ENTERTAINMENT CAREER music / television
BUT FIRST, I SALUTE MY FRIEND MARIO !
Who's da' man? You are ! Who's da' man? You still are !
After concert with BSO in Baltimore After outdoor concert Loutraki Greece
MARIO FRANGOULIS- STILL TOPPING THE CHARTS
On Wednesday June 15th/ 2005 my friend SONY RECORDING ARTIST Superstar Mario Frangoulis went to Placido Domingo's concert at the Herod Atticus Theatre in Greece. Queen Sophia of Spain was also in attendance. Domingo invited Mario onstage at the end of the concert and they sang a song together AMAZING ! The crowd went crazy.
It was a great honor for Mario to be recognized by one of the greatest tenors of all time.
The Baltimore concert with the BSO at the Meyerhoff was made possible, through the efforts of Father Dean Moralis and his hard working volunteers honoring the lives of the members, both past and present, of the Cathedral of Annunciation and celebrates the Cathedrals 100 year Anniversary. It was an honor to chronicle this 100 year milestone as it was an honor to chronicle the Cathedrals 75th anniversary.... just a "quick" 25 years ago
Good Luck Mario, and remember you da' man ! ( In Balmoreeze )
____________________________________________________________________________
ALEX KARAS -
TELEVISION
WONDERWORLD a nationally syndicated GROUP W half hour primetime show
took fantasy requests from viewers and made their fantasy requests come true-
from flying the SUPERSONIC CONCORDE, to being the engineer on an high speed train, to being a zoo keeper
with....
Show Hosts, Bob Turk and Alex Karas -
Prime Time Fridays 7:30 pm 1981 through 1983 all Group W stations USA
WJZ TV 13 " WONDERWORLD "
AT 1340 mph the CONCORDE "grows" 10 inches, in over all length during flight, due to tremendous fuselage heat
SCRIPT - WJZ TV WONDERWORLD Co Host Karas
OPRAH Winfrey worked at WJZ TV co-hosting People Are Talking with Richard Sher at the same time Alex
co-hosted the “Wonderworld” show with Bob Turk
Oprah
left all of us in the dust !! Winfrey originally
joined WJZ 13 in 1978. She was hired to co-anchor a new,
hour-long newscast with the late local media icon Jerry Turner.
In August of that year she was paired with Richard Sher, co-anchoring "People Are Talking," a one-hour, daily magazine-style talk show.
Continued success to you Op!..... We love ya !!
_____________________________________________________________________________________
TV COMMERCIAL DAYS
Sugar Ray Leonard & Alex Karas " BOXING LESSONS FOR FORD TRUCKS "
______________________________________________________________________________________
EARLY MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT DAYS
Music Review: THE LONDON FREE PRESS
AMERICAN
FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS - LONDON ST THOMAS CHAPTER 279
The LATIN QUARTER- London 1972
Friends & Co-workers at the LATIN QUARTER
STAR TREK MUSIC PRODUCTION NIMOY & KARAS
Just in time for the release of STAR TREK the movie.
Leonard Nimoy visited with Alex Karas as the vocal tracks were wrapped up at HALLMARK Recording Studio's in Owings Mills.
A catchy rendition of the classic Star Trek theme with an addition of lyrics, a stereosonic space battle utilizing the latest in synthesizors,
harmonizers, thermins and audio engineering occupying 24 tracks.
They also met with Oprah Winfrey and Richard Scher on the WJZ TV set "People Are Talking"
__________________________________________________________
THE PHIL COLLINS – ALEX KARAS Jam Session Story -
WHERE ? Cross Keys Inn on the Lake in Columbia . ( Now known as The Columbia Inn )
WHO?
· Phil Collins - Drummer for GENESIS
· Daryl Stuermer - Guitarist for GENESIS
· Alex Karas - Vocalist / Keyboards and
· Vince Christ - Drummer for ALEX KARAS & Company Band
The story: A Tuesday night at about midnight in the Wincopin Lounge, my cousin Michael Karas visiting from Canada with
Georgie Karas, Max Yayavi behind the bar, and the usual Tuesday night crowd enjoying themselves when two gentlemen cautiously
peeked into the room ( groupie avoidance measure )and then entered.
At the end of the song a guy who named himself " Daryl" asked if they could sit in. We thought... quiet night, nothing to loose ...
plus he was holding a very high dollar Ovation guitar with EQ's.
Knowing that Merriweather Post Pavillion was around the corner and this was the only hotel in town, an eager YESSSS was the order of the day.
Not knowing WHO these guys were, I asked, " What do you want to play"
Daryl replyed with a "whatever you want". HOW 'BOUT something that none of us know... cool. What kind of feel?
How 'bout latino ?? D minor, E minor, F major, E .
Phil counted it down and away we went as if we had played it for years together ... complete with lyrics, and smoking solo's.
We recorded about a 45 minute session of Original songs, styles: latino, R &B, blues & jazz, on a SONY superscope
stereo cassette recorder- that was always ready (just in case... because this wasn't the first time famous National talent "sat in".
Mp3 samples of this JAM SESSION may become available pending "the deal" from Atlantic Records/ Phil Collins.
Some of the other Mp3 jam session samples that may become available will include:
Sha Na Na, George Benson Band, DFK Band, Dan Fogery Band to mention a few.
Cocktail napkin below is Phil Collins' handwriting and his old address in London
and Daryl Stuermers handwriting from his 3x5 note book also requesting a copy of the tape.
The cassette tape "disappeared" for years until recently discovered at my moms in a keepsake box.
I held my breath as I transferred it to a DAT. It played and still sounded great.
Next step- to digitally re-master the DAT and carve out a deal with Atlantic.
These tracks are hot !!.
Sharon Hammond Alex and Sandy Crawford performing on the Lakefront
________________________________________________________________
Andy Gibb -Alex Karas - "The Break In" story
The CONCERT LINE-UP
Jocko ( SHANANA) & Alex after jam session
MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILLION - all performers stayed at the Cross Keys - Columbia ( Now The Columbia Inn )
ALEX KARAS & COMPANY was the summer house band
Drummer Vince Chris, Entertainer Alex Karas, Vocalist Nancy Axelrod
_______________________________________________________________________________________
KARAS – 1st pro gigs with house bands at North America's Largest Cabaret ballroom-
The Legendary
The late great LEN LANGLEY & his 18 piece orchestra Alex on Cordovox with the " Len Langley Orchestra"
Historic STORK CLUB TICKET STUBS & Clippings
Larry Dennis’ “New Society Band”
Peter Reath on Grand Alex on vocals
Signatures of some of the band members who played at the Stork Club.
On Sunday August 5th, 2007 during a class reunion,
I visited the museum with a high school buddy, Valerie Soaper.
When I saw the piano and other Stork Club artifacts I told Curator, Dan Stevens that I played that piano and
performed at the Stork Club in the 60's.
Overhearing my conversation, visitors from the states said "play something!" . It didn't take a whole lot of arm twisting.
I played an original rendition of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata with my lyrics and a little segway to a Latino R & B groove,
a version I sang at a charity fundraiser earlier this year ....
This whole thing happened sooo fast. The Stork Club spirit is definitely alive and still in my heart especially after making
a little bit of history in Port Stanley's Stork Club Hall of Fame....Where was the video camera when you needed one ??
I was at my 40th class reunion of Parkside Collegiate in St Thomas...
What better way of wrapping up my weekend with school memories, friends & stories along with my early professional music
career memories! Totally unexpected . WOW .... time to spill a drink LOL (its a Greek thing ) and reminisce.
I'll be tearfully numb for some time.
I was so honored when I was asked to add a paragraph to the Stork Clubs Hall of Fames growing history book about the club.
I know it will "take back" those who read it. I'd like to see how the book will grow in time with stories, and others recollections
from an incredible era that will again, never be.
Famous Stork Club Grand Piano Alex playing rendition of Moonlight Sonata - Stork Club Museum Redmond Photo
Be sure to visit the Stork Club Museum in Pt Stanley Ontario Canada
This dedicated group of big band enthusiasts exhibit some of their thousands
of pieces of memorabilia!
See the start of this new concept ! Make a donation to its Future !
519 782-4563
KARAS' former bosses- Dorothy (red jacket) & Johnny Downs (playing Sax) honored in Oct 2007 news article
_______________________________________________________________________
1974 Entertaining at The Playboy Club , Light Street Baltimore
Alex
Karas with WFBR Radio Personality Johnny Walker,
with Playboy bunnies - Midge Erman & Trish Rodrigas
_______________________________________________________
1975 NEWS AMERICAN REVIEW - HUNT VALLEY INN
RICH LITTLE , BUDDY GRECO visit JOEY CALATO and ALEX KARAS
My how time flies !!!
Impressionists Rich Little and Alex Karas
1975 at The Hunt Valley Inn 2005 Rich Little Reflecting about the late Johnny Carson
THE HILTON INN - Pikesville 1976
Karas’ trio followed the Opening Act " Spiral Staircase " which did the Grand opening
for Billy Siskind. ALEX KARAS & COMPANY, sold more in food and beverage sales the following week and
were held over for 6 months straight at Baltimore's trendiest night spot " William Plums Lounge"
________________________________________
1975 Pikesville Hilton Alex Karas & Company with Scott Cathcart & Sharon Hammond
_______________________________________________________
THE ONE MAN BAND YEARS -
1973 Pikesville Squirrel Cage ALEX KARAS entertains the squirrels 6 nights a week
Frank Tselepis' - Pine Ridge Inn TOWSON - Canadian Clubs
Frank Pastore, Sandy Crawford, Alex Karas at TJ's Greenery
______________________________________
1976 PIMLICO HOTEL Alex with personal friend - the LATE, great Loveable Entertainment
MC and funny guy "Trucky"Halpin flanked by keyboard artist Freddie Stevens
JUDGES: Jamie Molesworth, Alex Karas, City Comptroller Hyman Pressman, Newspaper Columnist Jimmy Colimore
____________________________________________________
Charlie Chipparelli's
Alex’s Godfather Routine at Chipps Tery Donato's MOUNTAIN SOUND Recording Studios
WJZ TV-13 Theater Critic ORA REED featured vocalist with
ALEX KARAS and percussionist DAVE GIMBEL
______________________________________________________________________________________________
MICHAEL JACKSON, ALPHONSO, ALEX KARAS
WARNER THEATRE DC - PEPSI COMMERCIAL Voice of the Orioles Rex Barney at ABBA Recording Studios
________________________________________________________________
ENTERTAINER FOR CHARITY FUND RAISER -
WORLDWIDE WEBCAST SPRING 2007
"Cuttin' up" .... with New York Knicks John Love and company....
A classic Tony Bennett rendition and a catchy vocal written by Karas to
Beethoven's of Moonlight Sonata
__________________________________________
RECORDING STUDIO SESSION
July 7th, 2007 " MY SEARCH HAS ENDED"
· This project plucked our heart strings! The studio and engineer was paid and
everyone else did this for free...in the name of romance and love !
Alex Karas’ narrative:
I was approached at church by a very eloquent 82 year old cutting edge gentleman
who said he wrote a song and that he wanted me to sing it.
S h e e s h.....
I figured this was going to be some hokey / panokey deal/ song
so I tried to steer clear.
Pefinis, however, was persistent! THERE WAS NO ESCAPE.
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s David Drosinos suggested I take a real close look
at the music. The song floored me and everyone else that heard it.
Here's the deal- THIS ELOQUENT WW II WAR VETERAN-CHARLES PEFINIS, WROTE A ROMANTIC
SONG 50 YEARS AGO FOR HIS WIFE. Sandra, being the shy type, wouldn’t allow it to be
played at their wedding. So the music sat in the dark for 50 years
We ended up in the recording studio for a couple of days and it developed into
classic romantic carooner type tune with powerful orchestrations of tympani, cellos,
violins, harp, and flute.
DURING THE RECORDING SESSION I TOLD CHARLES “ to write more lyrics because
it was too short,and that we need it bring the story in the next verse, out of the
past tense and into the present."
It took him 10 minutes to comply- adding lyrics about their daughters,
grandchildren etc. Amazing
THE BOTTOM LINE
· CHARLES PULLS MUSIC OUT OF SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX 2 weeks ago
· HIS SONG WAS ARRANGED,PRODUCED,RECORDED,MIXED DOWN, MASTERED & DUPLICATED this week !
Charles Pifinis ought to come out of retirement to crank out tunes.
This song has Tony Bennett's name all over it, although it could be re-done as country
or with a light jazz feel
" Charles you definitely have a wonderful gift!!! WHAT'S NEXT ??!" - Alex Karas
Much much more coming from old band members and tv crews