my one & only
This summer I went to Baltimore and worked on a movie. I played the part of Tanya, a nightclub singer in the 1953 period flick, “My One & Only” starring Kevin Bacon, Renee Zellwegger and Chris Noth. Kevin’s character, Dan Devereaux is a musician who had a hit with his band “5 years ago” sung by yours truly called, “My One & Only”. I sing the song in a couple of nightclub scenes and have a few more with my boyfriend KB. It was quite an experience acting in a movie for the first time, a bit different than I imagined it would be. Time takes on a different flow than it does in the music world. All in all I’d say I enjoyed the experience but would have to do a few more just to make sure. 
Mr. KB was very sweet and helpful, picking up that this was my first time on set. I’d say, “What does that mean? What does this mean?” and he patiently clued me in to whatever was going on. The film is scheduled to come out in the fall of ’09.
That’s me as Tanya in the photo above with the musicians who played The Dan Devereaux Band in the film. They are out of Baltimore and are called in real life, THE BLUE MOON BIG BAND. We had a good time messing around with old standard songs between takes, some of which may or may not end up on the extras of the DVD.
This part came my way through my friend Steve Lindsey, the guy in the white shirt next to me in the pic below, who produced my album, “I Confess”. He is the music supervisor on the film and pitched me to the director and producers after I sang the demo of the song for our friend the excellent songwriter, Dillon O’Brien. Thank you Steve!
This is the actual band who recorded the song, “My One & Only” that will be heard in the movie. As I mentioned, Steve Lindsey is to my left in the photo and to my right is Steve’s father, the legendary Mort Lindsey who was for many many years Judy Garland’s arranger. The mischievous looking gent with the white goatee in black tee shirt further to my right with arms folded is Chuck Bergdorfer who played the unforgettable bass line in the Nancy Sinatra/Lee Hazlewood classic, “These Boots are Made For Walking.” What a band this is! It was a pleasure to record with them!
Ok, what else….
I sang on a couple film scores this spring, “The Women” and “The Express” for Mark Isham. “The Women” just opened and “The Express” is opening soon. Love those kind of jobs…
Going to New York to do a couple of shows at The Living Room at 11 pm on October 16th and 19th. Gonna play music off of all my albums and do a kind of retrospective, culminating in a live album that I’ll release digitally soon after. Looking forward to these shows. Been working out the songs, some of which I haven’t played in a very long time. My New York band is so good! They all are working all the time and inevitably we can only find time for one rehearsal for my NY shows, but that always adds to the fire.
Back in Los Angeles, on October 25th, I’m doing a set at Genghis Cohen. The new music I’ve been working on is an album of Brenda Lee music. If you’ve never heard her, check her out particularly the songs, “I’m Sorry”, “Break It To Me Gently” and “Jump the Broomstick”. She’s been making records since she was 14 years old and is STILL making music all the time. She came out of the rockabilly world, sang with Elvis, was mentored by Patsy Cline and was said by John Lennon to have the “original rock & roll voice”. So I’ve recorded a few things, and am planning to play ‘em the Genghis Show, maybe solo, or maybe with a band.
Then I’ll be back out with Idina Menzel from October 30th – November 16th doing more US dates. We always have a good time so that should be fun.
Oh here’s a good one: I’ve got a song that’s going to be in the Grey’s Anatomy spin-off, “Private Practice”! The air date is November 5th and the song they are using is the last one on “Songs for Tuesday” called, “Be The Only One.”
And oh yeah, I’M HAVING A BABY!
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Congratulations Holly.
Comment by Lee B — October 4, 2008 comment link
Oh and I just found your track on the Women soundtrack on iTunes and am about to listen to it for the first time
Comment by Lee B — October 4, 2008 comment link
Congrats Holly! Lots of great news! And can’t wait to see you again on this tour. I’ll be at a few shows this time around.
Comment by Jill — October 4, 2008 comment link
Hollyberry:
congratulations on your new role as “baby baker.” Much love to you, your special one and, of course, Anna-Lissa. xoxox Linnea
Comment by Linnea — October 7, 2008 comment link
Congrats Holly, GREAT news
When will you come to London to showcase your stuff as we love you here too!
XxX
Comment by Emily — October 8, 2008 comment link
Hey Holly! Congratulations on the baby! I’m so happy for you. I wish the movie was coming out sooner. Now you’ve got me all anxious. Haha. Can’t wait to see you in Bridgeport and Boston.
Comment by Hailey — October 12, 2008 comment link
You really have been busy! Can’t wait to hear the new music.
Congrats on all the good news!
Comment by lizzy — October 19, 2008 comment link
Holly,
Erin and I were so excited to meet you in Louisville on Halloween! Thanks so much for signing our CDs and taking a picture with us. We were very happy that you got the baby blanket. We were worried you wouldn’t come out the stage door so we caught Deb and asked her to give it to you. We tried to come up with something to put on that blanket for quite a few weeks but we knew we wanted it to be something related to you so we chose that song title. We’re both so glad we heard about you and your music at the Idina concert in St. Louis over the summer and this time around we were more excited to see you than Idina. I absolutely loved your version of “Kissed by a Rose.” I hope everything goes well for you and your little one.
Comment by Katie — November 3, 2008 comment link
Hey Holly! Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to talk to me after the Bridgeport show. It made my night, and (like Katie and Erin) I was actually more excited to see you than Idina.
Comment by Hailey — November 13, 2008 comment link
Dear Holly.
Was sitting at my computer and you popped into my head.
Really hope you are well and loving life.
Such lovely news, I read you’re having a baby.
Love to chat to you on email?
Love
Gorge Franks.X
Boston Gorge. (otherwise known as the Brit)
Comment by Gorge — December 21, 2008 comment link