Note: Judy’s Cabaret, now closed, was owned by singer, Judy Kreston, and her jazz pianist husband, David Lahm, the son of the famous Broadway and Hollywood lyricist, Dorothy Fields. Lahm himself auditioned me to perform in his cabaret venue. In the “Songs of Fred Astaire,” I sing three songs written by Lahm’s mother, who collaborated over the years with many famous composers, including Jerome Kern, Cy Coleman, Irving Berlin, and Jimmie McHugh. Jon Delfin accompanied me on piano.

This act celebrates Fred Astaire, the singer, and the songs that he, in most cases, introduced in his films. While everyone knows what a wonderful dancer Fred Astaire was, he was also a wonderful interpreter of songs, beginning on Broadway and continuing into films. And because his shows and his films were such box office hits, particularly with Ginger Rogers, the producers could hire the best composers and lyricists of the day to write songs specifically for him -- George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields, Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz, and many others (in YouTube order): Top Hat, White Tie, And Tails, Puttin’ On The Ritz, Steppin’ Out With My Baby, It Only Happens When I Dance With You, Cheek To Cheek, No Strings, A Foggy Day, He Loves And She Loves, Night And Day, Something’s Gotta Give, Let Yourself Go, Let’s Face The Music And Dance, Dancing In The Dark, Beginner’s Luck, They All Laughed, The Way You Look Tonight, Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off, A Fine Romance, I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plans, By Myself, One For My Baby, Nice Work If You Can Get It, They Can’t Take That Away From Me, Pick Yourself Up, and S’Wonderful.