2010 HOSTS
 |
Vincent Pastore
A former bar owner from New Rochelle, New York, Vincent discovered acting late in life (at the insistence of Matt Dillon and his brother Kevin) and since it has become his calling. A versatile actor, he has appeared on Broadway in the smash hit, "Chicago" as Amos Hart. Having appeared in several movies including "Revolver", "Gotti", "This Thing of Ours", "Mickey Blue Eyes", "Mafia", "The Jerky Boys", "Made", "Two Family House" and "Hurricane" with Denzel Washington (to name a few). Vincent is also a familiar face on television. Besides playing the character, Big Pussy Bonpensiero, on "The Sopranos", Vincent has also made television appearances on NBC's "Ed", VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club", "The Practice", "Witness to the Mob", "Law & Order", the Soap Opera, "One Life to Live", "Americas Most Wanted", and "Vegas" and more recently Donald Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice". Besides all this, he has also found the time to be the host on the Repo Man television series, traveling all over the United States, to recover unpaid secured debts.
Visit the Vincent Pastore web site at www.vincentpastore.com.
|
| |
|
 |
Rita Carrey
Rita Carrey Fournier is the older sister to comedian Jim Carrey. She is a Canadian television and radio personality. Born in Canada, she grew up in Toronto, Ontario and is an accomplished singer/songwriter and public speaker. Rita is heavily involved in community events such as Dreams Take Flight which helps terminally ill and under-privileged children live their dreams. She also spends alot of her spare time speaking with children at local community schools. You can check out her quick wit and talent every afternoon on 91.7 Giant Fm in Niagara.
Rita joined Joe D'Urso and Stone Caravan at one of the Light of Day Niagara Summer shows at Yanks Old Niagara and she tore it up! We are extremely excited to have Rita host this year's show and I'm sure she'll make it a lot of fun!! |
| |
|
PERFORMERS 2010
|
| |
|
 |
Gary U.S. Bonds
Legendary performer and songwriter with over 50 years experience in the music industry, Gary US Bonds comes to the Light of Day Niagara for the first time. As America’s baby boomers moved into their mid teens, Gary began his professional career. For his first hit, "New Orleans," attention was brought to the record by having promotional copies sent to radio stations in sleeves inscribed "Buy U.S. Bonds" - hence at age 19, Gary Anderson became Gary U.S. Bonds.
A rare distinction for Gary is that he managed to transcend the decades with hits. His inspiration for Bruce Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt, who had grown up on Bonds' music led to a chance meeting in 1980. A friendship developed and, shortly after, a musical collaboration which resulted in Bonds' "Dedication" and "On the Line" LPs, with singles: "This Little Girl Is Mine,” "Out of Work," "Jole Blon" and "Daddy's Come Home".
For more information visit Gary's web site at www.garyusbonds.com. |
| |
|
 |
Steve Forbert
Growing up in Meridian, Steve Forbert first picked up the guitar at age 10 and spent his high school years playing in a variety of local bands. Frustrated with his job as a truck driver, the restless singer/songwriter moved to New York City at 21, where he performed for spare change in Grand Central Station before working his way up through the Manhattan club circuit. Performing at Folk City and eventually opening for artists like Talking Heads and John Cale at CBGB, Forbert became something of a local sensation and signed his first record deal with the CBSdistributed label Nemperor.
As the years pass, the indefinable honesty and dignity of Forbert’s approach to music continues to have an almost magical spell on his small but loyal coterie of fans. Undeniably, there is something immensely appealing in his laconic delivery and hesitant assertions which still draw listeners into a universe where common people make difficult choices and occasionally win. (as was proven when Forbert was inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame in 2006.)
For more information visit Joe's web site at www.steveforbert.com. |
| |
|
 |
Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan
In 1996, D'Urso left his job at the legendary Premier Talent Agency in New York City to pursue his career as a singer-songwriter. Since then, D'Urso's music has earned glowing praise from the media. The BBC's Gary Price says, "Joe D'Urso sings like an angel and writes songs like a demon". He currently sits on the Board of Directors for The Light of Day Foundation which raises money and awareness for Parkinson's Disease, Joe is a founding member of Pinkfest, whose sole purpose is to battle Breast Cancer and he is very heavily involved with World Hunger Year (WHY) as he is on the Supervisors Board and also a founding member of AAHAP (Artists Against Hunger and Poverty). WHY was co-founded by Chapin and Bill Ayres. "Joe brings to his life and music the magic combination of passion and purpose," said Jen Chapin, daughter of Harry and Chair of WHY Board of Directors.
For more information visit Joe's web site at www.jdcaravan.com. |
| |
|
 |
Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers
Joe's first band, the Iron City Houserockers, released their debut album, Love's So Tough in 1979. In Rolling Stone, Greil Marcus wrote "their debut album is strong, passionate and a little desperate. This is hard rock with force, but there's no macho in it..I hope they're around for a long, long time. Rolling Stone Magazine again praised Joe's singing and writing with the Houserockers a year later calling their follow-up effort, Have A Good Time But Get Out Alive, "a new American classic".
In 1995, Joe began his now decade-long collaboration with another hard-rocking storyteller, Bruce Springsteen. Bruce even ended up doing a short tour as a "Houserocker". Joe's CD "A Good Life" may have been his greatest record to date! A cornerstone of the Light of Day shows in Jersey, Joe and the Houserockers have become a Niagara favorite after 2 great shows this past year.
For more information visit Joe's web site at www.joegrushecky.com. |
| |
|
 |
Willie Nile
Nile grew up in Buffalo, New York, part of a bustling Irish Catholic family with what he calls “an open-door policy.” For as far back as Willie can remember, his parents welcomed house guests from around the world for extended stays, and “the cosmopolitan nature of the world kind of rubbed off,” he says. After studying philosophy at the University of Buffalo, he headed for Greenwich Village, determined to make a name for himself as a latter-day.
Nile is a songwriters’ songwriter. No less a personage than Lucinda Williams has said of him, “Willie Nile is a great artist. If there was any justice in this world, I’d be opening up for him instead of him for me.” And he’s never been more eloquent than he is here. Lou Reed hails Streets of New York as “a great album,” while Graham Parker calls it “a real gem—stirring melodies, passionate vocals, intriguing lyrics…every track a winner.” Little Steven adds, “Willie Nile is so good I can’t believe he’s not from New Jersey!”
For more information visit Willie's web site at www.willienile.com. |
| |
|
 |
The Maddhatters
Over the course of ten years, The Maddhatters have established themselves as a crucial element to the Niagara Region's music scene. All born and raised in Niagara Falls, the rock-esque quartet oozes with melodic instrumentals and larger-than-life vocals.
Believing that in order to write hit songs, you need to play hit songs, The Maddhatters have mastered the live show with their beyond accurate portrayal of covers. Having earned a supportive following, they have taken on the role of original songwriters and are currently recording with Ignition Audio - Paul Gigliotti (Producer). They plan to release their debut CD in the fall of 2009!
Currently, the boys are keeping busy with regular shows in and around Southern Ontario.
For more information visit The Maddhatters MySpace page - click here. |
| |
|
 |
The Roxwells
Hailing from Niagara Falls, Ontario, "The Roxwells" are a three piece band consisting of: James Gizzie on guitar/vox, Matt Liefl on bass/vox, and TJ Rogers on the drums/vox. The band has been playing together on and off since high school, but it wasn't until May 2009 when the band began laying the foundation for their unique brand of rock 'n' roll. Working with close friend and producer Michael Herkimer, the band was able to solidify their ambitions, and create an organic sound that is truly their own. Their self-titled EP is due out in early 2010, with a short tour to follow. Their live show is a "non stop whirlwind," with an electric energy that is not to be missed.
For more information visit The Roxwells MySpace page - click here
|
| |
|
|
