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| Allan Harris to Perform at Pittsburgh Vocalist Allan Harris will perform at the Pittsburgh Steelers' 75th Season Celebration Gala, taking place at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on Sunday, November 4, 2007. Harris was invited to sing the music of his Nat “King” Cole tribute to this celebratory event. Emcee Steve Sabol, President of NFL Films, will host the gala, which will honor the Steelers All-Time Time as voted on by fans, along with a dinner, auction, and more. Harris just released his new CD, Long Live The King, a tribute to the late, great Nat “King” Cole recorded live at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The album has been released to a great response from media, radio, and fans alike. The Washington Post wrote: “Needless to say, any singer who shows even the slightest strain while covering Cole's songbook might as well pack it in. Harris, however, is so well-suited to the task that he seems to glide from one performance to another, from the spacious and soulful version of 'The Very Thought of You' to the brightly percussive and swinging 'Straighten Up and Fly Right...'” ”As the years rolled by, I have been compared favorably to the great Nat 'King' Cole,” admits Harris. The New York Times' Stephen Holden called him “an extremely relaxed and tasteful crooner in the Nat 'King' Cole tradition” in his review of Allan's three-week engagement at the Algonquin's Oak Room in New York City. The Miami Herald wrote that Harris' voice and demeanor “project the warmth of Tony Bennett, the bite and rhythmic sense of Sinatra, and the sly elegance of Nat 'King' Cole.” In fact, his very first New York review in The New York Post read: “The Man Who Would Be Cole.” At that time, Harris wasn't ready for such comparisons, but a few years later he was contacted by Camelot Productions in Israel to see if he'd consider doing a 10-day tour in tribute to Cole. The tour was a tremendous success - all 10 shows were sold out and the crowds demanded encores at every venue. ”So, when the Kennedy Center asked my manager if I would be interested in doing a tribute to Nat 'King' Cole for two nights, we both knew that a live recording would be a great way to capture the intimacy of the songs I wanted to sing,” Harris recalls. These songs include Cole classics such as “L-O-V-E” and “Unforgettable.” Now, with his new CD release Long Live the King, Allan Harris finally pays homage to one of the most recognizable singers on the planet. Harris' romantically appealing voice reaches out with a heartbreaking depth that caresses the songs. By combining the best of the past with his unique gift to create something fresh and distinctive, Harris treats each of these classics, from “Nature Boy” to “It's Only a Paper Moon” to “(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons,” with his fullest respect. Says Allan: “This 13 song tribute to Mr. Cole is my most heartfelt recording to date and a culmination of years of love and appreciation to those who were gracious enough to compare me to this remarkable man.” write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |