Seeing Red

Thelma Houston performing at AIDS benefit

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

AIDS research and prevention are close to singer Thelma Houston’s heart.

“I’ve had fans and dear friends affected by AIDS, like my hairdresser, makeup artist and my clothing designers,” Houston says.

“It was almost like we were in a warzone, but you didn’t have the artillery. You didn’t have ammunition to fight because you didn’t know what you were fighting.”

Houston is the highlight of Red is the Night at 6 p.m. Saturday, September 25, at the Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix.

The evening begins with cocktails at the hosted bar and appetizers in the garden. Dinner in the main hall precedes Houston’s performance. Individual tickets range from $175 to $250 for VIP front-row seating, and tables are $1,500 to $2,500 for VIP seating for eight. To register, visit auntritas.org.

“I bought my red earrings when I was downtown yesterday,” she says, calling from Los Angeles. “I just need a red outfit to go with my earrings. I’m looking forward to it.”

Houston will perform her track “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” as well as songs from her Motown catalog.

“I try to just have a party at my shows,” she says. “I want to make people happy to be out again and doing something for such a wonderful organization.

“I was active in the business in the 1970s and onward. Unfortunately, AIDS and HIV was something that came up during that Thelma Houston is best known for her hit “Don’t Leave time. It happened during the Me This Way.” (Photo courtesy of Thelma Houston) popularity of dance music. It’s just a hor- met when he heard Houston regularly rible sickness.” sang his song “Suedehead” in concert on

She has been keeping busy. Houston the recommendation of a songwriting is featured on “Bobby, Don’t You Think friend. They Know?” a duet with Morrissey, the “His music was hitting a new market. I former lead singer of the Smiths. The two guess he appreciated it,” she says. “Sometime later, I received an email from him saying he’d like me to listen to a song. Working with him was a dream. I didn’t expect him to be at the studio, but he was. There wasn’t any controversial or political conversations. It was just two musicians in the studio making music.”

Houston says Morrissey was open to her doing just what she does best. The two sang “Bobby, Don’t You Think They Know?” during his show at the Hollywood Bowl and at an after party.

“He wanted me to entertain at his party afterward,” she says. “He came over and was sitting, engaged, during my show. I told him I read his book, and he didn’t believe I had actually read it. I just wanted to know a little bit more about him. I enjoy reading biographies of people.”

MORE INFO

What: Red is the Night with Thelma Houston When: 6 p.m. Saturday, September 25 Where: Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix Cost: $175 to $250, the latter of which is for VIP front-row seating; $1,500 to $2,500 for VIP seating Info: auntrita.org

Monkees...continued from page 14 non-Monkees tunes. You can throw in all kinds of different things, like deep album cuts.”

Dolenz says the audience connection and love for the music helps him to keep songs fresh for him.

“When you get that kind of a crowd reaction, it’s hard not to enjoy it and be thankful,” he says.

“I feel blessed. It’s great music. It’s happy music.”

Dolenz says the Monkees’ effort to be successful as a fictional band on TV caused fans to connect with the group in the ’60s. He says that this push for a better life was reflected in the music and continues to speak to audiences.

“On the television show, we never made it,” he says. “It was the struggle for success that I think had a lot to do with endearing it to all of those generations. They could relate. They were in their basements and living rooms and still are, trying to be a rock ‘n’ roller. It is that struggle for success that people relate to. You combine that with the music and these great songwriters. And I would like to think I had something to do with it.”

Dolenz owes the group’s success to its behind-the-scenes team.

“What happens is you put a bunch of people together and a bunch of these different elements, and if you are lucky and you work hard, the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. You can’t take it apart at that point. You would have to say that about the Monkees. It was all of us, and not just the four of us. It was all of the people involved in the project,” Dolenz says.

MORE INFO

What: The Monkees Farewell Tour with Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, September 19 Where: Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd Street, Phoenix Cost: $56.50 to $96.50 for regular tickets. $285.75 for VIP tickets, which come with a premium reserved ticket, a soundcheck with the Monkees, a commemorative VIP laminate, a signed copy of the tour book and priority access to shopping and the venue Info: 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.com

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