February 12, 2009

 

Peter Duchin is glamorous; Dr. Ruth is Amorous; and Cupid's got a Soulmate
 
Here's a Valentine's Day gift for all of you tomatoes.  Music, romance, glamour, and a few tips from Dr. Ruth. (Yes, that Dr. Ruth).  We got a chance to interview the very glamorous big band leader, Peter Duchin this week.   And we're so excited to announce, the very amorous Dr. Ruth is now featured at  The Three Tomatoes Ask the Experts.  We're blushing already.   And you'll love Rev. Laurie Sue's column this week about Cupid's soulmate and "Reclaiming Valentine's Day." But first, our interview with the charming and glamorous Peter Duchin.
 
The Three Tomatoes  came of age under disco balls with music blaring from DJ booths, but our idea of romance and real glamour comes from those wonderful old movies of the '40s and '50s when the likes of Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers, dressed to the nines, were always in glamorous night clubs, the champagne flowing, dancing to the music of big bands, like Eddy Duchin.  So tomatoes, it was quite a little thrill last week to get a chance to interview Peter Duchin, the son of the legendary band leader, who is now a legend in his own right. Peter has not only carried on the tradition of the big bands all over the world, performing for presidents, kings and queens, society events, dinner for two, and in concert, but he epitomizes glamour, in the true old-fashioned sense of the word.  
 
Dinner and Dancing with Peter Duchin 
Hollywood made a movie of his father's life in The Eddy Duchin Story that starred Tyrone Power as his father, and Kim Novak as his beautiful socialite mother, Majorie Oelrichs, but Peter's own life, as told in his 1996, memoir, Ghost of a Chance, is the stuff of movies too.  His mother died just days after he was born.  And since his father was constantly traveling with his band, Peter was raised in grand style by family friend Averell  Harriman (ambassador and Governor of New York)  and his wife Marie, in an era when society was still truly society.  And when his father was in town, he introduced Peter to people like Toots Shoor and Joe DiMaggio. 

 

His story includes a "wicked step-mother" Pamela Digby Churchill Hayward Harriman.  She married well, several times, including marrying Averell after Marie, who Peter called Ma, died.  And along the way she was also the wicked "step mother" to Peter's wife, Brook Hayward (who's father was agent-producer Leyland Hayward, and whose mother was actress Margaret Sullavan.) You can't make this stuff up.   Peter's father died of leukemia before Peter graduated from Yale, but he inherited his father's great musical talent and piano skills, both his parents good looks and charm, and in the early 1960s put together a dance band and started performing at La Masionette in NYC's St. Regis Hotel, to rave reviews.  Peter says in those days, people still dressed up, wore good jewelry, and came out to have dinner and dance.

 

And forty years later, people are still dancing to his music, although these days it's more likely at charity events, weddings, or concerts.   And while Peter has several bands, he personally performs at more than a 100 events each year, and plays everything from the big band music, to show tunes, and rock.  Oh, and in addition to writing his memoirs, he's also written a series of mystery novels -- about a band leader who solves crimes.   
 
His favorite gig of all time  
He's played at President Johnson's inauguration,  for kings and princes, but his all time favorite was for a 40th wedding anniversary in Chicago at the Palmer House, where he and his 12 piece orchestra had been booked.   He was somewhat surprised that the event wasn't in the grand ballroom, but in a small room, until the anniversary couple appeared, elegantly dressed, and said they hoped he wouldn't mind, but it was just the two of them, for a private and romantic anniversary celebration.   So he and his orchestra played, and the couple danced all evening.   How's that for romance and glamour?
 
What's on Peter's iPod and his take on today's music  
Peter loves classical music and all forms of jazz and that's what's in his ear buds.   But he thinks there's a lot of good music out there today, including rap which he says is a kind of poetry, and is definitely performance art.   And one of the biggest differences he sees in music today is the importance of lyrics to young people.   Years ago, it was all about the tune, and the lyrics were often kind of silly.
 
What he loves most about New York
A consummate New Yorker, we asked Peter to tell us his three favorite things about New York .  First there's culture, day or night, 7 days a week; and sports (we have so many teams in the NY area in every sport); but the best part, he said is that you can have the most varied and interesting conversations here than anywhere else in the world, from strangers on the subway, to your local deli guy, to New York's who's who.
 
Conversations and Music with Peter 
So as our conversation with Peter came all too quickly to an end, we understood why "An intimate evening with Peter Duchin", has become a huge hit, especially for benefits and fundraisers.  At these special evenings (or afternoons) , it's just Peter, playing fabulous tunes on the piano, talking about his life, all the incredible people he has known, and music of course, with audiences small and large.  Maybe it's time to forgot those same old same old charity functions and silent auctions, and think about an enthralling evening of romance, glamour and music - if only vicariously.  And of course, you could always book Peter and his orchestra for a private dinner just for two. To put you "In the Mood",we've posted a video of Peter and his Orchestra performing at a recent event at 3TTV.
 
Interested in booking Peter?
If you'd like more information about booking an "Intimate evening (or afternoon) with Peter Duchin" or hiring his orchestra, contact J.J. Tillinghast (who just happens to be a tomato too) and tell her The Three Tomatoes sent you.

You can reach J.J. at 860-841-8811 or email, jjmusic@tampabay.rr.com
 
Dr. Ruth is here
She's 80 years young and still going strong, teaching, writing books, and she's got a web site too!  We'll tell you more about this amazing woman next week, but starting this month, we are posting Dr. Ruth's answers to some of those (blush, blush) questions, like: "Is there such a thing as male menopause?"  "Is my husband having another affair?"  And, "Is my husband really in pain, or is it just an excuse?"   
 
Here's to glamorous and amorous adventures.  And let's bring back those supper clubs!

'til next week,