Photos: Marilyn Maye 'Tribute to Johnny Carson's 100th Birthday' at 54 Below

Marilyn Maye Tribute To Johnny Carson on his 100th Birthday
October 26th – November 28th

It has become tradition for NYC's 54 Below nightclub to book Marilyn Maye for two extended runs in the year.  One is always April for Marilyn's much anticipated Birthday show run (I'll let you search for which Birthday she celebrates in April 2026 – make reservations early).  The other is a series of dates spread out in the Fall almost always including at least one holiday.
Maye's Autumn 2025 run of shows extended over TWO holidays.  She played the club to a packed house on Halloween night (where she trick-or-treated through the opening song) and this week she closes her dates with a special Thanksgiving dinner performance followed by her closing show the next night.  This run conveniently coincided with Macon Prickett's own cabaret show (Prickett works in the club's programming office and is also a performer). Macon cleverly invited her to make a surprise appearance in his solo show. It was one duet but it was lively, endearing, and played for laughs. 
Holiday shows are fitting for Marilyn since she is ALWAYS a celebration.

The theme for her shows in the latter half of 2025 has been a "Tribute To Johnny Carson" for what would've been his 100th Birthday (Oct 23rd).  Fitting since Marilyn Maye holds the record for most appearances by a female singer on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. 
Marilyn seems to be one of the few artists to mark the legendary talk show host's anniversary.  Like a showbiz evangelist she has been taking this tribute across the country, literally singing his praises and showing gratitude for his effect on her career and on the entertainment industry in general.

It's entirely possible Marilyn is one of the few who can fill an entire set list (or 2 or 3) with songs from her 76 appearances on Carson's show.
This current list includes some well known songs from the 70's and  some unique gems that Maye chose to sing on Carson's stage.  Songs she's shared for this run include "The Song Is You", "By Myself / Being Alive" (yes she sang Sondheim back in his hay day), Johnny's favorite "Here's That Rainy Day", a show stopping cover of Gladys Knight's "The Need To Be", and her famous romantic break up story that winds up into "Those Were The Days/I Will Survive".  Along the way Marilyn also pays homage to Ed McMahon, Doc Severinsen, Steve Allen, and Jack Parr.
Her tales of the Tonight Show Band wanting to "rehearse" the songs more than once, not because it was needed but because it was fun for them, are a charming insight into the backstage world.
Marilyn's musicians for this run were Tedd Firth (M.D. & Piano), Tom Hubbard (Bass), and Mark McLean (drums).  The trio's musicianship is the equal of any band then or now.  At the helm of the tech booth for this club were Amanda Raymond (sound/multi-media) and Rebecca Morris (lights).

Marilyn's stories of the Carson appearances are as funny and entertaining as the songs they lead into.  Her way with words (spoken OR sung) bring the audience into a shared confidence with her.  When she takes one person's hand to share a moment, she is taking everyone's hand.  She can make a room of 150 audience members feel like close friends sitting in her cozy dressing room listening to her regale us with Carson show anecdotes.

In the end perhaps that is Marilyn's greatest talent … she is a storyteller. 
Whether she's belting a big ending, whispering a sultry ballad, or getting laughs with a sly comment, a flick of the hand, or a bat of her eye - it's all about communication.
For Marilyn Maye, the message is everything.
 

Marilyn Maye will be appearing next at Crooners in Minneapolis (Dec 5th, 6th, 7th),
The Folly Theater in Kansas City (Dec 21st), Birdland Jazz Club in NYC for a New Year's Eve run (Dec 31st , Jan 2nd, 3rd, 4th - with special appearance Jan 5th to be announced). 
She returns to 54 Below in April for her birthday run of shows.

Links:
54 Below 
Events from Dec 2 – Dec 6 – Crooners Supper Club – croonersmn.com
Events - Folly Theater
Birdland Jazz Club & Theater Calendar - Birdland Jazz Club & Theater

Marilyn Maye Facebook 


Photo Credit: Kevin Alvey

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