Of course, I'm talking about Kenny Rogers and Pat Boone. Each holiday season Kenny hits the road with his multi-city holiday tour, which invariably culminates at Westbury Music Fair. He'll sing hits like Lucille, Coward of the County and The Greatest, plus holiday favorites like The Christmas Song, White Christmas and Let it Snow. This show, Christmas From The Heart is so good, it could get Scrooge into the holiday spirit. There are few artists of Rogers' stature. In the span of nearly five decades, he's recorded 60 albums, which have sold over 105 million records worldwide. As one of country music's biggest crossover successes, Rogers' numerous accolades include four Grammy Awards, 11 People's Choice Awards, 18 American Music Awards, eight Academy of Country Music Awards and five Country Music Association Awards. In addition, he was named "Favorite Singer of All Time" in a PM Magazine/USA Today poll in 1986, and in 1989 readers of People Magazine voted him "Favorite Male Vocalist." In March of1999, the Recording Industry Association of America awarded Rogers the prestigious Diamond Award celebrating sales of more than 10 million albums for his Greatest Hits album.Perhaps his most cherished award is also his most personal. In 1990, he was honored with the Horatio Alger Award, given to those who have distinguished themselves despite humble beginnings. For both Rogers and his admirers, his success is all the more remarkable for his having been raised in a public housing project with seven brothers and sisters. But it's not about awards...it's about his audience-Kenny cares about them. "I tend to want to push some button...happy, pain, loneliness, hope...and if a song moves me, I can usually sing it in such a way that I move someone else," Rogers said. "I try to find songs that every man would like to say and every woman would like to hear...songs that can hold up forever, regardless of the performer." Not only is he a fabulous singer/songwriter, he has also enjoyed a wonderfully fulfilling career as an actor, and is best known worldwide for his colorful portrayal as The Gambler's Brady Hawkes.In addition, he recently guest-starred in an episode of the top-rated CBS series, Touched by an Angel, written especially around his #1 hit, Buy Me A Rose.As if that weren't enough, he's also a well-respected photographer and he's currently working his third book! Yet he remains unfazed by his success and largely unimpressed by his own accomplishments. Talented and modest...is there a better combination?Pat Boone is another incredibly talented performer. Like Kenny, he's an actor, singer, author and songwriter. "Legend" tends to be an overused term these days...but if the title movie star, gold-record recording artist, best selling author, Broadway headliner, television star and entrepreneur qualify someone as a legend, then Pat Boone certainly fits the bill. Beginning with his first appearance on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour, and continuing through his many award winning albums, hit movies, chart topping bestsellers, world-wide tours, charitable efforts, he touched and deeply inspired the lives of millions of people-worldwide! To this day, he continues spreading his message of music, love of family, compassion, understanding, hope and love and faith.Don't miss his Christmas to Remember show, which includes an array of musical genres that range from pop to country and from Christian to patriotic.
Kenny Rogers
Christmas From The Heart December 22 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
$45
Pat Boone
Christmas To Remember December 8 at 3 p.m.
$40
Westbury Music Fair,
960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury
Tickets are available at Westbury Music Fair's box office, all Ticketmaster location and online at cc.com.
Ticketmaster: (631) 888-9000.
