From Rex with love
Posted By www.BoyAbunda.net on January 22, 2008
Of the foreign singers and performers who will grace some of the musical events that will be presented during the Valentine season, few enjoy a closer, more intimate affinity with local fans than Rex Smith, the American pop singer behind the hit, Simply Jessie, who will perform in a series of concerts this February billed as From Rex With Love.
Endowed with a powerful voice, terrific charm and good looks, Rex is considered as one of the few international musical celebrities with a successful multi-dimensional career — a teen idol recording artist, a Gilbert and Sullivan musical leading man, a TV superhero, a soap opera star, a Broadway musical lead actor, a movie leading man and a main artist in various national tours.
Starting out as a rock and roll singer in the ’70s, the Jacksonville (Florida)-born artist had stints in a band called Rex and with Ted Nugent, he toured with groups like Foreigner, Boston, AC/DC and Tom Petty.
In 1979, he scored a hit single from the TV movie, Sooner Or Later, titled You Take My Breath Away, which reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hit 100. The song, which was subsequently carried on the platinum album, Sooner Or Later, was a staple for many years on the playlists of FM radio stations with a soft rock or “lite” format.
Rex’s popularity soared to new heights following his acclaimed Broadway debut in the lead role of Danny Zuko in the original production of Grease! in 1978. He also received the Theater World award in 1981 for his portrayal of Frederic in The Pirates Of Penzance on Broadway, which he also reprised in the 1983 film adaptation, along with two other cast members, Kevin Kline as the Pirate King and Linda Ronstadt as Mabel.
His other starring roles on Broadway were in The Human Comedy, Grand Hotel, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Annie Get Your Gun and Kiss Me Kate. He also topbilled Lincoln Center’s Anything Goes, The Kennedy Center’s West Side Story and the Canadian production of Sunset Boulevard. His national tours include Grease!, Joseph And His Technicolor Coat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell, They’re Playing Our Song and Kiss Me Kate.
As a TV actor, he played the motorcycle police officer Jesse Mach on the NBC TV series, Street Hawk, and as Darryl Crawford on the CBS daytime drama, As The World Turns. He also hosted the hit music variety show, Solid Gold, after replacing Andy Gibb. Rex also starred in the TV movies Sooner Or Later, Daredevil and Danielle Steele’s Once In A Lifetime.
The multi-city concert tour, From Rex With Love, will kick off on Feb. 9 at Casino Filipino, Angeles City, to be followed by other performances on Feb. 10 at Casino Filipino, Tagaytay City; Feb. 13, Davao Convention Center, Davao City; Feb. 14, Cebu Parklane International Hotel, Cebu City; and Subic Convention Center, Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Jazz artist Olivia will be featured as special guest. Rex is also scheduled to perform on Feb. 20 aboard a cruise ship of Star Cruises.
Among his greatest hits that would surely rekindle that old romantic feeling are Simply Jessie, Forever, You Take My Breath Away, Let’s Make A Memory, Foolish Heart, Everlasting Love, Could It Be Magic, Speechless, Don’t Give Up On Us and Everybody Have Fun.
Among the sponsors of the concert series are Traders Hotel, Van Heusen, Izod, Manila Bulletin, Graphic Magazine and dzRJ 100. (Tickets are available at Ticketnet outlets at SM Department Stores and at Ticketworld outlets at National Book Stores, Robinsons Department Stores, Ayala Malls, Tower Records and Music One. For details, call 891-9999 or 911-5555.)
Source:
DirectLine by Boy Abunda
Published Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Philippine Star
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