The Boys are back in town, and still rockin’

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/06/2017 (3403 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OAK RIDGE BOYS: The Oak Ridge Boys, who are now in their 60s and 70s, tickled the crowd at Club Regent Event Centre June 14 with a high-energy 90-minute performance including their mega-hit Elvira.

They had everyone in the crowd singing the song’s crazy chorus, along with famous bass singer Richard Sterban — who sang behind Elvis Presley for a year.

William Lee Golden, the baritone who sounds like Willie Nelson, sports a white waist-length beard, cowboy hat and sunglasses, but gradually dropped the hat and shades, like a modest strip show over 90 minutes.

One fan who posed with the group before the show, stroked his beard and said, “Oh, your beard is soooo soft,” and he gave her his secret: “I use cream rinse on it!”

Tenor Joe Bonsall jumped and danced and clearly led the gang of four, while Duane Allen sang a subdued lead.

Bonsall claimed they travelled a day-and-a-half on the bus to get to Winnipeg and were allowed to sleep through the Canadian border. He said they didn’t expect the same sweet treatment going back through American customs to get back to Tennessee.

SPOTTED:

Birthday babe Debbie Navitka posing with the band at the meet-and-greet and another birthday girl Lynne Trachtenberg with a flashing birthday cake pin.

Linda Koley, winner of several Senior Idol contests, said, “Weren’t they great! To sing song after song for 90 minutes without a break is tough to do and they looked like they could have sung even longer!”

The task was made somewhat easier as the Boys were backed by the Mighty Oaks — an energetic young band with a baby-faced drummer in his 30s.

GOATS ADORE CURLING CHAMP:

At a Goat Yoga event June 13 in the big horse barn at Aurora Farm near Anola, babies were allowed in to play among the casual yoga class led by Jessica Sigurdson.

A dozen baby goats jumped and twirled and licked the participants. The goats were soon climbing up yoga enthusiasts’ backs as they performed their yoga poses.

But the goats’ favourite in the class was 2017 national wheelchair curling champion Carolyn Lindner. At first she thought the goats were attracted to her prosthetic legs, but no sir. “They love the smell of my shampoo, and they’re really trying to nibble on my hair,” she said from her yoga mat.

Goat yoga is all the rage in Manitoba in the spring of 2017, but the season is short. The baby goats are tiny now, but will be too big in a month. Interested? Talk to Louise May at 204-261-6279 about private groups.

WINNIPEG SINGER MAKES HER OWN LUCK:

Singer Lisa Windsor made news last week when she snuck into the David Foster gala by pretending to work for her dad, Don Windsor, who was recording videos. Foster was in town to receive the Asper School of Business’s Distinguised Entrepreneur Award with a dinner and show at the RBC Convention Centre in the evening.

Windsor was introduced to Foster, her idol in the music industry, through a friend. She was able to tell the 16-time Grammy Award-winning star maker, entrepreneur and philanthropist in 30 seconds that she was a Winnipeg singer and how much he’d inspired her. Foster decided over his dinner to call her up onstage — to sing or fall on her face.

“I have the power to sign you to Universal Records if you’re good,” Foster said when he introduced her. “So no pressure!”

Windsor chose to sing (You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin, which she’d sung in singing contests. “I was nervous and scared and my heart was pumping so hard.” Foster looked around gobsmacked from the piano seat, where he accompanied Windsor and watched her nail it.

Does she think Foster will actually call her?

“I haven’t heard from him yet, but they do have my contact information,” she said. “But it’s really been great no matter what. I’ve had such an outpouring of love from strangers and people I love and saying the kindest things.”

Windsor sings with the Big City All Star Band and she’ll be doing her own show with the Lisa Windsor Band on Canada Day at South Beach Casino, playing three 45-minute sets from noon to 4 p.m.

HOT AND PEPPERY CD DROP:

Longtime jazz pianist, composer and singer June “Pepper” Harris, who makes her home in Winnipeg, fired up Nicolino’s bar with spicy jazz tunes on June 10 during her CD release party. The lounge was crammed with 60-70 fans, all there to support her Time Out 4 Jazz album, which is available at McNally Robinson Booksellers.

The 83-year-old took the stage with her cane and a little boost up the steps — sat down at the piano and blew the roof off with her gutsy, original tunes.

Harris plays a deep, strong piano and sounds like a woman half her age. She’s waiting to have cataract operations, but she didn’t let her eyesight stop her from playing and singing.

“But I feel just great,” Harris said after the first set. “Music doesn’t come from anything you do, as much as it comes from the heart.” She had brilliant backing that day with jazz artists such as Derrick Gardner on trumpet, drummer Kevin Waters, bass player Lindsay Woolgar and Carter Graham on keyboards.

Just before the show, saxophonist Walle Larsson came screaming up on his day-glo green motorcyle, with matching jacket and crash helmet — with his sax strapped on the back — and jumped onstage as a special guest. Also, keyboardist/singer Joe Stratton, jumped in to sing a few songs with wife Ingrid up front cheering enthusiastically.

SPOTTED:

Broadcaster/writer Lesley Hughes, Cherrlyn Thomson of Marriages By Cherrlyn, drummer Bill McMahon, who heads up Jazz at the Heights on Saturday at the Silver Heights Restaurant, award-winning author Di Brandt, human rights advocate Beatrice Watson, professor Doug Melnyk, John Scollin from Dig! magazine, Josie Lucidi, the former GM at Villa Cabrini, and Maureen Brouwer, head of Soka Gakkai Buddhist group.

ROASTING ‘TIL THEY SPIT!:

The first annual Roast Battle in Winnipeg is happening at Rumor’s Comedy Club, running from Wednesday through Sunday. Pairs of Winnipeg comics fire five jokes each at each other — original insults, never-used material. Winners are chosen and by Saturday there’ll only be two comics standing for the big showdown.

Wednesday night pits Ben Walker vs. Jordan Welwood; Andy Noble vs. Kate Schellenberg; Keener vs. Benji Rothman and Jared Story vs. Mike Green. Thursday has Ryan Ash vs. Paul Rabliauskas; Dan Verville vs. Chad Anderson; Tyler Penner vs. John B. Duff and Adam Schwartz vs. John Wilson. Playoffs are on Friday and Saturday nights.

Got tips? Heard of some cool events happening in your world? Been rubbing shoudlers with stars who come to town? Email mscurf@shaw.ca.