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Boone lights up the Plush Room

Written by Bruce Bellingham

Wednesday, 30 November 2005

Everything’s coming up Rosie these days for Debby Boone, who played the Empire Plush Room on Sutter Street recently. She got through the whole evening singing classic American songs without one person in the audience requesting “You Light Up My Life.” The show, Reflections of Rosemary, is entirely dedicated to the craft and legacy of her late mother-in-law, the great Rosemary Clooney. A framed portrait of Rosie graced the piano, as did an abundance of tiger lilies. Even Ms. Clooney’s voice was heard – on a cassette that was made for her grandson, Jordan. It was Clooney singing Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies.” Debby worked it seamlessly into the act. Debby seems to have come to terms with being defined by “You Light Up My Life,” that 1977 mega-hit song that she recorded when she was 19 years old. It marked her with an image of near-terminal cuteness. She now embraces her heritage with a sharp and slightly self-deprecating wit: “When you grow up with Pat Boone as a father, it’s not often you get to be hip.” But she is. Backed by a first-rate trio, under the direction of pianist John Oddo – who also worked with Rosie – and with Ray Loeckle on saxophone and bassist Peter Barshay, Boone gave those terrific old songs a new, hip vitality. Her diction is exemplary, her pitch is right on the money. She told fascinating stories between the songs. “Rosie simply loved Bing Crosby,” she said. “They were very close.” Crosby was not known to be close to anyone. In fact, Boone explained, Johnny Burke, Crosby’s personal lyricist, was saddled with a creative dilemma: Crosby would not sing the words “I love you.” They were forbidden. Boone noted, “You hear the message in all of these songs but you don’t hear those exact words.” The medley of Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke songs – “But Beautiful,” “Moonlight Becomes You,” and “Like Someone In Love” – was exquisite. The greats were represented in the show, such as Cole Porter, Gordon Jenkins, Johnny Mercer, Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn. Debby Boone was also country when country wasn’t cool. She’s the granddaughter of Red Foley, the Grand Ole Opry legend (yes, Pat Boone’s father and the composer of “Old Shep”). Debby refers to him affectionately as “Daddy Red.” Foley was a good friend of Hank Williams. Debby performed a wonderful version of the Williams’ classic “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” It’s very hip. Over the years, Debby has starred on Broadway in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Sound of Music and Grease. “They asked me to do Camelot, Debbie recalled. “At my age, my Guenevere is more like ‘Guenopause.’” Not so. It seems she hasn’t aged at all since those “You Light Up My Life” days. Older yes, of course, but beautiful. “She’s really wonderfully charming,” observed Rita Moreno, who was in the audience. And Debby is wiser. By the way, she says she “didn’t make a dime” on that enormous hit. Mike Curb, the producer and later a Republican lieutenant governor of California, certainly did. Reflections of Rosemary is also a Concord Records CD (Rosie’s last label). Debby lives in Los Angeles with her husband of 26 years, Gabriel Ferrer, and their four children. She’s also written six children’s books, for which Gabriel provided the illustrations. Debby Boone takes her role as the living legacy of Rosemary Clooney very seriously, She’s currently on a national tour. She also carries the official blessing of her mother-in-law: Rosie left Debbie her song arrangements that were collected over 60 years. This will keep Debby Boone hip for a long, long time.

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