INTERVIEW: Kenn Boisinger is ready to sing for you
Photo: Kenn Boisinger continues his residency at The Green Room 42. Photo courtesy of Jason Weston/Dirty Sugar Photography / Provided with permission.
Kenn Boisinger, lovingly portrayed by Michael West, is a lounge singer who is ready to sing for an eager audience. In fact, he’s probably even ready to sing for a reluctant audience.
Molding together catchy tunes with humorous lyrics, Boisinger’s songs are original compositions that are simultaneously traditional and unique, sounding like they are from another generation and yet firmly grounded in today’s world.
Boisinger returns to The Green Room 42 in New York City with a continuation of his residency at the cabaret venue. His hit show is called Tonight I’m Gonna Sing For You, and the next show takes place Thursday, June 27 at 10 p.m. Audiences should expect some returning classic tunes and a few new ones as well.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox interviewed West … err, Boisinger, about his career as a lounge singer and what fans can expect at The Green Room 42. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
When did you realize you had the talent to be a lounge singer?
I always knew I wanted to sing. When I was in nursery school, I was nicknamed ‘Boy Wonder’ because no one could figure out how a child so small could have such a big voice. I’ve been blessed with that gift and with unfailing self-confidence all my life. I can’t remember ever being afraid of sharing ‘The Gift’ with any audience. I’ve sung in cafetoriums and concert halls from Flint to Albuquerque; from Bangor, Maine to Hollywood (Florida); from the Cracker Barrel to the Russian Tea Room. I’ve even had the thrill of belting songs on Broadway (Hollywood Soapbox: clarification — not the theatre, the street).
What’s the most difficult thing about being a lounge singer in New York City?
I think I’d have to say it’s the commute. You know, I live on Staten Island (or ‘The Island,’ as I like to call it) with Mother and my brother, Robert, and from our house (I have the entire basement to myself, so it’s almost like living on my own!) I have to take the SIM23 Bus to the Staten Island Ferry. And then I have to catch the #1 subway to Times Square, and then I have to walk three-and-a-half avenue blocks. So, yeah, it’s the commute.
What can audience members expect from your five-month residency at The Green Room 42? Will each concert be unique?
Well, of course, every show will feature the songs from the Boisinger songbook — ‘Is She A Call Girl, Or Just A Girl I’d Like To Call?,’ ‘Daddy Drinks Because You Cry,’ ‘Did He Really See Them All (Were All Patients Really Seen By Dr. Zizmor)?’ … oh, believe me, they’d riot if they didn’t hear the classics. And every month, I’ll be introducing a new song. Last month, it was ‘If There’s Cheese Dust On My Lip Gloss, Praise The Lord’ from my album Sacred Songs For Lutherans And Others, and this month I have a song from my country album (This Is Kenn Country) called ‘You Can Kiss That Bloomin’ Onion Goodbye.’ I like to think there’s something for everyone. Actually, I like to think there’s everything for everyone!
I’ll also have a different guest star to open for me each month. This month, (June 27) it’s Broadway star John Treacy Egan (The Producers, The Little Mermaid, My Fair Lady, When Pigs Fly), and next month (July 25) I have the marvelous ‘undie rock’ band The Skivvies. I actually performed with The Skivvies a couple of months ago at Joe’s Pub. It was the first time I ever performed in my underwear. I bought an eight-pack of Hanes at the Duane Reade for $12. I wore two pair, you know, just in case …
Who are some of your musical influences?
Well, when I was 16, I appeared on a Robert Goulet Lookalike Contest on the last season of the old Merv Griffin Show. I came in third! (Hollywood Soapbox: clarification — out of four contestants), and though I don’t really sound like him, he was a great influence on my haircut, my facial hair and my eyeglasses. As a singer, I’ve been called a cross between Michael Buble, Luciano Pavarotti, and … uh … that really loud horn … what is that, a trombone? They just said a really loud horn — they must have meant the trombone.
If you had a choice of making people laugh or cry with your lounge act, what would you prefer?
Well, I’m known for writing and singing love songs. It’s always my goal to bring the people to tears, so for the life of me, I can’t figure out why they end up laughing hysterically. I think it’s probably just their way of masking the deep emotions they’re feeling. They laugh hard, so I think they must be very moved.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Kenn Boisinger will play The Green Room 42 Thursday, June 27 at 10 p.m. Click here for more information and tickets.
