By Tulis McCall
I am always prepared to weep when I am in the audience for Marilyn Maye. It has gotten so serious that now I weep when she enters the room. At 54 Below everyone in the audience is a beloved admirer. Maye comes close to floating as she glides through the crowd and onto the stage. There is no “off stage” for Maye. Once Maye enters she is ON. And once she steps up onto the stage with her trio – Musical Director Ted Firth, Tom Hubbard on Bass and Mark McClean on drums – all we can do is try and keep up.
This year marks the 100th birthday of Johhny Carson. Maye appeared on his show 76 time, which I think is the record. She sings several of his favorites and tells us that his favorite was “Here’s That Rainy Day.” Tha man who made America laugh had a sweet sad side as well for his “Super Singer”. In addition to Johnny, Maye mentions Steve Allen who discovered her performing in Kansas City and brought her to his show. 
In other words, May wants us to know that she has been around. Her age is 97. Think about that one folks. She had her debut at Carnegie Hall at the age of 95. As she said – “it was about time – I had practiced enough.” Those of us who were fortunate enough to be there counted 16 standing ovations that did not slow her down one bit.
In case you think May could be a little old fashioned – think again. She has a voice that carries to the heaves and makes it look easy. Every bit of her is 100% heart, She brings to the American songbook a life filled with a bunch of not so easy times. Just as she was coming up the Beatles swept in and she was sidelined. Not that she was stopped. She kept on singing all over the country.
When Marilyn Maye sings “No Bad News,” you know it comes from years of figuring it out as she went along.
Thank the angels that she is finally here with us.
Maye is on an extended stay at 54 Below thought the end of November. Schedule and ticket are HERE
Do not miss this show – you will never EVER regret being in the presence of this miracle called Marilyn.
