DESCRIPTION:
CRYIN' FOR THE CAROLINES
(Words by Sam H. Lewis, Joe Young / Music by Harry Warren)

Brian M. Nalepka
Vocals, String Bass
Hal Shane
Vocals, Guitar and Tap Dancing
Tripp Hanson
Vocals, Piano and Tap Dancing


The ORCHESTRA
Chuck Wilson - Alto Sax, Clarinet
Scott Robinson - Tenor Sax, Clarinet
Ted Nash - Tenor Sax, Alto Sax and Clarinet
Jack Stuckey - Alto Sax, Baritone Sax and Clarinet
Dave Brown - Trumpet
Randy Reinhart - Trumpet, Cornet, Trombone
Randy Sandke - Trumpet
Joel Helleny - Trombone
Sam Burtis - Trombone
Vince Giordano - Tuba and Bass Sax
Jay Berliner - Guitar, Banjo
Jeremy Kahn - Piano
Arnold Kinsella - Drums and Percussion
Andy Stein - Violin - Viola, Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax

THE MANHATTAN RHYTHM KINGS
Known for their polished performances of American popular music from the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s, the Manhattan Rhythm Kings have gained a large and enthusiastic following across the country. While frequently compared with such musical greats as the Mills Brothers and Paul Whiteman’s Rhythm Boys, the trio has established a unique
character of its own with a combination of close harmony singing, virtuosic instrumental work, and spectacular tap dancing. The Rhythm Kings started performing together on the sidewalks of New York in 1980. From there, these song and dance men graduated to playing some of the Big Apple’s top nightspots. It was their sparkling combination of song and dance that first attracted the attention of Broadway’s Tommy Tune. In 1984 Mr. Time asked the trio to help him assemble an act based on songs written by Fred Astaire. Their collaboration continues today and the act has performed together in venues as diverse as Carnegie Hall and Atlantic City’s Trump Plaza, and a tour of the former Soviet Union, where they commanded standing ovations in Moscow, Tiblisi, and St. Petersburg. The King’s are favorites at symphony pops concerts and have performed with over 75 orchestras, including the Boston Pops, the Pittsburgh Symphony, and the orchestras of Baltimore, Detroit, St.Louis, Cincinnati, Seattle, Indianapolis, Dallas and Atlanta, among others. The Rhythm Kings have made numerous appearances on television, most notably “Evening at Pops” with John Williams, Tommy Tune and the Boston Pops, as well as the Emmy-award winning “Celebrating Gershwin” with conductor Michael Tilson -Thomas. In addition, they’ve starred in their own special for Nebraska Public Television, and were featured with Andrew Litton and the Dallas Symphony on their PBS special. Other TV credits include “The 1992 Tony Awards”, the ‘Today” show, “CBS, This Morning”, the 1992 “Kennedy Center Honors Awards”, “Entertainment Tonight”, “As the World Turns, as well as several appearances on the “The Charles Grodin Show”. The Manhattan Rhythm Kings have shared the stage with Bob Hope, George Bums, Leonard Bernstein, Judy Collins, Bette Midler and Gregory Hines. They also appeared at Radio City Music Hall with the Rockettes as part of Peter Allen’s Easter Spectacular. In 1992 the Rhythm Kings were back on Broadway, this time indoors, at the Shubert Theatre. They were featured as Moose, Sam and Mingo, a trio of crooning bumpkins in the “new” Gershwin musical “Crazy for You”, winner of three Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Choreography.
This past year the Kings kept a busy concert schedule, performing concerts with orchestras in St. Louis, South Bend, Buffalo, Savannah, and San Jose, to name a few. The group also performed concerts at Lincoln Center, the 92nd St. Y.M.H.A., the University of Alaska, and were special guests at Beverly Sill’s 70th Birthday Celebration. The King’s concert in Stowe, Vermont marked the 50* state the group has performed in.
Going into their twenty-first season, the Manhattan Rhythm Kings look forward to more symphony pops dates with orchestras in Atlanta, Houston, Tacoma, Costa Mesa (CA), Portland (ME), Boca Raton, Asheville, Wichita, and for the fifth time, the St. Louis Symphony. With over one hundred up-coming concerts, both on their own and with their pal Tommy Tune, this premises to be the “King’s” busiest season ever.