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What happens at a Debby Boone concert...

Will Rhino for Stony Brook, NY’s THE STATESMAN

Debby Boone belts out "Sway," a popular mambo song, in true Vegas headliner style at Stony Brook's Staller Center. (Kevin Yoo / The Statesman)

The Staller Center transported Stony Brook students and community members back to the glamorous days of 50s and 60s Las Vegas with a night of swing music and jazz tunes performed by Debby Boone.

The stage was lit with dull purple hues to complement the dazzling brass instruments and a beautiful piano at the front of the stage.

The band began to play the classic song “Sway,” made popular by Dean Martin.

Out came Boone.

She owned the stage in her dazzling silver dress that radiated class and style, matching silver glittering heels and equally sparkling earrings.

She worked that dress like a classic star of a Vegas headlining show. She performed small twirls accented by the fact that the train of the dress was attached to her wrist to aid in the Vegas spirit she was portraying.

Her voice far exceeded the dress and stage. She sang “Sway” in English but blended in Spanish from the original song that Dean Martin used, “Quién Será.”

Boone’s new album, “Swing This” is reminiscent of these 50s and 60s Vegas tunes, yet she did not perform much from her own album; she instead preferred to cover greats such as Frank Sinatra; her father, Pat Boone; and her late mother-in-law, Rosemary Clooney.

Boone, with such famous relatives, was welcomed into the life of the socialites and celebrities of Las Vegas. Throughout her performance, she told stories of her frequent stints there.

Boone said that Vegas in the 60s was the highlight of her life, and she was “enamored with glitz and glamour.” She joked, “Can you tell I like glitz and glamour?”

It was evident in her attire, but she mocked her dress, and laughed at the fact that her shoes were far too big and were falling off her feet.

She not only sang Sinatra songs like “That Old Black Magic,” and his own cover of “Get me to the Church on Time,” she accompanied them with stories.

One story involved weddings. Weddings are important to Boone, and Las Vegas, so she spoke of them with fond memories.

“Big stars married on the fly in Vegas,” she said. Sinatra got married there, and Judy Garland was also married in Vegas…twice, Boone explained with a laugh.

She then sang “Hello Love” by Blossom Dearie—it was the same song she sang at her daughter’s wedding in Paris. There was a slide show of the wedding, and it ended with a shot of the Eiffel Tower glowing in the middle of the night.

She made the audience, approximately 200 people, feel as if they were a part of the Las Vegas scene. The intimate details she shared about the famous headliners were quite specific.

She talked about how Sammie Davis, a member of the “rat pack,” was so obsessed with clothes that he had two dressing rooms.

She mentioned one day when Barbra Streisand invited Boone and her father to her personal pool for drinks.

Boone smiled and laughed during her tale when her grandfather, Red Foley, country music sensation at the time, headlined with Elvis.

It should not really be a surprise to anyone at this point that Boone’s family is accustomed to fame. When she told a story about when her father played during the moon landing, the opening act was Sonny and Cher, she could not stop beaming with happiness and pride.

Boone is by no means any less talented than her family. She closed the show with what is undoubtedly the most popular song in her repertoire, “You Light up my Life.”

She laughed again, “You didn’t think I’d come here and not do it?” The audience, most of whom were old enough to recognize the song, instantly perked up.

Because she was so popular during the 70s, there were not many Stony Brook students present. Patrick Kelly, director of operations for the Staller Center, said that Boone was invited to perform because the directors of Staller like to have a wide variety.

“We try to do a lot of shows that are eclectic,” he said.

As Boone prepared to leave for the evening, she closed with the line “Remember, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” She was so elegant that there was no chance anything she said could be construed as cliché.

TROY, Mich., Dec. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- GRAMMY® Award winner Debby Boone, best known for her runaway hit song You Light Up My Life, has agreed to become a spokesperson for Lifestyle Lift® and the host of the company's new half hour television infomercial. Lifestyle Lift is the largest medical practice of facial rejuvenating plastic surgeons in the country. You Light Up My Life earned Ms. Boone her first GRAMMY Award as Best New Artist of the Year. She has since won two additional GRAMMY Awards, and seven GRAMMY nominations.

"We're very pleased to have Ms. Boone as our official spokesperson," said Dr. David M. Kent, founder and president of Lifestyle Lift. "Lifestyle Lift is all about looking as good as you feel, and she represents the wholesome, ageless beauty that our clients appreciate. Millions of Ms. Boone's fans love her and trust her, and after doing her homework, Ms. Boone made a thoughtful decision to serve as Lifestyle Lift's spokesperson."

"I'm delighted to be working with Lifestyle Lift," said Ms. Boone. "Because I'm in the entertainment business, I meet a lot of people who have had cosmetic procedures and it's not always a good thing. After looking into the Lifestyle Lift, I learned that it's one of the safest facial rejuvenating procedures out there, and I'm amazed at how natural and youthful their clients look following the procedure."

The half hour infomercial produced by CompanyKane began airing December 7th, and will be seen on cable networks and local television stations across the country. The program features Ms. Boone in a talk show format with doctors, patients and an esthetician as her guests.

The show features a special studio recording of Ms. Boone's You Light Up My Life. Fans can hear the recording on the Lifestyle Lift website at www.lifestylelift.com.

SOURCE Lifestyle Lift

Debby Boone Lights Up BPO Holiday Pops

by Mary Kunz Goldman for The Buffalo News

This year’s Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra’s Holiday Pops concert, which stars singer Debby Boone, is a festival of excess. Kleinhans Music Hall is sumptuously decked out. And we heard so much. Shards of “The Nutcracker.” A splashy Hanukkah medley that had tots bouncing around in their seats. And lots of carols.

So what did I end up humming? “You Light Up My Life.” It might have had something to do with the passion with which Boone sang her signature song. Elegant in a black and silver gown, she shaped every syllable with love. She grew up in her family’s music act—as close as her generation could come to old-style vaudeville. She understands show business.

Boone—who changed at intermission into a stunning, sparkling silver gown—brought the same graceful enthusiasm to all her Christmas selections.

There were few surprises in her repertoire. The audience heard familiar holiday hits—“Winter Wonderland,” “Let It Snow” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” But she sang them in a warm, gleeful tone, as if de- lighted by them. You had to smile along.

The BPO, the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus and the Buffalo Niagara Youth Chorus rocked the hall with a jazzy “Tomorrow Will Be My Dancing Day,” songs from “Home Alone” and “A Christmas Carol,” and two gems by that late, great Hollywood arranger, Carmen Dragon. Dragon’s music is a must at Holiday Pops, and his slow, romantic “Adeste Fideles,” complete with chorus, was like something from the silver screen. Associate Conductor Matthew Kraemer even credited him from the stage. “One of my favorite arrangers, Carmen Dragon,” he said.

Boone added her own notes of nostalgia.

She talked, touchingly, of Christmas tours she made with her late mother-in- law, singer Rosemary Clooney. She even sang “White Christmas” as a duet with a recording of Clooney’s voice. (Clooney starred with Bing Crosby in the movie “White Christmas.”) It can be awkward, singing with a recording, but Boone handled it gracefully, smiling as Clooney sang, and looking mistily into the distance.

I got misty, too. I recall seeing Clooney on this very stage. Trivia for other Clooney fans: Joining Boone on her current tour is John Oddo, who used to be Clooney’s music director.

Boone worked easily with Kraemer. The orchestra backed her seamlessly, even through a riotous “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” which Boone sang hilariously in bossy, parent tones. With which, out came Santa Claus, in that Victorian outfit.

Mr. Claus took a moment to say he has prayed for our troops to be home from Iraq, and now we should rejoice because it’s finally going to happen.

The concert ended with the traditional Christmas singalong.

Pat & Debby Boone to Perform at Branson’s Moon River Theatre

Brandon Corrigan, The Springfield News-Leader

It’s been a while but Pat and Debby Boone are back at it, performing together for the first time in over a decade for a “Celebration of Andy Williams’ 75 Years in Entertainment.” The father-daughter duo hits the stage at Andy Williams Moon River Theatre for shows Monday-Saturday.

Debby Boone will perform songs from her new album “Swing This,” the first half of the 90-minute show. Pat Boone will follow, crooning No. 1 hits like “Ain’t that a Shame,” “Moody River” and “April Love.” Debby will join Pat on stage toward the later portion of his performance.

Pat Boone, 78, said he’s excited to perform with his daughter. He just hopes he can keep up.

“It’s fun and keeps me on my toes because she’s become a terrific singer,” Boone said. “She’s very polished and never hits a bad note. I’ve held my own performing with greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby. I just hope I can do the same with my own daughter.”

The Moon River Theatre will present a tribute to Andy Williams before the show begins. Pat Boone said that he and his daughter have also planned their own personal tribute for Williams.

“Andy was a personal friend of mine for over 40 years,” Boone said. “We played golf together, intermingled on each others’ television shows, had dinners together and went to functions. He just had a great sense of humor. I really regret that Andy won’t be there in person.”

“Andy’s death is a real loss to the music industry and a hard hit to the Branson community,” Debby Boone said.

Debby Boone said that she based her new material “Swing This” on memories of seeing her father headline Las Vegas during the 1960s.

“I was enamored with the glitz and glamor of Las Vegas,” she said. “The ’60s feel of music, the showroom, the lights and the strip are all still fresh in my mind.”

Debby Boone said she expects great music and fun for all at the show. She also plans to deliver some inside stories about the Boone family.

“People seem to enjoy getting a personal look inside of the Boone family,” she said. “I have lots of show biz stories to share.”

Debby Boone Brings SWING THIS to Cafe Carlyle

Stephen Sorokoff, BroadwayWorld.com

The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel welcomes the Grammy Award-winning vocalist Debby Boone for her debut at the Cafe Carlyle with her new program “Swing This.” Ms. Boone opened at the Cafe Carlyle last night and will play through March 30th, where she will be joined by her musical director, John Oddo, and a nine-piece band for what she has described as, “The party I’ve been waiting my whole life to throw!” Check out photos from Debby’s opening night below.

"Swing This" will feature songs from Ms. Boone's upcoming album of the same name, and is her take on Las Vegas in the 60's with stories and memories to share from the years her father, Pat Boone, was headlining at the Sands and Sahara hotels. "Swing This" is a true reflection of the music, glamour and pure exhilaration of that golden age in Vegas that inspired her to be a performer in the first place.

The Café Carlyle is one of the most iconic performance venues in the world. Since opening in 1955, the storied room, located in the legendary Carlyle Hotel, has provided a singularly intimate New York cabaret experience featuring musical performances by such legendary entertainers as Barbara Cook, Woody Allen, Elaine Stritch, Judy Collins and the incomparable Bobby Short. This New York landmark also maintains the famous wrap around Vertès murals.

Café Carlyle is located in The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel (35 East 76th Street @ Madison Avenue). Debby Boone will play Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8:45pm from March 19th to March 30th. There is a $65 music charge ($45 bar seating) Tuesday through Thursday and a $75 music charge ($50 bar seating) for shows on Friday and Saturday. For additional information, visit www.thecarlyle.com.

Photo Credits: Stephen Sorokoff