Photo Coverage: Marilyn Maye Visits Backstage with Peter LeDonne

There are some singers that like to conserve their voices. Johnny Mathis was one of them. He would edit his social conversations to incorporate just the smallest amount of words needed to have an exchange with someone. In fact he rarely answered the phone. I don't know if that's the reason his voice is still great, but I do know that talking a lot has not impaired the vocal chords of Marilyn Maye.

I speak from personal knowledge. Having been with MM many times I can attest to the fact that she does not limit her off stage conversations. In fact, my last encounter with Marilyn was picking her up and driving to Patsy's for an appearance on the radio show Backstage with Peter LeDonne. As she bounded out of her apartment building and sat in the front seat of my car, the first and last word I said were "How are you Marilyn"?

I learned a lot from my youthful passenger. She gave me a run down of the Plays, Broadway Shows, Parties, and cameo vocal engagements she's experienced in the last few weeks.

In fact when we pulled up to Patsy's she said "Oh Honey are we here already I did't tell you about some wonderful people I've met on this trip to NYC?"

Next came a very informative interview with Peter LeDonne. Marilyn talked about her personal life, her career, and her thoughts on performing. In fact on this segment of Backstage with Peter LeDonne, even Jamie deRoy, no stranger to talking, wound up listening more than usual. After saying hello to most people in the restaurant after the interview, Marilyn was off for her day. Talking to, and teaching students in her Master Class and then rehearsing for her Birdland engagement which starts on Tuesday Feb 10th and runs thru Friday Feb 14th.

I just called Marilyn to tell her how wonderful the radio show went. I got her voice mail as usual. "Don't leave a message for me." Marilyn likes to talk in person!

You can hear Marilyn on 970 AM on Backstage with Peter Ledonne live or on Podcast.

Marilyn Maye Birdland Feb 10-14

Photo Credit: Stephen Sorokoff

Peter LeDonne & Marilyn Maye

Peter LeDonne, Marilyn Maye, Jamie deRoy

Peter LeDonne

Peter LeDonne, Stephen Sorokoff, Marilyn Maye, Jamie deRoy

Jamie deRoy, Peter LeDonne, Marilyn Maye

Marilyn Maye

Peter LeDonne & Marilyn Maye

Peter LeDonne

Marilyn Maye, Jamie deRoy, Peter LeDonne

Jamie deRoy

Renee Taylor & Marilyn Maye

Patsy's Italian Restaurant