On December 31 at 7 pm, 92Y rings in 2021 with the streaming premiere An 80th Birthday Celebration of Songwriter Mike Stoller, a Lyrics & Lyricists™ Special Event from 2013. This magical concert celebrating songwriting legend Mike Stoller, whose hits for Elvis Presley with songwriting partner Jerry Leiber included such rock ‘n roll classics as “Hound Dog,” and “Jailhouse Rock,” will be released for the first time and available for free to audiences beyond the 900 people who packed the concert hall that night.
Hosted by Paul Shaffer and directed and written by Randy Johnson (director/writer of A Night with Janis Joplin), An 80th Birthday Celebration of Mike Stoller featured such artists as Karen Akers, Dee Dee Bridgewater, The Coasters, Mary Bridget Davies, Corky Hale, Maria Elena Infantino, Sally Kellerman, Ben E. King, Bettye LaVette, Melissa Manchester, Billy Stritch, Tommy Tune, Steve Tyrell and more performing expected and unexpected interpretations from Stoller’s genre-spanning career in blues, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll and jazz. “Charlie Brown,” “Is That All There Is,” “On Broadway,” “I Keep Forgettin’,” “Hound Dog” and an all-star company closing rendition of “Stand By Me” were among the classic songs Stoller wrote with his longtime lyricist partner Jerry Leiber and others performed that night.
Randy Johnson, director & writer
Paul Shaffer, host
Karen Akers, vocals
Brenda Braxton, vocals
Dee Dee Bridgewater, vocals
The Coasters
Primotivo Candelaria, first tenor
Dennis Anderson, second tenor
Joe Lance Williams, tenor/baritone
Eddie Whitfield, bass
Mary Bridget Davies, vocals
Corky Hale, vocals & piano
Maria Elena Infantino, vocals
Chuck Jackson, vocals
Sally Kellerman, vocals
Ben E. King, vocals
Bettye LaVette, vocals
Melissa Manchester, vocals
Billy Stritch, vocals & piano
Tommy Tune, vocals & tap dance
Steve Tyrell, vocals
The Steve Tyrell Band
Quinn Johnson, music director & piano
David Mann, tenor sax
Bob Mann, guitar
David finck, bass
Kevin Winard, drums
Jon Allen, synthesizer
Michael Biagi, piano (for Mr. Tune)
Tyler Rhodes, associate director & co-writer
John Kelly, lighting designer
Jessica D’Aloisio, stage manager
With special thanks to SonyATV, Wixen Music, Dyad Music, Ester Friedman, Randy Poe and Peter and Mike Stoller