Singing Their Praises
WHYY celebrates Women's History Month with some special programs
Compiled by Jamila Trindle; Edited by Anna Christopher
To celebrate Women's History Month, WHYY is honoring the brightest musical stars of stage, screen and the Billboard charts on TV12 this month. From the versatility of current singing sensation Denyce Graves to the emotive vocals of the late, great Rosemary Clooney, prepare to be thoroughly entertained by the best Broadway and Tinsel Town have to offer.
Sunday, March 7
 Sissel in Concert: All Good Things
Famous for lending her ethereal voice to the soundtrack for the Academy Award-winning film Titanic and dazzling an international audience at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norwegian-born singer Sissel crosses back and forth between her classical, pop and folk influences. In this very personal concert, the singer performs "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "Over the Rainbow," and more of her favorite songs with a 54-piece orchestra, an all-female chorus, and world-renowned musical guests, including tenor Russell Watson. 4:45 p.m.
 Denyce Graves: Breaking the Rules
In this electrifying concert recorded in June 2003 at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves showcases her incredible talent, style and versatility by leaving behind the opera scores she is famous for and wowing the crowd with a collection of classical, gospel, R&B and jazz favorites, including "Get Happy," "Old Man River," "Lay Down My Burdens," and "Joint is Jumpin'."
Philadelphia native and soul diva Patti LaBelle joins Graves to perform the powerful song "Love Remembered," which was written especially for their unique voices, and Graves reveals her vocal strengths in a duet of the popular opera piece "Barcarolle" with rising star Jessica Swink. 7 p.m.
 Carol Channing & Pearl Bailey on Broadway
In this spectacular concert from 1969, Broadway legends Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey (who both won acclaim for their performances as the title character in the long-running musical Hello, Dolly!) take the stage together at the famed Winter Garden Theater to perform tunes from some of America's best-loved musicals, including many that were originally written for men.
During this unforgettable evening of song, dance and comedy, the ladies perform solos and duets of such songs as "76 Trombones" from The Music Man; "If I Were a Rich Man" from Fiddler on the Roof; and "There is Nothing Like a Dame" from South Pacific, and conclude the concert with a rousing rendition of "Hello, Dolly!." 9 p.m.
 Cher: The Farewell Tour
Cher is the quintessential crossover artist -- a chart-topping pop singer; an Oscar-winning actress; and the co-star of the 1970s television hit The Sonny & Cher Show. In this new special filmed in Miami and filled with vintage clips, the entertainment icon proves she can still capture an audience and reflects on her amazing 40-year career as one of showbiz's greatest female superstars, which has included such hit songs as "If I Could Turn Back Time," "Half Breed" and "Believe." Saturday, March 13 at 10 p.m.
Wednesday, March 24
 Rosemary Clooney: Girl Singer
During a career that spanned six decades, actress and singer Rosemary Clooney mesmerized audiences with the warmth, depth of feeling and honesty she gave each character she portrayed. It was that artistry, expressed through her distinctively deep, rich and smooth voice that earned Clooney recognition as one of America's premiere pop and jazz singers.
This new special celebrates her life and work by seamlessly blending interviews with Clooney's family and friends with vintage performances from the star's 1950s television appearances. Click here to access archives of an interview with the late singer from NPR's Jazz Profiles. 8 p.m.
 Fever: The Music of Peggy Lee
Probably the most memorable part of the song "Fever" is Miss Peggy Lee's seductive declaration in the final stanza: "What a lovely way to burn!" Taking a cue from the famous song, Lee's career "burned" for nearly 60 years, propelling the North Dakota native from fresh-faced singer with the Benny Goodman Orchestra to a sultry nightclub star to an eventual Academy Award nominee.
In this new special, family, friends and fellow performers -- including Quincy Jones, Andy Williams, Nancy Sinatra, k.d. lang and Cy Coleman -- celebrate the late musical legend by sharing their memories and introducing clips of Lee's renditions of such songs as "Big Spender," St. Louis Blues" and "Wing Beneath My Wings." 10 p.m.
Salute to Kathy Lennon
For 13 years, singer Kathy Lennon and her sisters Dee Dee, Peggy and Janet charmed audiences with their beautiful harmonies on The Lawrence Welk Show, and since then have truly become one of America's most beloved performing groups.
Now all grown up, Kathy (who was just 12 years old when the girls made their debut on the show) shares her family history and her personal collection of antiques as she hosts this special episode of The Lawrence Welk Show from 1966, which opens with a performance of "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody" by the entire cast and features a solo of "Secret Love" by Kathy and a rendition of the classic "Blue Moon" by the Lennon Sisters. Saturday, March 27 at 7 p.m.
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