Jamming in L.A. with Sly's little bro

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Kent Brown is getting folks in shape.

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From left: Frank Stallone, Debbie Derksen, Rod Hussey and Pepper Foster.

HOLLYWOOD HAPPY HOUR: Winnipeg musician Rod Hussey has arrived home from mixing and mastering his new album in L.A. -- and jamming with Sylvester StalloneSSRqs younger brother, Frank. Hussey and his gal pal, Debbie Derksen, stayed with the musician's first cousin, Pepper Foster (of Chip and Pepper fame), who is pals with Frank Stallone, well-known in L.A circles. Sly's little bro, only 61, is a Hollywood jazz/rock musician who's had parts in more than 50 movies, including many of Sly's films. Most recently he played Eddie the bartender in Barfly with Mickey Rourke.

"Pepper and Frank came home from archery practice and we played guitar for a couple of hours," says Hussey. "Frank loves all that Winnipeg vintage stuff, like music by Neil Young, BTO and Guess Who."

Hussey says Stallone plays the famous Vibrato's in Beverley Hills, owned by Herb Alpert. Stallone's big hit was Far From Over, which he wrote and performed in 1983's Staying Alive." (Check it out on YouTube).

But Hussey was there to do much more than jam. "I was working on my new independent recording, coming out in the spring, called Hippies' Tunes."

TAKING IT OFF: Hidden down the stairs opposite Rossmere Bowling Lanes, 1042 Henderson Hwy., is a brand-new Elite Boxing and MMA (mixed martial arts) gym that just sneaked open, with its grand opening in a few weeks. It's operated by Kent Brown, host of APTN's popular Fit First show -- a weight loss/fitness challenge.

Brown is starting with a new gang of four Winnipeggers determined to shape up in public Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 24. The willing victims include Michele Henry, 45, a clerk at Children of the Earth School who's 5-1 and weighs 211 pounds, and says she "feels horrible about her weight." She's joined by Gerri Ramin, 63, a great-grandmother and community activist for family, women and children, at 5-4 and 185 pounds. Single mom Elizabeth Denny is 38, self-employed and a musician and she's 5-7 and 270 pounds. Then there's Krystal Beel, single, just 23, mom of a four-year-old, at 5-7, 280 pounds.

Coach Brown, who stops our interview to roar "Keep your chin down!" at a young guy who isn't protecting his jaw, gets big results -- if people are willing to stick with him for six months and share their experiences with the public. Last year, Willis Petti lost 35 pounds, Irene Mesich dumped 48 pounds, Kim Ziervogel lost 24 and Leanne Frederickson lost a whopping 58 pounds of unwanted weight. "Leanne is still training with me and doing very well," says Brown. By the way, young Krystal Beel in this year's lineup is Frederickson's daughter, who was inspired by her amazing mom.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN ACT? Free Press movie critic Randall King has done it this time. He's one of nine people you'd think should be able to act -- but might fall flat on his handsome face. The acting challenge, called So You Think You Can Act, is based on the dramatic theme Love Gone Wrong and is being mounted Feb. 16, two days after Valentine's Day at the Gas Station Theatre as a fundraiser for Sarasvati theatre production company.

King's competitors include Ace Burpee (Hot 103) with his performer mother Jane Burpee, Shaw TV host Tracy Koga, Sylvia Kuzyk (former CTV weather specialist), John Lu (TSN), Howard Mandshein (92 CITI FM), columnist Laurie Mustard (Winnipeg Sun), Al Simmons (musician/entertainer) and Judy Wasylycia-Leis (former MP). All have good reasons to be able to put on a show, but can they translate it to the stage?

Master of ceremonies Big Daddy Tazz is along to grease the wheels on this bumpy ride, and judges include Kayla Gordon (Winnipeg Studio Theatre), Robert Metcalfe (Prairie Theatre Exchange) and Lee White (CRUMBS Improv).

Tickets are $25 and include a wine reception. (Theatre is small, so call 586-2236 ASAP.)

Got tips, events, sightings, unusual things going on? Call Maureen's tip line at 474-1116, email Maureen.Scurfield@Winnipegfreepress.com or send mail to The Insider c/o the Winnipeg Free Press at 1355 Mountain Ave. Winnipeg R2X 3B6

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 11, 2012 B2