City Slang: Don Was and the Stephen Gottlieb Music Festival

By Brett Callwood

Feb 25, 2012 at 10:58 am

Audio By Carbonatix

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Don Was will perform at the Stephen Gottlieb Music Festival on March 24. The festival runs between March 15 and 25 at the Berman Center for the Performing Arts in West Bloomfield. The festival is hosted by the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit. More information can be found at their website here.

According to the press release, “An Evening with Don Was will be presented at the festival at 8:30 pm on Saturday, March 24 at The Berman. First emerging as half of the satiric R&B duo Was (Not Was), Oak Park native Don Was became one of the most prolific and sought-after producers in contemporary music. He produced such artists as Bob Seger, Glenn Frey, Iggy Pop, Bob Seger, the B-52s, Barenaked Ladies and Bonnie Raitt. In 1995, Don Was earned a Grammy Award for Producer of the Year. Hosted by award-winning music journalist Gary Graff, “An Evening with Don Was” will feature a discussion of the producer’s extraordinary career, from his beginnings in Oak Park to the pinnacle of the music industry today, along with musical performances that celebrate the brilliant career of Don Was.”

Additional performers include:
Balkano, a Chicago-based sextet whose music weaves together traditional klezmer, Bulgarian wedding melodies and Turkish Gypsy songs.
The Soul Shabbat Band, performing with Thornetta Davis and Cantorial Soloist Neil Michaels.
Spirit of Sepharad, featuring Gerard Edery, combining the cultural strains of music that influenced Sephardic Jews.
“Bonjour, Paris,” a French cabaret concert with Claudia Hommel and Stefan Kukurugya.
New Zimriyah, a choir of children from local religious, day and high schools.
A chamber concert conducted by Edward Benyas, music director of the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra.
The Michigan Board of Cantors in “AHAVA,” a musical evening exploring the joys, sorrows and mysteries of love.
Elaine Serling, known for her interpretations of Jewish standards, Broadway and Yiddish favorites, along her own compositions.