This week, Ira Sternberg spoke with Jim Belushi and Clint Holmes.
Comedian, actor and blues musician Jim Belushi along with blues band The Sacred Hearts will be performing at the Orleans Showroom October 4-5.
Belushi is known worldwide for making people laugh as a regular on “Saturday Night Live,” his long-running comedy series “According to Jim” and his many film appearances. In addition to his film and TV career, Belushi’s music career blossomed in 1995 when he joined forces with House of Blues regulars, The Sacred Hearts. Soon after, friend Dan Aykroyd asked Belushi to join him as part of the Blues Brothers. To get ready to play with the Blues Brothers, Belushi would crash rehearsals for The Sacred Hearts. He had so much fun performing with them, they eventually merged professionally and have been performing as Jim Belushi and The Sacred Hearts.
The band’s first CD, “36 x 22 x 36,” was released in 1998 and delivers a Memphis rhythm & blues sound seasoned with a lot of soul. Additionally, the “According to Jim Soundtrack” was released in 2005, containing the music by Jim Belushi & The Sacred Hearts featured in fan favorite series episodes. Much of the show’s music was written and recorded by Belushi and bandmates Johnny Rubano and Tony Braunagel, who also made regular guest appearances on “According to Jim.”
Band members include guitarist J.J. Holiday, vocalist/trumpet player Johnny Rubano, bassist Larry Lee Lerma, composer and saxophonist Joe Sublett, vocalist Julie Delgado, drummer Tony Braunagel and trumpet player Darrell Leonard.
Clint Holmes is performing in GEORGIA ON MY MIND: Celebrating the Music of Ray Charles at the Venetian Las Vegas through October 29, along with ten-time GRAMMY award-winning vocal group TAKE 6, six-time GRAMMY nominee and DownBeat artist of the year Nnenna Freelon, and Stella Gospel Award and GRAMMY award-winning saxophone star Kirk Whalum. DownBeat artist of the year Nnenna Freelon, and Stella Gospel Award and GRAMMY award-winning saxophone star Kirk Whalum. Th
Clint Holmes, named Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year three times, Singer of the Year four times and awarded the Sammy Davis Jr. Foundation award, is appearing with has begun an exclusive engagement at Cabaret Jazz inside The Smith Center. The newly opened Smith Center For the Performing Arts, is a world-class venue in the heart of Las Vegas.
Holmes comes by his talent naturally. His father was an African-American jazz musician and his mother a classically trained opera singer from Great Britain. Clint admits it was the best of two musical worlds. “My mom taught me how to sing correctly, and my dad taught me how to enjoy it.” Casual elegance describes Clint’s presence on stage. His musical selections range from contemporary to classic, with jazz and opera thrown into the mix.
In the world of theater, Holmes, along with Nelson Cole, created the book, music, and lyrics for the musical, “Comfortable Shoes.” Clint starred in the world premiere of this musical at the legendary Papermill Playhouse. His latest musical, “Just Another Man” with Larry Moss and Bill Fayne, had its premiere at the Nevada Conservatory Theatre at the Judy Bailey Theater at UNLV.
In April of 2012, he premiered a major cabaret piece, “Remembering Bobby Short,” a loving homage to the man who defined New York cabaret. It was performed at the legendary Cafe Carlyle, where Bobby Short held court for more than thirty years. In July of 2012, he premiered another major work, “This Thing Called Love-The Music of Cole Porter and Paul Simon,” directed by Larry Moss, also at the Cafe Carlyle in New York, to rave reviews.
