Life is definitely a cabaret in a joint fundraising event featuring local musician Becky Livas at the Hampton History Museum.
The Museum is partnering with the Association for the Study of African American Life and History to present the program, "Drop Me Off In Harlem.”
Livas, who made Hampton Roads history as the first Black female TV reporter in 1972, will perform the works of artists from the Harlem Renaissance, including Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington as well as jazz artists Billie Holiday, Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan and Newport News’ own Ella Fitzgerald.
“I have a great love of the history of arts and our Great American Songbook,” Livas said. “More people should know that the songs written in the early 20th century are the ones that keep on giving, even today. They have served as the standards for jazz and even popular music long after they were written.”
“Early African American composers were often using music to best express their talent,” she said. “They were not so much accepted as poets but they put that poetry skill to writing lyrics and finding music to match. That's why I wanted to go back to that period of time. These songs were written for the Cotton Club revues and singers.”
Capturing the essence of this period in time with its historic cultural legacy and musical brilliance of this golden age, the audience is encouraged to attend the evening’s festivities by donning period inspired attire to fully be immersed in the spirit of the event.
Music was interspersed throughout her life, but Livas seriously embraced singing in 1992 when she joined the 1920s style Hotel Paradise Roof Garden Orchestra.
In 1997, Livas was selected from more than 300 people to become a Eugene O’Neil Cabaret Symposium Fellow. She was mentored by such legends as Julie Wilson - known as the Queen of Cabaret - Julie Halston and Max Showalter.
Upon her return to Hampton Roads from her stint as a “band wife” in the ’80s in Las Vegas, Livas joined WHRO as a jazz DJ, creating a show called “Jazz Excursions.”
“The first hour was new age transitional music, then old fashioned, classic jazz (with new artists sprinkled in) until 5 a.m.,” she said.
The Becky Livas Group performs Saturday, October 19th at the Great Hall in the Hampton History Museum 6:30PM – 9:00 PM. Tickets and more information can be found on the Hampton History Museum’s website.
