Posts Tagged ‘Mitch Albom’
Mitch Albom
8:00pm
in conversation with Mike Binder
discussing his novel
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto
Ann and Jerry Moss Theatre
New Roads School
Herb Alpert Educational Village
3131 Olympic Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90404
$20 General Admission
$36 General Admission (includes book)
$46 Reserved Section Seating (includes book)
Mitch Albom is a bestselling author, screenwriter, playwright and nationally syndicated columnist. The author of six consecutive number one New York Times bestsellers—including Tuesdays with Morrie, the best-selling memoir of all time—his books have collectively sold more than 35 million copies in forty-two languages. He has founded seven charities in Detroit, and operates an orphanage in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Recent books by Mitch Albom include: The Five People You Meet in Heaven, The First Phone Call From Heaven, The Time Keeper, Have a Little Faith and For One More Day.
Mitch Albom creates his most unforgettable fictional character—Frankie Presto, the greatest guitarist to ever walk the earth—in this magical novel about the bands we join in life and the power of talent to change our lives.
It’s a story of the greatest guitar player to ever live, and the six lives he changed with his magical blue strings.
The voice of Music narrates the tale of its most beloved disciple, young Frankie Presto, a war orphan raised by a blind music teacher in a small Spanish town. At nine years old, Frankie is sent to America in the bottom of a boat. His only possession is an old guitar and six precious strings.
But Frankie’s talent is touched by the gods, and his amazing journey weaves him through the musical landscape of the 20th century, from classical to jazz to rock and roll, with his stunning talent affecting numerous stars along the way, including Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Carole King, Wynton Marsalis and even KISS.
Frankie becomes a pop star himself. He makes records. He is adored. But his gift is also his burden, as he realizes, through his music, he can actually affect people’s futures—with one string turning blue whenever a life is altered.
At the height of his popularity, Frankie Presto vanishes. His legend grows. Only decades later, does he reappear—just before his spectacular death—to change one last life.
Described as a Forest Gump-like romp through the music world, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto is infused with the message that “everyone joins a band in this life” and those connections change us all.
Mike Binder is an award-winning film director, screenwriter, producer, and actor. He was born in Detroit and began his career as a screenwriter and a standup comedian. He is known for movies such as Reign Over Me, The Upside of Anger, The Sex Monster, and most recently, Black and White. His first novel, Keep Calm, will be published in 2016 by Henry Holt and Co.
We’re adding to our venues: The Alex Theatre in Glendale | Upcoming events: Burt Bacharach, Phil Jackson, Neil Gaiman
As we continue to grow Live Talks Los Angeles, we are happy to share that we will be producing some of our events at the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale. We have the following events scheduled at the Alex, with more to come. Ticket info in each of the links…
May 14 Burt Bacharach in conversation with Mitch Albom
discussing his memoir, Anyone Who Had a Heart: My Life and Music, 8pm
Jun 12 Phil Jackson in conversation with John Salley
discussing his memoir, Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success, 8pm
June 27 An Evening with Neil Gaiman
in conversation with Entertainment Weekly’s Geoff Boucher, 8pm
discussing his new novel, The Ocean at the End of the Lane
June 22 — Rock Bottom Remainders w/ Stephen King, Dave Barry, Amy Tan, Mitch Albom, Scott Turow and more at The El Rey
Friday, June 22, 2012
An Evening with The Rock Bottom Remainders
a concert featuring Stephen King, Amy Tan, Dave Barry, Scott Turow,
Mitch Albom, Matt Groening, James McBride, Roy Blount, Jr.,
Ridley Pearson, Greg Iles & Sam Barry
with special guest, Roger McGuinn of The Byrds
The El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
6:30-7:30 pm — Reception
8:30 pm — Concert (doors open at 7:30 pm)
PURCHASE TICKETS
$40 — Concert (doors open at 7:30 pm)
$200 — Concert + Pre-reception (6:30-7:30 pm)
$295 — Concert + Reception + signed lithograph by the band (illustration at left by David Horsey)
*$150 — Signed lithograph (includes shipping)
*$300 — Signed books by all participating band members (includes shipping)
* These ticket options do not include concert tickets. Orders will be shipped after the concert.
At Live Talks Los Angeles, we typically feature conversations, but we are excited to be producing a concert featuring some luminaries of the literary world. The Rock Bottom Remainders — the all author rock band — will perform at the El-Rey Theatre, June 22. Roger McGuinn of the Byrds, whom we featured in conversation in November 2011, joins as musical guest.
Marking the band’s 20th anniversary, the band has decided its 20 year run will mark the end and will host their final public concert at the El Rey Theatre on Friday, June 22. The show is part of the band’s final two city concert tour –The Past Our Bedtime Tour.
Confirmed for the concert are Stephen King, who hasn’t performed with the band since 2007; Amy Tan, Dave Barry, Mitch Albom, Scott Turow, Matt Groening, James McBride, Greg Iles, Ridley Pearson, Roy Blount, Jr, and Sam Barry. The band dedicates these two concerts to founder Kathi Goldmark, who passed away on May 24th after a courageous battle with cancer.
On the upcoming concert Stephen King, who plays rhythm guitar says, “A few years ago, Bruce Springsteen told us we weren’t bad, but not to try to get any better otherwise we’d just be another lousy band. After 20 years, we still meet his stringent requirements. For instance, while we all know what ‘stringent’ means, none of us have yet mastered an F chord.”
King adds, “I’m looking forward to reuniting with all my bandmates. We’re older but not dead. Some of us can remember all of the words; all of us can remember some of the words; but NONE of us can remember all of the music. That’s why they call it rock and roll.”
Dave Barry, co-lead guitarist, chimes in, “It’s not that we had a ‘creative differences’ issue, or some in the band wanted to launch solo music careers, but the fact is that we can no longer play an entire set without aving to pee.” Barry adds, “We realize the Rolling stones are celebrating 50 years this year, but we don’t want to reach the point where our stage moves involve motorized scooters.”
Since the band’s founding in Anaheim in 1992 — at a book convention — they have strictly performed to support causes, and have raised over $2 Million for various literacy causes. Proceeds from the El Rey show will benefit the Los Angeles Downtown Women’s Center, the Midnight Mission and the launch of an Emerging Author Series at Live Talks Los Angeles.