By Sandi Durell . . .

The filled to capacity room at Broadway’s nightclub, 54 Below, was more than ready. The anticipation palpable as lights dim and music begins – all heads turn to the doorway near the lighting booth as excitement builds and builds until the ever young looking Marvelous Marilyn Maye appears to make her way to the stage.  It takes a while as she has to acknowledge, shake hands, say a few words with so many fans, friends and celebrities sitting in her path.

Finally, the moment had arrived as Kevin Alvey gallantly leads Ms. Maye up the stairs to the stage where her musicians of renown – Tedd Firth on piano, Tom Hubbard on bass, Mark McLean on drums await. The audience applause is deafening.

A calmness descends over the room as the Queen of Cabaret, jazz legend Marilyn Maye acknowledges with “It’s a Most Unusual Day” (Jimmy McHugh/Harold Adamson) in her favorite jazz waltz styling – yes isn’t it just that, as celebrating a 95th Birthday isn’t an everyday occurrence on that stage nor, for that matter, most anywhere. It’s easy to tell she’s flying high with the joy of what she loves to do as she calmly says “I worried if you were gonna make it.” Ha, we wouldn’t miss this night!!

Ms. Maye’s parodies are famous as she delivers a “Hello to 54 Below”before launching into Arlen/Koehler’s “I’ve Got the World on a String” and Arlen/Mercer’s “Accentuate the Positive.” It’s obvious this is a night of good and optimistic thoughts with song lyrics that best express them like Kern/B.G. DeSylva’s “Look for the Silver Lining.”

Marilyn Maye’s extraordinary history in the business is well known but her eager audience laps it up as many times as she’s willing to tell the tales so here’s the abbreviated version – her mother naming her after the famous Marilyn Miller – Mom surely an impetus in her young daughter’s career as her piano player, accompanying her daughter . . . “I was never a child.” She was singing since age 12, entering contests, singing on radio, working in Topeka, Kansas clubs. The real launch, however, came when Marilyn moved to Chicago where Steve Allen (who has written over 8000 songs in his career) found and propelled her on. There were the grand days of recording with RCA, her three marriages – “I can’t cook” -the 76 appearances on the Johnny Carson show (he called her a ‘Super Singer’), along with a stage career appearing as Dolly and as Mame. Her recording of “Too Late Now” was included in the Smithsonian Institution Recordings of the 20th Century. Lest we forget, Ella Fitzgerald referred to Marilyn Maye as “the greatest white female singer in the world.” There you have it, the short version of a much longer, more complicated thrilling story.

Marilyn favorite “Cabaret” (Kander/Ebb) is special as she recorded it before the show ever opened. “I Love You Today” (Steve Allen, from the show Sophie) juxtaposed with Johnny Carson’s favorite/most requested Marilyn song “Here’s That Rainy Day” poured much emotion and feeling, her expressive hands adding to the stories.

Once she’s on it, it’s rapid fire spitting out those lyrics to “Take Five” (Desmond/Brubeck & Brubeck). Lest I forget, there were a significant number of band solos from the top-of-the-line musicians – a mutual love fest for sure – throughout the evening. The inclusion of “Rain”. . . not often heard . . . is a wonderful upbeat story song (by an unknown artist).

What’s a Marilyn Maye show without a “New York Medley” that includes “New York State of Mind, “There’s a Boat Dats Leavin’ Soon for New York,” the clever fun of “New York’s My Personal Property” . . . punctuated with several high-stepping famous Maye kicks.

The songs kept coming, the birthday girl floating on air sharing her unique song stylings – another master class in technique. A how-to-do-it for those in the know and those eager to know. Too many deserved standing ovations to count throughout the night.

As the evening came to a close, a real surprise guest was Marilyn Maye’s daughter Kristi Tucker from KC, who came up on stage unexpectedly with a bouquet of flowers followed by the presentation of a 3-layer gorgeous cake from 54 Below (that the audience shared with a glass of bubbly).

Randy Roberts – Liz Callaway – Melissa Errico – Marilyn Maye – Donna McKechnie

Melissa Errico – Donna Murphy – Lee Roy Reams

Catherine Russell – Mark McLean – KT Sullivan – Tedd Firth

The audience was ablaze with stars and I hope I get most of them here: Liz Callaway, Melissa Errico, Donna McKechnie, Lee Roy Reams, Sidney Myer, Donna Murphy, Randy Roberts, songwriter Julie Gold.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR MARILYN . . . WE LOVE YOU TO PIECES!

Photos: Kevin Alvey and Maryann Lopinto