(Posted March 16, 2018)
Zach
Stevenson brings Buddy Holly to life on Shenkman Centre
stage
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
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Buddy
Holly tribute artist Zachary Stevenson performs
the Everly Brothers hit Bye, Bye Love
with his wife and partner Molly Denninghoff.
Fred Sherwin/Photo
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Fans
of the late Buddy Holly got to rave on to his many hits
on Friday, March 16, performed by Vancouver native and award-winning
tribute artist Zachary Stevenson who delivered a memorable
performance at the Shenkman Arts Centre.
Stevenson
hit the stage in a bright red dinner jacket, wearing a
pair of horn-rimmed prescription glasses that were Holly's
trademark, and raced through three of his greatest hits
Peggy Sue, Oh Boy!, and Maybe Baby.
Having
played the lead role in more than a half-dozen productions
of The Buddy Holly Story, Stevenson has the rockabilly
legend down to a tee from the stuttering falsetto in his
voice to the electric twang on his Fender Stratocaster.
Besides
the many Holly classics, Stevenson sang a couple of Richie
Valen songs, Diana by Ottawa's own Paul Anka. Summertime
Blues by Eddie Cochrane, Kansas City by Fats
Domino, and Teenager in Love by Dion and the Belmonts.
The
highlight of the evening came when Stevenson invited his
wife and partner Molly Denninghoff to join him on stage
to sing a couple of Everly Brother classic. "We're
the Everly Lovers," Stevenson joked before the couple
broke into All I Have To Do Is Dream and Bye,
Bye Love.
The pair met while performing in The Buddy Holly Story
together in Kansas City.
Stevenson
is a consummate showman who is able to establish an immediate
rapport with his audience. He's also one heck of a guitarist
with an equally talented group of back-up musicians. The
saxophonist was especially tight.
Among
the set list was such Buddy Holly classics Everyday,
Not Fade Away, Words of Love, and True
Love Ways. If
you missed the show, fear not, Stevenson will be returning
to the Shenkman Arts Centre on June 12 as part of a Legends
show featuring Elvis tribute artist Dean Z; Pete Paquette,
who will be performing hits from the 50s and 60s; and
The Tonettes, who will be perfoming a selection of Motown
hits by female groups like the Supremes, Martha and the
Vendellas, and Gladys Knight and the Pips. For
more informartion visit www.paquetteproductions.com/shows
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)
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