The Column of Life

[ source: John Pagano's MySpace ] Pagano’s own childhood was what first instilled this music in him, growing up in an Italian family in Providence, Rhode Island. “I’ve always had the feel for it,” he says. “My father woke us up every morning to go to school with Sinatra!” While his brother, now a professional drummer (who plays on several tracks on Pure Imagination), brought the sounds of jazz into the household, his sister introduced him to R&B renaissance happening around him in the seventies and eighties -- thus Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, and Donnie Hathaway emerged as strong early influences on Pagano. Beginning his career as an R&B vocalist, he was signed to MCA Records and began to make a mark as a solo artist and behind the scenes as a producer, songwriter, and guitarist before signing on with Bacharach. [His newest CD available through CD Baby is Pure Imagination ] an affecting project that draws from John Pagano’s rich experiences: updating the so...

Comedian Wanda Sykes, who stars in the CBS sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine , says the passage of a same-sex marriage ban in California has led her to be more outspoken about being gay. "You know, I don't really talk about my sexual orientation. I didn't feel like I had to. I was just living my life," Sykes, 44, told a crowd at a gay-rights rally in Las Vegas on Saturday. The Maryland-raised Sykes said the passage of California's Proposition 8 made her feel as if she had been "attacked." "Now, I got to get in their face," she said. "I'm proud to be a woman. I'm proud to be a black woman, and I'm proud to be gay."

Pearce Wegener is making his Broadway debut as Yonkers in Gypsy starring Patti LuPone. You will get to see him as Tulsa these days. This young man, a graduate of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, already had Pippin , Bye Bye Birdie , Show Boat and Wonderful Town under his belt. He will bring all his youthful energy to the stage for Bacharach to the Future. His reponse was immediate and unequivocal: “I am overwhelmed by all the good Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS does. I am honored to be able to help POZ support such a wonderful cause.” Magic, moments, When two hearts are carin', Magic, moments, Memories we've been sharin'. . . I'll never forget the moment we kissed, The night of the hayride, The way that we hugged to try to keep warm, While takin' a sleigh ride. Magic, moments, Memories we've been sharin', Magic, moments, When two hearts are carin' . . . Time can't erase the memory of, These magic, moments, Filled with love! whistling . . ...

There was nothing like seeing Wilson Cruz hop on stage with Labelle at the OUT 100 festivities and watch him wail. This is a person who is at the right place at the right time doing all the right things and making all the right moves. Here is a video in whihc he addresses the coming out process. In September he attended the United States Conference on AIDS and addressed the final plenary session. After OUT 100 he joined the Proposition 8 protest march in lower Manhattan. What's not to love?

I strongly support civility in this struggle. Religious services and practices should be scrupulously respected. But when a church, like the Mormon church, makes a concerted effort to enter the public square and strip a small minority of basic civil rights, it is simply preposterous for them then to argue that the Mormon church cannot be criticized and protested because they are a religion. I have never done anything - nor would I do anything - to impede or restrict the civil rights of Mormons. I respect their right to freedom of conscience and religion. In fact, it is one of my strongest convictions. But when they use their money and power to target my family, to break it up, to demean it and marginalize it, to strip me and my husband of our civil rights, then they have started a war. And I am not a pacifist. .. They hounded my ex for having HIV and for being gay. They followed him secretly, outed him to his family and persecuted him for his illness. When he was diagnosed with HIV at ...

There's nothing better than a song that tells a story. "Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa" is a mini Soap opera that encompasses more than one musical style, one of Bacharach's best and one of Gene Pitney's finer moments. La Springfield took it and gave it a female flavour. Dearest darlin' I had to write to say that I won't be home anymore 'cause something happened to me while I was drivin' home And I'm not the same anymore Oh, I was only twenty four hours from Tulsa Ah, only one day away from your arms I saw a welcoming light and stopped to rest for the night And that is when I saw her as I pulled in outside of the small motel she was there And so I walked up to her, asked where I could get something to eat And she showed me where. Oh, I was only twenty four hours from Tulsa Ah, only one day away from your arms She took me to the cafe, I asked her if she would stay, she said "OK" Oh, I was only twenty four hours from Tulsa Ah, only one da...

The perfect end to a busy week, i.e. fodder for bedtime fantasies. Fantasize, dear reader.