance speech moment, and I cried like a baby," said Genecco.
It was also at the competition where Genecco got material and found inspiration for her blossoming career. "I had never heard of Frances Faye before, so when it was recommended by a couple of the judges that I sing some of her songs, I immediately went online and bought her only available CD at the time, “Caught In The Act.” I was instantly attracted to the style of the arrangements, and to her on-stage personality, and after much research, I found her to be a very powerful woman with a strong work ethic," said Genecco.
Faye was born in Brooklyn as Frances Cohen to a working class family and, coincidentally, was a second cousin to actor/entertainer Danny Kaye. According to various sources (like Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia,) Faye’s career began at age 15 as a nightclub singer. Faye made her solo recording debut in 1936 with the help of Bing Crosby. She went on to make over a dozen recordings on various record labels, including Capitol, Imperial, and Bethlehem Records.
Faye’s stage-act became infamous for including double entendres and making references to sexuality, especially hinting frequently to bisexuality. Mixing playfully with pronouns in love songs, she would weave her girlfriend’s name, Teri Shepherd, into the lyrics of a song, even on national television programs like The Ed Sullivan Show and Hugh Heffner’s Playboy Club.
Married twice, Faye lived with her manager, Carson Cameron for several years in New York. Then in the late 1950s Shepherd became Faye’s manager and eventually her life-long partner. Faye and Shepherd lived together in Hollywood until Faye’s death in 1991.
Discovering Faye’s act was a perfect vehicle for the novice cabaret competition winner. Upon hearing the voice of Faye on records, amid the beat of bongo drums, Genecco said, "I immediately fell in love with her. Fran was an entertainer’s entertainer. All the big stars, like Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland would come to see her after their shows let out," said Genecco.
Amazed at Faye’s life and energy, Genecco mentioned that Faye would, "go to Harlem to hang out with the musicians after finishing her shows around three or four in the morning."
"Everything about her inspires me. I have a total affinity for her. She was a pioneer," said Genecco. "Frances was using the word ‘gay’ and was outspoken about gay rights long before it was fashionable," Genecco said.
Genecco was able to put together a hit show called "Drunk with Love: A Tribute To Frances Faye." It has seen more than sixty performances in NYC, Los Angeles and San Francisco. A live recording of the NYC show at the Metropolitan Room last October, was released on CD this year, to additional critical acclaim.
University of Colorado art instructor and artist, Tyler Alpern, has devoted a web site to Faye. Alpern, who has done extensive research about Faye and her music, praised Genecco’s efforts. "I think it’s a wonderful thing Terese has done," said Alpern. "Before I put up the site, there was nothing out there about Faye at all in print or otherwise," he said. "Terese, with the blessing of Faye’s arranger, Russ Garcia, took full advantage of that wonderful sound they created and brought it to a new audience, and I applaud her for that," said Alpern.
Genecco feels blessed by the legendary Faye, as doors of opportunity opened. She has made numerable guest spot appearances, performed her solo shows in major venues, and the response from audiences has been enormous. As a result, Genecco is San Francisco’s reigning "Entertainer of the Year," earned a 2007 Backstage Bistro Award, and made the "Top 10" list of Best Cabaret Shows of 2006 in Time Out New York magazine.
"Terese really shines as a performer when she takes on one of Faye’s signature tunes, like the obscure ‘Drunk with Love’ by Bruz Fletcher," said Alpern. Yet he pointed out that, "Terese did not use Faye’s arrangement or style, she reinterpreted it so strongly, and gave it new subtly and meaning," said Alpern. He feels that Genecco sang the song as no else ever did, making it even more beautiful. "It took my breath away," said Alpern.
Still reeling from that success, Genecco put together a new show featuring the music of composer, Arthur Schwartz, which she performed at The Metropolitan Room and The Plush Room last spring and summer, and she is now onto yet another brand new show, "Drunk With Love: The Sequel." "It is all new material with a theme of love, greed, sex, lust and money… and how they all go together, in a film noir/mob crime drama kind of way," said Genecco, laughing.
Keeping together her seven-piece "Little Big Band," Genecco is excited about breaking new ground and forging a reputation of her own, outside the auspices of the Faye persona.
This version of the Little Big Band is comprised of Barry Lloyd on Piano, Daniel Fabricant on bass, Randy Odell on drums, Jacob Lawlor and Mayra Casales on Latin percussion, Fil Lorenz and Tony Malfatti on reeds, Rich Armstrong on trumpet, and Max Perkoff on trombone.
Musical arrangements are by Genecco and Tony Malfatti. The show was conceived and directed by Genecco, with co-writing credits going to L.A.-based writer/performer, Shelly Goldstein.
This new show takes wings, allowing Genecco to go out on her own. Alpern and many others, like Wesla Whitfield, have no doubt that Genecco’s star will continue to rise. As Whitfield has said, "Terese is one of the finest new voices I have heard in years." She is backing that up by adding Terese to her own act, with husband Mike Greensill, this New Year’s Eve. This is scheduled to be the very final performance at the legendary Empire Plush Room, before the bookers relocate to their new performance venue inside the Hotel Nikko, off Union Square.
Terese’s debut CD is available at CD BABY (www.cdbaby.com/cd/teresegenecco) and at Apple iTunes and other online retailers.
For ticket information about the show, scheduled for Sat. Oct. 27 at 10:30PM at the Empire Plush Room at the York Hotel in San Francisco, visit: http://www.theempireplushroom.com. Or call 866-468-3399.
For information about performances at The Metropolitan Room in NYC, call 212-206-0440 or go to www.metropolitanroom.com.
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