Grammy Nominated Singer Performs Hits That Bring Back Memories
Palm Springs, California (December 28, 2011) A superlative songstress, Maureen McGovern's 40-year career has encompassed recording, songwriting, concerts, radio, television, film and Broadway. Now, the woman who's been called "The Stradivarius Voice" brings her epic talents to the Fabulous Follies.
Born in Youngstown, Ohio, McGovern, 62, began singing at the age of three and grew up listening to her father's barbershop quartet rehearse. By age eight she knew she wanted to be a professional singer.
While working as a secretary and part-time folk singer, in 1972, she recorded a demo that was heard by the head of 20th Century Records, who promptly hired her to sing "The Morning After", Oscar-winning theme of the classic disaster film, The Poseidon Adventure. Her rendition topped the Billboard charts.
Grammy nominated for "Best New Artist" in 1973, the next year she recorded the Oscar nominated songs "We May Never Love Like This Again" from The Towering Inferno and "Wherever Love Takes Me" from the motion picture GOLD. These were followed by hits such as "Can You Read My Mind?" from the film version of Superman, and "Different Worlds" from the TV series, Angie.
Appearing as Sister Angelina, the guitar-strumming nun, in the 1980 comedy classic Airplane! led toroles on One Life To Live, The Tracey Ullman Show, Pacific Blue, Duckman and Beyond Belief, among others. For three seasons, McGovern was a frequent special guest on Garrison Keillor's American Radio Company of the Air.
In 1981, she made her Broadway debut in The Pirates of Penzance. She later starred in Nine with Raul Julia and in 3 Penny Opera with Sting, and has appeared in many musicals and dramas throughout the country. In 2005, McGovern returned to Broadway, originating her Drama Desk-nominated role of Marmee in Little Women, The Musical. She continued in that role with the National Touring Company.
During the mid-80s, the vocalist also established herself as an outstanding nightclub and cabaret performer, often paying tribute to songwriters like George Gershwin, Harold Arlen and Richard Rodgers. A career highlight was a solo concert at Carnegie Hall in 1989.
A member of the National Board of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, McGovern has performed for over 30 consecutive years on the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon.
Follies audiences now have their first-ever opportunity to hear one of the truly great voices of our generation, in-person onstage at the historic Plaza Theatre.
###
During its 21 seasons, The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies has been seen by nearly three million patrons, and celebrates the music and dance of Mid-Century America with a cast ranging in age from 58 to 82 years "young." The show features lavish, Broadway-caliber production numbers, and plays five days a week from November through late-May. In 1997, it was the subject of an Oscar-nominated short documentary entitled Still Kicking: The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies. The show is housed in downtown Palm Springs' historic Plaza Theatre, a charming, neon-encrusted old movie house, which is an attraction itself. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at (760) 327-0225 or online at www.psfollies.com.
NOTE TO EDITORS: BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO B-ROLL AND HIGH-RESOLUTION PHOTOS DOWNLOADABLE AT www.psfollies.com/media
Download this press release in Microsoft Word format: http://www.psfollies.com/uploads/multimedia/pr/docs/2011.12.28_maureen_mcgovern_follies_debut.doc
