Stars & Legendsct Productions

08/31/2025

Once again, last August 2024, it was the sweet sounds of the Motor City, Detroit, MI and the group, "That Motown Band".

As their press release tells it like it is !

"Do you love songs like Heat Wave, Ain’t too Proud To Beg, Baby Love, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, My Girl, and Rescue Me? Do you love artists like Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, The Supremes and The Four Tops? Then, you are going to love this group talented vocalists and musicians. That Motown band has been entertaining crowds for many years now."

"Joining the Motown Band is Garfield Fleming. Garfield is a Soul Singing Vocalist of legendary status having been a member of The Delfonics for 25 years with William Hart. Garfield’s obvious resemblance to David Ruffin makes people look twice but when he sings fans get lost in time! He sounds just like Bobby Womack, David Ruffin and can also perform the songs of many legendary artists."

We enjoyed them so much that we're going to see them again in November here in CT !!!

Maybe we'll catch you at a show !!

I hope you'll join me, Larry Dasilva, on the radio Sunday, August 31st, from 4 - 8 pm EDT, filling in for Joe D., for news, weather and great mix of music on 88.9, WJMJ.

For those across the U.S. and overseas, please join me online at WJMJ .org or at Tunein. com. , Key Word: WJMJ.

08/26/2025

Sunday, August 24th, while doing my radio shift, I was pleased to see that Acadamy Award winning actress Marlee Matlin, ("Children of a Lesser God"), had a birthday turning 60 years young !!

About a month ago, my bride and I went to see her latest film, "Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore", a documentary film abour her life to this point, directed and produced by fellow actor, Shoshannah Stern, who was inspired as a child by Matlin's story and who also is deaf.

Matlin, who won her Oscar at the age of 21, is a whirlwind individual with boundless energy balancing her carrer and activism while being a wife and mother to four children.

She is a survivor of Hollywood, battling abuse, addiction, and bias overcoming all this to build a successful career as an film and television actor, author and spokesperson for the deaf community.

From an abusive relationship with fellow actor, the late William Hurt, to being taken in by taken in for a time by fellow actor, Henry Winkler and his wife, Matlin's story shows the highs and lows of life and how the kindness of a few friends can help someone rise up and become a better person to pass on their knowledge.

I encourage you to see this film. You'll be a better person for doing so !

Now available on Digital, Blu-ray and DVD: https://knlor.com/marleeathomeIn 1987, at the age of just 21, Marlee Matlin shattered expectations as the first De...

08/23/2025

Attended a wonderful concert last evening at Tanglewood in Lenox Mass. celebrating Boston Pops Orchestra's leader, Keith Lockhart's 30th anniversary at the helm.

In addition to several videos highlighting Lockhart's carrer over those 30 years, the audience was treated to outstanding performances from the following:

John Pizzarelli: Guitarist, singer, Grammy wining producer, (James Tayor's American Standards)

Time For Three; Grammy and Emmy winning trio ensemble who were joined on-stage by drummer,, Matt Scarano.

Mandy Gonzalez: Film, television, stage actor, singer and author,
best know for her work on Broadway in "Hamilton", "In The Heights" and "Wicked"

Bernadette Peters: Legendary performer of stage, film, television, concerts, recordings. A Tony winner for "Song and Dance", "Annie get Your Gun" and Golden Globe winner for the film "Pennies From Heaven, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Ben Folds: Emmy nominated singer/songwriter, ("Ben Folds Five") and past Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Paula Plum: Film, TV, and stage actress who, backed by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, narrated "From Sea to Shining Sea": Katherine Lee Bates and the Story of American the Beautiful.

Brian Stokes Mitchell: 2 time Tony winner, ("Kiss Me Kate"),
TV, ("Trapper John M.D."), Grammy Nominated, ("The Complete Shakespeare Sonnets").

Ryan Miller: Founding member and lead singer of the band, "Guster", film/television composer, actor, and televison host.

A star studded concert performance honoring maestro Keith Lockhart with the Boston Pops Orchestra that left the shed and outdoor audience wanting even more!

I hope you'll join me, Larry Dasilva, on the radio Sunday, August 24th, from 4 - 8 pm EDT, filling in for Joe D., for news, weather and great mix of music on 88.9, WJMJ.

For those across the U.S. and overseas, please join me online at WJMJ .org or at Tunein. com. , Key Word: WJMJ.

08/20/2025

Sad to post the passing today of a longtime music friend of ours, Michael "Tunes" Antunes (August 10th, 1940 -August 19th, 2025) at the age of 85.

A 50 year member of 'John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band', this marvelous tenor saxophonist was born in New Bedford, Mass.

A 2nd generation American with Cape Verdean heritage, "Tunes" had been active in music since the age of 13 during his days at Dartmouth (MA) High School playing with a brother and a cousin.

During the 1960's "Tunes" palyed with several bands, most notably, "The Blazers" , who released several single including one that this writer obtained years later via EBay called "Grasshopper" on Mundo Records !!

"Tunes" musical career went into high gear when in the mid 1970's he joined Cafferty & Beaver Brown.

The band got it's big break around 1983 when they were asked to provide the music for the 1984 film, "Eddie & The Cruisers".

"Tunes" acted in both Eddie and the 1989 sequel film, "Eddie Lives...."

As Cafferty would often say with introducing Antunes, "Star of stage, screen and everything in between....TUNES !"

The Standard-Times newspaper in 2015 did a story on Antunes featuring quotes from several of his bandmates:

“I’ve heard a lot of sax players and I think he’s the best. He’s a magician. He makes magic with that saxophone.” - Singer/Songwriter, John Cafferty

“I can’t believe it. He gives 100 percent all the time,” “He doesn’t phone it in, he doesn’t pretend. He always plays like he’s going for it.” - Bassist, Dean Cassell

“All the musicians in the area look up to ‘Tunes,’” “He’s got a great reputation and a lot of people consider him the best sax player in rock. He’s got a great sense of spontaneity and creativity.” - former JC/BBB drummer, Jackie Santos who first performed at the age of 12 with Antunes.

Between 2004 - 2011, "Tunes" also had a side project as a member of "Ernie & the Automatics a blues/rock band that included former members of Boston, RTZ, Orion the Hunter, and Peter Wolf's band.

I had the pleasure to see Michael Antunes well over 250 times over 23 years with Beaver Brown, the Automatics and at various music charity events over these many years.

We last caught up with "Tunes" on April 12th, of this year after a concert at the District Center of the Arts in Taunton, MA.

He was a simple, yet complex man, a tremendous musician, generous with his bandmates and fans who adored him all these years

RIP Michael "Tunes" Antunes, those tender years will never sound quite the same.

08/15/2025

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mhazkdacy3nw9fcbnb6h4/Video-Aug-09-2024-8-36-47-PM.mov?rlkey=h5ss7vdquaqi51w3wpd3ikzfg&st=5e3gc7fw&dl=0


A thrill to see Rock & Roll Hall of Famers', The Doobie Brothers last year in Bridgeport, CT.
Founding members Pat Simmons & Tom Johnston along with 70's add-ons Michael McDonald and John McFee brought their touring unit to the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater for an evening of classic hits that rocked the house !!
In case you hadn't heard, on June 6, 2025, the Doobie's released a new album titled "Walk This Road".
Listen to a clip of Patrick Simmons and the band do "Black Water", a Doobies hit from 1975 that showed their versatility and had the packed crowd singing as one !!
I hope you'll join me, Larry Dasilva, on the radio Sunday, August 17th, from 4 - 8 pm EDT, filling in for Joe D., for news, weather and great mix of music on 88.9, WJMJ.
For those across the U.S. and overseas, please join me online at WJMJ .org or at Tunein. com. , Key Word: WJMJ.

Shared with Dropbox

08/10/2025

Remembering Quincy Jones, (1933 - 2024), who passed away on November 3rd, 2024 at the age of 91.

Jones, composer, music/film/television producer, record label executive, author, bandleader and musician became a force to be reckoned with in the 2nd half of the 20th century.

Nicknamed "Q" by those who knew and worked with him, Jones was born in Chicago to a mother who had emotional issues and a father who took Jones by age 10 and moved to Washington state.

Having been exposed to a piano back in Chicago, Jones fully discovered music at a recreation center at his new location and by age 11, found peace in music and knew at was for him rather than a life of trouble on the streets.

Some interesting facts that I was not fully aware of when I heard of Quincy's passing:

At 15, now playing trumpet, Jones befriended an young 18 year old blind, piano player named Ray Charles who was playing as one of the 'McSon Trio' in the Seattle area.

He won a scholarship to the Berklee School of Music in Boston
but left early to tour with Lionel Hampton and his band.

Jones, still a teen, backed famed singer, Billie Holiday during the 1950's

After heading a band that toured Europe in the late 50's and nearly going bankrupt, Jones was saved and given a loan from the owner of Mercury Records for whom Jones went to work for in the early 1960's as a vice president of the label, a first for a black man with a major label,

Jones throughout his career worked with Hampton, Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Sinatra, Bennett, Leslie Gore, LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, James Ingram, Patti Austin, Chaka Khan, Queen Latifah, Donna Summer, Will Smith and many more.

It was his collaboration in the late 1970's with singer, Michael Jackson that cemented his legacy, producing "Off the Wall', "Thriller", and "Bad".

Jones composed for films ("In the Heat of the Night"), TV "Roots", "Hey Landlord", "Sanford & Son"), as well as for many musical performers.

He was honored in his long career with 28 Grammy Awards, an
Emmy Award, a Tony Award, nominated for an Acadamy Award seven times, received the Academy's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award as well as an Academy Honorary Award which was presented posthumously several weeks after his death from pancreatic cancer.

Among his many other honors, Jones received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2001, the National Medal of Arts in 2011 and the French national honor of Commandeur Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the Minister of Culture in France.

To those of us who have followed Quincy Jones during the past 60 plus years, his passing has reminded so many people of many memories from times that seem not so long ago.

Thanks for your courage, musicianship, abilities, humor, activism, knowledge, wit, class, smile. the memorable performances that you extracted from all that came in contact with you and the memories you give us all Quincy Jones !

I hope you'll join me, Larry Dasilva, on the radio for our regular Sunday 'Lunch Brunch', from Noon - 2 pm, EDT, for news, weather and great mix of music on 88.9, WJMJ.

For those across the U.S. and overseas, please join me online at WJMJ .org or at Tunein. com. , Key Word: WJMJ.

08/03/2025

https://youtu.be/-dbq1GmLIZE

Came across this nugget while on-air this Sunday,

4-time Super Bowl NFL coach, the great Marv Levy, former Buffalo Bills head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer turned 100 years young today, August 3rd, 2025,

Had the pleasure of having Coach Marv, along with co-author/Chicago sports writer, George Castle on the old "Studio 411" series in the Fall of 2018.

They teamed up to write a book a book about Coach Marv's lifelong passion, the Chicago Cubs baseball team.

"Go Cubs Go!,", a heartwarming story echoes the life of author Levy as well as, co-author and baseball historian Castle and educates the reader about the Cubs' memorable dates and games, names and nicknames, achievements and quotes.

Many Cubs books tell the same story, but "Go Cubs Go!" crafted a tale for fans of all ages and generations.

It also teaches fun facts and history on their favorite team, the 2016 World Series Champion, Chicago Cubs!

This episode aired on Halloween night, 2018 and was one of the series' best !!!!

Click on the episode and join host Larry Dasilva with guests, George Castle and legendary coach, Marv Levy, on this encore "Studio 411"

Happy 100th Birthday Coach Marv Levy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy !!

Returning guest, author George Castle along with Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach and Executive, Marv Levy, longtime coach of the Buffalo Bills and 4-time AFC...

08/02/2025

Had the chance in July, 2024 to see the band 'South Road' and reconnect with our longtime friend, lead singer Dawn Lowell

Part of a yearly music series on Saturday's from May thru August featuring great family-friendly entertainment by local musicians in downtown Historic Collinsville, CT.

South Road band members are:
Dawn Lowell - ​Lead vocals,
Tom Ethier - Lead guitar/vocals,
Will Siss - Rhythm Guitar/keyboards/vocals,
Todd Russo - bass/vocals,
Jim Fontana - Percussion/keyboards,
&
Paul Darasz - Drums

When you attemd a South Road show, you'll hear songs from a variety of performers such as:

Chuck Berry * Elvis Presley * Little Richard * Carl Perkins * Patsy Cline * Big Joe Turner * Big Mama Thornton * Bill Doggett * The Champs * Barrett Strong * Little Willie John * Peggy Lee * The Rolling Stones * Credence Clearwater Revival * The Who * Jefferson Airplane * James Brown * Bob Dylan * Sam Cooke * Ray Charles * Sam & Dave * Tommy James & the Shondells * Johnny Kidd & the Pirates * Everly Brothers * Wilson Pickett * The Temptations * The Young Rascals * Martha & the Vandellas * Merle Haggard * Tom Petty * Bonnie Raitt * The Doobie Brothers * KC & the Sunshine Band * Linda Ronstadt * Talking Heads * Rod Stewart * Patti Smith * Bruce Springsteen * Staples Singers * Gloria Gaynor * Dolly Parton * Three Dog Night * Bob Seger * Blondie * King Floyd * Hall & Oates * Jackson Browne * Sade * Imelda May * Elle King * Jimmy Eat World & more!

Great to visit with Dawn before the show and LOOK for these guys...this band is great !!!

I hope you'll join me, Larry Dasilva on Sunday, August 3rd, from Noon - 2 pm DST, for news, weather and great mix of music on 88.9, WJMJ.

For those across the U.S. and overseas, please join me online at Tunein. com. Key Word: WJMJ or @ WJMJ. org.

My thanks to my station family @ WJMJ and you, most of all, the listeners !!

Together, we'll continue to have a great time on 88.9, WJMJ........Catholic Radio, Where Faith Meets Life !!

07/30/2025

Recently spent an enjoyable evening at the Real Arts Ways in Hartford, CT.

Founded in 1975, Real Arts Ways calls itself, "an independent cinema and alternative multidisciplinary arts organization in Hartford, CT that presents and supports contemporary artists and independent film."

There we saw, "Breaking Silence", a documentary about legendary singer/songwriter, Janis Ian.

Writer Alex Billington had this to say about this bio-pic documentary:

"The little woman wrote giant works of art." "Greenwich Ent, has revealed the official trailer for a music biopic documentary film titled Janis Ian: Breaking Silence, made by doc filmmaker Varda Bar-Kar. This first premiered at DOC NYC last year and opens in US theaters at the end of March this spring. The life and songbook of Janis Ian mirrored the awakening of American women in the 1960s & '70s, as they found their voices and embraced their power during this time of change. In the 1960s, as a teenager, acclaimed American singer-songwriter Janis Ian used to jam with Jimi Hendrix in Greenwich Village bars and partied with Janis Joplin, who jokingly called herself "the other Janis." She later befriended Bruce Springsteen as they simultaneously recorded albums at the same studio. In the 80s, she played duets with Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson in Nashville. She lived the adventurous life of a rock star. And she also overcame homophobia, record industry misogyny, and a life-threatening illness to produce an amazing body of work. This features Joan Baez, Jean Smart, Arlo Guthrie, Lily Tomlin, Tom Paxton, & other icons. An empowering story to tell."
(Courtesy of FirstShowing.net)

Seeing this film with period piece footage, recreation film at times and Ian, herself, doing the lion's share of the narration, I felt sad for her in the way the industry treated her, poor choices she made and others made for her.

This two-time Grammy winner along with a total of 10 nominations dealt with being swindled by her money man, enured difficult relationship choices with both men and women until her later years, battling the recording industry,

Ian is a survivor in many ways and losing her singing voice in 2022 due to a virus that left scarring on her vocal cords was the most recent of her challanges that she has had to deal with in her life.

Unable to vocally perform, Ian still is able to reach people through her writing abilities,

Meeting her legion of fans via talks such as the one she conducted recently at the Kate in Old Saybrook, CT where she spoke on-stage to an audience of fans who were there to watch the film!

Fast foward all these many years later and one who sees this film will understand the talent and toughness that continues to be Janis Ian.

I give "Breaking Silence" four guitars 🎸🎸🎸🎸

I hope you'll join me, Larry Dasilva on Sunday, August 3rd, from Noon - 2 pm DST, for news, weather and great mix of music on 88.9, WJMJ.

For those across the U.S. and overseas, please join me online at Tunein. com. Key Word: WJMJ or @ WJMJ. org.

My thanks to my station family @ WJMJ and you, most of all, the listeners !!

Together, we'll continue to have a great time on 88.9, WJMJ........Catholic Radio, Where Faith Meets Life !!
https://youtu.be/wYOz2b_iLxw

IN THEATERS MARCH 28. EVERYWHERE YOU RENT MOVIES APRIL 29.In 1965, Janis Ian, a 14-year-old singer-songwriter from New Jersey, wrote “Society’s Child” about ...

07/27/2025

A thrill to be able to see the great Steve Winwood last August, 2024 at the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, CT.

Winwood, a 2004 inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Traffic, opened for the Doobie Brothers and did a seven song set sprinkling tracks from his career.

From The Spencer Davis Group, to Blind Faith, to his time with Traffic as well as his successful solo career, Winwood left the crowd ready for the Doobies, but wanting more from him.

Here was his set-list that night:

Glad
(Traffic song)

Can't Find My Way Home
(Blind Faith song)

Why Can't We Live Together
(Timmy Thomas cover)

Roll With It
(Solo)

Back in the High Life Again
(Solo)

Higher Love
(Solo)

Gimme Some Lovin'(Spencer Davis Group)

Steve Winwood should also be in the R&RHOF as a solo artist.

Time will tell!!

I hope you'll join me, Larry Dasilva, on the radio for our regular Sunday 'Lunch Brunch', from Noon - 2 pm, EDT, for news, weather and great mix of music on 88.9, WJMJ.

For those across the U.S. and overseas, please join me online at WJMJ .org or at Tunein. com. , Key Word: WJMJ.

Please watch this clip link of Steve Winwood and his band doing "Gimmie Some Lovin'" ENJOY!

07/19/2025

Remembering Melanie, (1947 - 2024), who passed away on January 23rd, 2024 at the age of 76.

Born Melanie Safka in Queens, NYC to parents of Russian-Ukranian & Italian heritage, Melanie began singing during high school in Long Branch, NJ after her familly movied there in the 1960's.

The future singer/songwriter/musician was ostracized by her high school classmates and after a short runaway stint in California, tranfered to a school in Red Bank, NJ where she graduated in 1966.

Safka was prohibited from marching with her 1966 class during graduation ceremonies, allegedly because of an "overdue" library book.

She was later inducted into the Red Bank Regional High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame in 2015.

She was a better person than I would have been in that circumstance.!

Afterwards, Melanie began playing clubs in Greenwich Village.

Safka got a brief record deal in 1967 with Columbia Records that went nowhere and later signed with Buddah records in 1968.

Success came in late in 68' into 1969 in Europe with "Bo Bo's Party" which went #1 in France.

Then, "Beautiful People" scored big in the Netherlands from her debut LP. "Melanie".

This led the organizers of the upcoming "Woodstock" festival to reach out to her to appear at the mid-Aug., 1969 event as one of only three solo female performers,

Melanie, according to Wikipedia, was "sent onstage for an unscheduled performance after the Incredible String Band declined to perform during the rainstorm. Called back for two encores"

This exposure did more for her career than anything else could have done in one 1/2 hour performance !

Melanie went on to have 6 Billboard Top 40 hits, but her impact and legacy goes way beyond that.

I remember the first time I heard "Brand New Key" on the car radio as we were travelling I-95 thru Providence, RI in 1972 going to visit relatives.

In the late 80's, early 1990's I acquired "The Best of Melanie", a 1988 release that opened my appreciation of her even more than I could've imagined.

Original songs like "Look What They've Done to My Song Ma", Beautiful People", "Nickel Song", "Good Book", as well as distinctive covers of songs such as, 'Ruby Tuesday", "Lay Lady Lay", "Mr. Tambourine Man", and "Carolina On My Mind".

Dig deeper than that when you listen to her overall catalog of recorded music!

I connected with Melanie via Linkedin several years ago, but alas never had the opportunity of interviewing her which would have been a blast and an honor.

To those of us who have followed Melanie over 50 years, her passing has reminded so many people of many memories from times that seem not so long ago.

Thanks for your singing voice, activism, humor, determination, class, smile. memorable performances and memories you give us all Melanie Safka !

I hope you'll join me, Larry Dasilva, on the radio for our regular Sunday 'Lunch Brunch', from Noon - 2 pm, EDT, for news, weather and great mix of music on 88.9, WJMJ.

For those across the U.S. and overseas, please join me online at WJMJ .org or at Tunein. com. , Key Word: WJMJ.

Please watch this clip link of a 22 year old Melanie performing "Birthday of the Rain" after 1 am on Saturday, August 16, 1969 at the 'Woodstock Music and Art Fair' (Woodstock Festival).

Video from "Woodstock: The Lost Performances", which is now out of publication and thanks to 88dukecoupe

Be in awe and praise Melanie, RIP

https://youtu.be/z5Bwz0idx7s?si=q75S-tA_YKFYpd7k

Melanie performing "Birthday of the Sun" at the original 1969 Woodstock concert.This video was taken from a laser disk of "Woodstock: The Lost Performances",...

07/13/2025

Like many people, especially guys, we love to admire fancy, cool, classic and/or vintage vehicles.

In our travels, we try to photograph ones we feel make an impression.

Don't hesitate to leave your comments and likes on any you see below and perhaps, you've owned one or more of these.

#1: Chevy SS Camero seen in Collinsville, CT

#2: 1966 Ford Thunderbird seen in Conway, SC with less than 80,000 miles

#3: Pontiac Solstice seen in Canton, CT, circa 2007 model.

"Following the 2008 economic recession, GM discontinued the Pontiac division. Production ended with the closure of the Wilmington Assembly plant in July 2009." (Wikipedia)

#4: Mid-1950's Chevy Bel, Air with White top and Sky Blue exterior seen in Sanibel, Fla..

I hope you'll join me, Larry Dasilva, on the radio for our regular Sunday 'Lunch Brunch', from Noon - 2 pm, EDT, for news, weather and great mix of music on 88.9, WJMJ.

For those across the U.S. and overseas, please join me online at WJMJ .org or at Tunein. com. , Key Word: WJMJ.