Big John's Starlite Lounge By Steven Donnini

Big John’s Starlite Lounge

Copyright 2009 Starlite Studios Contact: Steven Donnini Orlando, Florida Austin, Texas 407-645-4705

In the 1950’s, there was an explosion of jazz clubs across the United States, from New York to Miami to Los Angeles to San Francisco.

History tells us, jazz was at the cutting

edge of contemporary music, with some historians saying jazz was the beginning of a cultural revolution that changed the world.

Now, young enthusiastic music lovers

have rediscovered jazz.

The Starlite Lounge is a venue for a Music/Talk Radio Show, where featuring host, “Big John,” spins jazz LP’s, plays piano and answers questions mostly about jazz music and LOVE.

So, the audience calls in with questions about their

romantic relationships. style of humor.

Big John answers with his unique

In many ways it’s like “Delilah” the

nationally syndicated night time music/talk show personality.

In fact, this is a wildly successful format.

The target audience is well educated young people.

In

demographic terms it’s males and females between the ages

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of 18-45. This is a wildly enthusiastic, growing group of music lovers, who prefer LP’s. more like the real thing.

They say, “LP’s just sound

When a recording is digitized

and engineered track by track, it changes the whole sound of the music.”

There are many examples of NEW jazz

Musicians like Thomas Chapin.

With the resurgence of a

jazz culture, jazz is alive and well with a new young, enthusiastic audience. United States,

This is not limited to just the

but, all over the globe people have

discovered modern jazz.

These same people are educated and

buy high quality products, a marketer’s dream. Here, we can enter the world of Branded Entertainment with an entertainment format that is currently HOT and growing. Who are the brands that can be attached?

Consumer

electronics, autos, fashion, spirits and many more, including equity partners, production cost, timing and revenue streams. 1. Equity Partners: We will be interviewing partners , who are also music enthusiasts.

We need our partners

to be excited about this business opportunity. 2. Production: We have identified several revenue streams and attached production costs to each. (All production cost and revenue streams estimates are proprietary.)

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3. Timing: This show can be produced at anytime. However, it’s efficient enough to go to market when there’s still a growing interest, instead of waiting until the market is developed or mature. 4. Revenue Streams: The Starlite Lounge has a multimedia platform which includes… spot market radio syndicated licensing, web streaming radio, CD distribution, web video streaming and downloads, cell ring tone downloads, cable & satellite licensing and branded entertainment attachments. (All production cost and revenue streams estimates are proprietary.)

To learn more about participation in this unique opportunity contact Steven Donnini in Orlando, Florida or Austin, Texas at 407-645-4705. Email: [email protected]

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Big John’s Starlite Lounge Jazz has a life of its own in the coolest spot in town. Written By Steven Donnini

Copyright 2009 Steven Donnini Austin, Texas Orlando, Florida [email protected]

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Welcome to The Starlite Lounge a jazz club in Tucson, Arizona.

It’s located just south of town on I-19 by the

Tucson International Airport. It’s where the mountains dominate the desert landscape, rising out of the desert like castles into the sky.

At

night the stars are as clear and bright as anywhere on earth.

For years, dating back to the 60’s, the Starlite

Lounge was known as a haunt for the commercial pilots, after hours drinkers and serious jazz lovers.

It’s a jazz

Mecca radiating vibes to millions of music enthusiasts. In fact, there’s a FM all night radio show hosted by “Big John,” a jazz pianist from Miami, who headlined there for many years.

Somehow he forgot exactly when he moved here.

Exposure to the desert dust and wind will do that to you. But, it had to be in the 1970’s when the club owner, Jim Reynolds, a famous front man and jazz singer asked Big John to come out and sit in for a key board man, who left saying it was too hot in Tucson. of Chicago.

He moving back to his home town

The 120 degree summers were making him dry up,

creatively that is.

As always in a jazz story, there was a

women involved by the name of Stella Devine, who had a drinking problem.

But, she was also one of the best female

jazz singers in the southwest.

Jim says, “She just had to

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wet her whistle every little bit or she couldn’t hit the high notes.”

As luck would have it, Big John has a very

good speaking voice which is perfect for him taking on the all night FM Radio Jazz Show from the Starlite Lounge. show rolls on from 12am to 4am.

The

It has evolved into a

talked about show among the youngsters interested in real jazz.

They prefer the live sound and LP’s from the past.

Lionel Hampton, Bill Evans, Ira Sullivan, Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

The new interest in spinning LP’s is a

specialty Big John has added to the show.

So as part of

the show he takes requests from a phone line and spins LPs. Big John has created the largest collection of jazz LP’s anywhere in this part of the world.

The station also

places his show on the web for audio streaming all over the world.

In fact, the Starlite Lounge has 250,000 global

listeners every night.

Most US TV networks don’t get that

many people watching their shows.

So, everyone knows about

Big John & the smooth vocals of Jim Reynolds and Babbs Newman.

The show features female singers as well, like

Trudy Heller and Barbara “Babbs” Newman , who spent her early years in Kansas City and New Orleans.

Trudy Heller

is a west coast gal, just 22 years old, she started out singing in Laguna Beach Clubs.

She followed in the

footsteps of her mother, Evelyn Heller, a lifer into the

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jazz club scene.

The Starlite Lounge is a simple layout

with a small bar and 12 tables around a 3 foot stage with a 12” riser.

The center piece is a black baby grand piano

bought by Big John from a retired key board man.

PLAYERS BIG JOHN Big John is a 55 year old, jazz keyboard veteran from Miami Beach, Florida.

A unique blend of tough guy Bogart and a

smooth operator like Frank Sinatra or Peter Lawford.

JIM REYNOLDS Jim is a music lifer.

He started singing and playing

guitar at grade school in Coral Gables, Florida.

He has

been an owner of many clubs in Arizona, with the Starlite Lounge being the most famous.

BARBARA “BABBS” NEWMAN Babbs studied music at Southern Methodist University before moving on to work the clubs in New Orleans.

She’s 35 years

old and is the child of a Kansas City meat packer.

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Big John opens the show with an original tune that you can only hear at the Starlite Lounge, titled “Before Daylight.” With an unforgettable set of pipes Big John opens the show with a bellow, "Hey Baby! This is Big John, spinnin’ and tappin’ out many sounds from the Starlight Lounge till 4:00 in the AM on the WWHD/FM in Tucson.” Babbs Newman walks across the stage dressed in a black sequin cocktail gown, "Hi Big John. I'm Babbs.

I got to

know, why do they call you Big John?" Big John playing a quite riff, "There are some Q's I don't touch Babbs.” Babbs, "Come on Big John, don't be like that. hung like a field mouse.

My man is

Talk dirty to me."

Big John, "Look Baby, I'm the jazz man.

Your style may be

better suited for this Ira Sullivan track circa 1965.

Day

for night.” Music up comes up from his turn table. So, here Big John is spinning tunes from his turn tables and talking to women about what turns them on. All the time he is mixing it up with advice from the Starlite Lounge. Caller, “Hi Big John, I’m Rita from Miami… Remember me?” Big John, “Hey Baby, how could I forget you.”

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Rita, “I was the one Roger Strickland knocked up and moved to Miami from Corpus Christi.” Big John, “So how ya hanging girl? Rita, “They call ‘em pendulous breasts, thanks to three kids and a frisky boy friend named Roger.” Big John, “Wow Doll, that’s a little more info than I can handle.” Rita, “You always said, I looked like I was carrying two pups in a basket. I shoulda wore a bra.

But, in those days

we just let it all hang out.” Big John, “Oh, I was just kidding.

Thanks for calling.

Is

there a tune I can play for you?” Rita, “Tell Roger to call me.

I still have a jar of his

Royal Crown hair cream.” Big John, “I’ll pass it along.

Thanks for calling, Rita.

Next Caller is Marci from Cottonwood in Verde Valley. Big John, “Hi Marci.

What’s happening in your love life?”

Marci, “I’ve been dating a truck driver from Tempe, and he said the Starlite Lounge is always his first stop in Tucson.” Big John, “So Baby, what’s your question?” Marci, “He said you have a great show, because women want to know what you think about different things, like having sex in the back of a semi.

What do you think about that?”

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Big John, “Well Baby, let me try it first. truck.

I don’t drive a

But, if I did jump on some unsuspecting, but

consenting adult stranger in the sleeper cab, I guess after 12 hours on the road, I would give into the White Line Fever.” Marci, “I never looked at it that way. lovin and I get it where I can.

I gots to have my

Thanks!”

Big John starts to play White Line Fever with Jim Reynolds vocals. White Line Fever By Merle Haggard C F C White line fever G A sickness born down deep within my soul C F C White line fever G The years keep flying by like the highline poles F G The wrinkles in my forehead C Show the miles Iâll put behind me F They continue to remind me G How fast Iâm growing old

C

C

C Guess Iâll die with this fever in my soul C G C I wonder just what makes a man keep pushing on C G C What makes me keep on humming this ole highway song F G Iâve been from coast to coast a hundred times or more

C

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F G C I ainât found one single place where I ainât been before C F C White line fever G C A sickness born down deep within my soul C F C White line fever G C The years keep flying by like the highline poles F G The wrinkles in my forehead C Show the miles Iâve put behind me F They continue to remind me G How fast Iâm growing old C Guess Iâll die with this fever in my soul C F C White line fever, fever

Big John comes back to the mic.

“It’s all over, but the

crying. Now, we’ll go back to a horn man for all times, John Coltrane.

Miles Davis was the dominant jazz musician

of his generation.

But unlike Miles, John Coltrane died

before any career embarrassments could interfere with his legacy.

John is the most influential tenor sax player in

jazz history, and probably the most influential soprano player as well, he was also a leading force in bringing spirituality to jazz.

He was incredibly prolific during

his last five years, and Impulse continued to release

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first-class Coltrane recordings for almost a decade after his death in 1967 at the age of 40. whole digital era.

He was before the

Here’s “After the Rain.”

Yeah Baby, we could surely send this to the weather man.” Big John spins “After the rain.” When Big John comes back to the piano, it’s time for another call. “Yello!” Caller, “Hi Big John, this is Roger Strickland. solid.

Don’t be given me away on the air.

Do me a

It seams like

yesterday I got rid of that girl at the Greyhound Racetrack in Hollywood, Florida.

She likes that Wild Irish Rose, if

you know what I’m saying?” Big John, “What’s happening Roger?” Roger, “I been working a club in Buffalo called the Carousel.

Well, I met this woman who just knocked me out

after the last set last Friday the 13th.

And I think I’m

in love.” Big John, “Look Baby, you’ve got some issues to work through.” Roger, “I told her about the herpes thing hoping she would run over the Queen E Bridge into Canada. But, she said, “That’s OK, I have that too.”

Wow, what a coincidence.

Don’t you think?” Big John, “When was the last time you had some sleep?”

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Roger, “Well, we been porkin’ the weasel all night.” Big John, “Have you considered rehab?” Roger, “I went once, after the Judge nailed me to the bench in Buffalo.

My Barrister, Rocco Patenza, got me off a DUI,

with a 28 day horror story. has a story.

You know everyone in the joint

But, do you know, is there a rehab for love?”

Big John, “That sounds like the title for a album.” Roger, “Yeah!

Wow!

That’s where I met this woman.

really have a lot in common. everything.

We

They make you tell them

You know about different stuff.

Crazy things

that happen along the way.” Big John, “Look Baby, you got to get real.” Roger, “Yeah.

Man.

Thanks.

Talking to you makes me feel

better.” Big John, “Now, I need a therapist.

A rehab for love.”

Caller, with a deep smokers voice, “Hi Big John, I’m Glenda, I been up all night listening to you and I don’t think your crazy.

Just a little off center.”

Big John, “Look Doll, I was just saying...” Glenda puffing on a cigarette, “I’m not your Doll. Just forget it.

You can’t help everyone.

Big John, “Whatever you say Baby.” Glenda, “I’m not you Baby.

Play some more music and you’ll

feel, you know IN the zone.”

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Big John, “OK Sister, Silly sticks, I’m sure.

You sound

like a quit smoking candidate.” Glenda lighting up another cigarette, “I’m not your Sister ether.

I’m a self hypnotist.

things that get me in trouble. coughs.)

It keeps me from doing Just one question.

(She

If you have a pimp, does that make you a whore?”

Big John, “Look, Baby I got to go.

But to answer that, I

would have to say, most definitely.

Most Pimps, pimp

whores. But since your not my Baby, or Doll or Sister, you could be a slut.”

Click. “Makes Miles Davis sound sane.

Now, comin’ up “Round bout Midnight” with Miles and Coltrane, 1957.

Damn, Baby, they sound good!”

He spins Round Midnight. Babbs Newman walks across the stage with Jim Reynolds. “How about a love song? I’m in the mood for love.” Big John, “Hey Baby, you should know.

You’re the jazz

house historian PHD.” Jim takes the mic.

“I'm in the Mood for Love was the

inspiration for another song, a jazz standard.

The

original record involved was launching an entire new movement in jazz, "vocalese."

Saxophonist James Moody

recorded a jazz solo which used the chords of “I'm in the Mood for Love” as the basis of a new melody. Lyricist/singer Eddie Jefferson then set words to the new

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melody.

The resulting song is Moody's Mood, and

Fields/McHugh are often given credit in liner notes of recordings.” Babbs and Jim sing to Big John’s accompaniment. I'm in the mood for love simply because you're near me Funny but when you're near me, I'm in the mood for love. Heaven is in your eyes, bright as the stars we're under, Oh, is it any wonder, I'm in the mood for love. Why stop to think of whether this little dream might fade, We´ve put our hearts together - now we are one, I'm not afraid. If there's a cloud above, if it should rain, we'll let it. But for tonight forget it, I'm in the mood for love. Big John answers another caller, “Hey Baby.

What’s your

story?” Caller, “Hi. Scorpio.

This is Janis.

I have a boy friend, who’s a

What should I do?”

Big John, “Call the Sheriff, Doll.

I don’t know.

What’s

this cowboy up to?” Janis,

“He’s got all these love toys stashed in a tool

box, but he never uses them.” 15

Big John, “How do you know that?” Big John, “Well, that’s all for tonight, Baby.

Don’t you

crazy kids do any thing I wouldn’t do, but if that happens anyway, call me and let me know. off from the Starlite Lounge.

This is Big John signing

Here’s a tip for you hard

core jazz lovers, there’s a open stage right here where I’m sittin Sunday from 2:00PM to 7:00PM.

Bring your horns and

friends, if you have any left an join us. OOPS, the Sun is coming up, got to go.

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