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http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20070912/pl_usnw/chart_topping_songwriter_kara_dioguardi_to_be_honored_at_world_s_largest_celebration_of_italian_american_heritage
Chart-Topping Songwriter Kara DioGuardi to be Honored at World's Largest Celebration of Italian-American Heritage ... On October 6, Ms. DioGuardi will return to the Waldorf-Astoria Grand Ballroom. But this time, she will be part of the audience as Honoree of the Columbus Citizens Foundation's Annual Gala Dinner. The artist singing onstage will be American Idol star Katharine McPhee, who will be performing standards as well as a song Ms. DioGuardi wrote.
Chart-Topping Songwriter Kara DioGuardi to be Honored at World's Largest Celebration of Italian-American Heritage
...
On October 6, Ms. DioGuardi will return to the Waldorf-Astoria Grand Ballroom. But this time, she will be part of the audience as Honoree of the Columbus Citizens Foundation's Annual Gala Dinner. The artist singing onstage will be American Idol star Katharine McPhee, who will be performing standards as well as a song Ms. DioGuardi wrote.
Returns to Site of Early Ovations as Part of Audience American Idol Star Katharine McPhee to Perform DioGuardi Songs NEW YORK, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In 1983, at the tenderage of 12, Kara DioGuardi took to the Waldorf-Astoria stage and belted outa series of songs at the Columbus Citizens Foundation's Annual Gala Dinner:Oscar Hammerstein's "Getting to Know You," Bette Midler's "The Rose" and"The Wind Beneath My Wings," and John Kander and Fred Ebb's "New York, NewYork." The crowd of nearly 1,000 people -- including dignitaries from Italyand Sophia Loren, the Grand Marshal of New York City's Columbus Day Paradethat year -- showered the performance with cheers of "Brava!" On October 6, Ms. DioGuardi will return to the Waldorf-Astoria GrandBallroom. But this time, she will be part of the audience as Honoree of theColumbus Citizens Foundation's Annual Gala Dinner.The artist singingonstage will be American Idol star Katharine McPhee, who will be performingstandards as well as a song Ms. DioGuardi wrote. Ms. DioGuardi is BMI's Pop Songwriter of the Year. Her songs are onover 100 million records, including performances by Celine Dion, FaithHill, and Christina Aguilera. Her creative gifts have led to collaborations with performers who workin an exceptionally wide range of styles, from Latin crooner EnriqueIglesias and Pop goddesses Kelly Clarkson and Gwen Stefani to soulfulrockers Carlos Santana and Avril Lavigne and peaches and cream Disney starsHilary Duff and Hannah Montana. Ms. DioGuardi's success in so many styles is unusual in the musicindustry. "I love all kinds of music," she said. "It's easy to stayinspired when you jump from genre to genre and project to project. Everyday is a chance to create something unique." In addition to her songwriting, Ms. DioGuardi is co-owner of ArthouseEntertainment, where she develops and mentors fellow writers, producers,and artists. Founded just three years ago, Arthouse Entertainment has beenon Billboard's chart of Top-Ten national music publishers for threeconsecutive quarters. Ms. DioGuardi still does what she did at the Waldorf-Astoria 29 yearsago -- sing. Her performances highlight the backgrounds on multi-platinumrecords, and she is continuously behind-the-scenes, vocal producing themega- stars who have made her songs among the most widely-known in theworld. Not only will Ms. DioGuardi return to the Waldorf-Astoria GrandBallroom, but she also will be marching in New York City's Columbus DayParade, the largest celebration of Italian-American heritage in the world,on October 8. The parade is organized by the non-profit Columbus CitizensFoundation, which holds events celebrating Italian heritage and raisesscholarship funds for needy and deserving students. In 2007, it isproviding financial aid to 849 students. "It's a thrill to go back to the Waldorf," said Ms. DioGuardi. "Iremember watching the Columbus Day Parade when I was growing up and beingin awe of people like Sophia Loren, who is such an amazing person andactor. It's amazing to realize that what I've been able to do in my life isa source of inspiration for others. I feel like I've barely gottenstarted."
I wouldn't write off "Someone to Watch over Me". I thought I remembered an association with Frank Sinatra so I looked it up at wikipedia and sure enough:
"Someone to Watch over Me" is a song by George and Ira Gershwin from the musical Oh, Kay!. It has been performed by artists from Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald to Linda Ronstadt, Jodi Benson and Melissa Manchester. It has become a jazz standard and a key work in the Great American Songbook. The song was sung in Mr. Holland's Opus by Jean Louisa Kelly and on American Idol by Katharine McPhee.
I didn't know it was a Gershwin - or maybe I used to know that and forgot. Nice of them to add Katharine to the list of famouse people who have covered it! Perry Como is also Italian. I'd say there is a pretty good chance she will do it.
The link to Great American Songbook takes us to this page where we are informed:
Aside from the enduring popularity of this music in its original context, it also became (and remains) the central repertoire of jazz musicians. (In jazz, such tunes are simply referred to as "standards".)
so lots more there to check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_American_Songbook