Joyce Breach
Joyce Breach's unique sound has been described as peachy, warm honey, and scotch neat
(hold the ice). The late, great Margaret Whiting said that she has "the most attractive
sound of any singer since Rosemary Clooney." She's drawn sell-out crowds from New York City
to San Francisco and London.
Ms. Breach grew up listening to and admiring the great American pop singers, especially
Judy Garland, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Mabel Mercer, and Frank Sinatra. An Audiophile
recording artist since 1990, she has appeared at Manhattan's top clubs, including the
Algonquin Hotel's Oak Room, The Russian Tea Room, Firebird, Danny's Skylight Room, and most
recently the Metropolitan Room and Kitano. Ms. Breach has appeared on stage at Town Hall,
Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall, and Lincoln Center's Rose Hall. In London, she has performed
several seasons at the renowned Pizza on the Park. Her no-nonsense vocals have been praised
by critics from Rex Reed to David Finkle, Will Friedwald, Max Preeo, James Gavin, and
Stephen Holden.
Ms. Breach's latest CD, Odds and Ends, also features pianist Jon Weber and cornet
virtuoso Warren Vaché. Her other discs include Lovers After All (with Sir Richard
Rodney Bennett), This Moment and Love is the Thing (with William Roy),
and Reel Songs (with Keith Ingham). Her three volumes of Remembering Mabel
Mercer are considered classic tributes to the late cabaret legend. All of Ms. Breach's
recordings are available from Audiophile Records.
Ron Raines
Ron Raines is well known to audiences in New York City and around the country as one of
America's leading musical theater performers, most recently appearing in the Broadway
revival of Follies, opposite Bernadette Peters. In 2002, he appeared on Broadway
as Billy Flynn in Chicago. He also starred as Gaylord Ravenal in the 1983 Broadway
revival of Jerome Kern's Show Boat, co-starring Donald O'Connor. Mr. Raines
originated the role of Teddy Roosevelt's ambitious son-in-law Nick Longworth in the
short-lived Broadway musical Teddy & Alice, starring Len Cariou. He went on to
originate the dual role of Jupiter/Amphitryon in the Off-Broadway musical hit Olympus
on My Mind. His regional stage credits include Annie, The King and
I, South Pacific, Brigadoon, Kismet, and
Oklahoma!
As a concert performer, Mr. Raines has appeared as soloist with numerous orchestras,
including the Boston Pops and the National Symphony Orchestra, among others. He has also
had the privilege of performing with the BBC Concert Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony
Orchestra, and Israeli Philharmonic. In his career, Mr. Raines has had the honor of singing
for two of America's first ladies: Nancy Reagan and Lady Bird Johnson.
Mr. Raines joined the cast of the popular CBS daytime series Guiding Light in
July 1994. For his work as Alan Spaulding, he was nominated for three Emmy Awards. His
other television credits include "My Favorite Broadway: The Love Songs," "Ira Gershwin at
100," and "The Rodgers & Hart Story: Thou Swell, Thou Witty"-all part of PBS's
Great Performances series.
His recording credits include Man of La Mancha, Follies, The Pajama
Game, and 110 in the Shade.
Michael A. Kerker
Michael A. Kerker has been director of musical theater for ASCAP (American Society of
Composers, Authors, and Publishers) since 1990. In addition to coordinating ASCAP's Musical
Theatre Workshop in New York, he works with DreamWorks Animation SKG to produce the ASCAP /
DreamWorks Musical Theatre Workshop in Los Angeles (both of which are led by
composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz). Together with Michael Feinstein, Mr. Kerker produces a
regular series of concerts at Carnegie Hall that highlights the catalogue of both legendary
and contemporary songwriters.
Mr. Kerker is also producing a regular series of interview programs entitled Broadway:
Up Close and Personal for the Kennedy Center. His onstage conversations with some of
our nation's most prominent songwriters have included evenings with Jerry Herman, Alan and
Marilyn Bergman, Charles Strouse, Sheldon Harnick, Marvin Hamlisch, and Stephen Schwartz.
He also produces an annual songwriter's cabaret, as part of the Chicago Humanities
Festival.
Mr. Kerker produced the ASCAP Foundation Jerry Herman Legacy Program-a series of seminars,
master classes, and concerts that feature the legendary composer-lyricist. The program has
been presented nationwide in such cities as Chicago, Sundance, San Francisco, Savannah,
Miami, and Pittsburgh.
Mr. Kerker is proud to be a member of the boards of the American Theatre Wing, the Johnny
Mercer Foundation, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.