There's no doubt that Michael Thomas is one of our town's best entertainers, and it's no wonder. He learned how to do it from his mom. Pat was famous for her wonderful sequined outfits and her remarkable talent. Like her son, she was a friendly, fun loving entertainer who could keep a crowd enchanted.
His sense of humor is famous, and his smile lights up the stage. When we came in he was sitting with a beautiful young lady named Wilhelmina Harvey.
One doesn't often get a request for a Buck Owens tune, but Michael did. He obliged with a delightful version of "Act Naturally". Michael uses sequences and plays over them. They are his own, and they work, giving him the freedom to ham it up.
He was hilarious, playing the movie star, dancing around the lounge.
The next tune was "Walking To New Orleans", which always makes him want to dance. He did.
Michael Thomas has am excellent voice with all the expression anyone could ask. He segued into "Blueberry Hill", then back. "Got the World On a String" followed, with a very nice piano solo. He began "Che Sara, Sara", got to "will I be handsome, will I be rich, here's what she said to me", "No"!
Michael conducted an imaginary orchestra on "That Old Feeling"s intro, then sang it with so much feeling.
Someone requested a medley from "Mame". Michael obliged, beautifully. Next, continuing the show tune sequence he did the best imitation of Carol Channing I ever heard on "Hello Dolly". I got to spend time with Carol in Chicago, and he really got her bizarre voice right.
He sang "Spanish Eyes" for Maria. Everyone loved it. Michael frequently changes instrument sounds on his keyboard, which is very effective. He played a nice Latin vibes solo. Using his expert phrasing, he did a spoken take off on "Proud Mary", followed by the song. "Blue Bayou" was a romantic crowd pleaser.
Did he stay serious? Of course not! He slipped on a pair of shades for "I Just Called To Say I Love You".
On to Duke Ellington's wonderful "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing', which was fun and bouncy. He told us about seeing Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias at a theatre in the round, and showed us what went wrong. Turning slowly in a circle he let the sound die on the back side, exclaiming, "For this I paid sixty-five dollars"? That's a sound man's horror, but it happens.
Then he did a perfect Willie imitation. "Kokomo" had a fine steel drum sound. Michael sang "I've Got You Under My Skin" over an easy swing. It was lovely.
Wilhelmina presented Michael with Honary Conch status, which delighted him.
We had a fine time in the lovely, elegant Grand Key setting with its spectacular, enormous round aquarium in the lobby between the restaurant and the lounge.
Michael sang Tony Bennett's hit, "Stepping Out With My Baby", which was a winner. Michael Thomas is a winner. Go see for yourself! Stay cool.
medley from "Mame". Michael obliged, beautifully. Next, continuing the show tune sequence he did the best imitation of Carol Channing I ever heard on "Hello Dolly". I got to spend time with Carol in Chicago, and he really got her bizarre voice right. He sang "Spanish Eyes" for Maria. Everyone loved it. Michael frequently changes instrument sounds on his keyboard, which is very effective. He played a nice Latin vibes solo. Using his expert phrasing, he did a spoken take off on "Proud Mary", followed by the song. "Blue Bayou" was a romantic crowd pleaser. Did he stay serious? Of course not! He slipped on a pair of shades for "I Just Called To Say I Love You".
On to Duke Ellington's wonderful "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing', which was fun and bouncy. He told us about seeing Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias at a theatre in the round, and showed us what went wrong. Turning slowly in a circle he let the sound die on the back side, exclaiming, "For this I paid sixty five dolars"? That's a sound man's horror, but it happens. Then he did a perfect Willie imitation. "Kokomo" had a fine steel drum sound. Michael sang "I've Got You Under My Skin" over an easy swing. It was lovely.
Wilhelmina presented Michael with Honary Conch status, which delighted him. We had a fine time in the lovely, elegant Grand Key setting with its spectacular, enormous round aquarium in the lobby between the restaurant and the lounge. Michael sang Tony Bennett's hit, "Stepping Out With My Baby", which was a winner. Michael Thomas is a winner. Go see for yourself! Stay cool.
Key West the Newspaper
07/03/2001
What's Hot
Michael Thomas At Grand Key
There's no doubt that Michael Thomas is one of our town's best entertainers, and it's no wonder. He learned how to do it from his mom. Pat was famous for her wonderful sequined outfits and her remarkable talent. Like her son, she was a friendly, fun loving entertainer who could keep a crowd enchanted. His sense of humor is famous, and his smile lights up the stage. When we came in he was sitting with a beautiful young lady named Wilhelmina Harvey. One doesn't often get a request for a Buck Owens tune, but Michael did. He obliged with a delightful version of "Act Naturally". Michael uses sequences and plays over them. They are his own, and they work, giving him the freedom to ham it up. He was hilarious, playing the movie star, dancing around the lounge.
The next tune was "Walking To New Orleans", which always makes him want to dance. He did. Michael Thomas has am excellent voice with all the expression anyone could ask. He segued into "Blueberry Hill", then back. "Got the World On a String" followed, with a very nice piano solo. He began "Che Sara, Sara", got to "will I be handsome, will I be rich, here's what she said to me", "No"! Michael conducted an imaginary orchestra on "That Old Feeling"s intro, then sang it with so much feeling.
Someone requested a medley from "Mame". Michael obliged, beautifully. Next, continuing the show tune sequence he did the best imitation of Carol Channing I ever heard on "Hello Dolly". I got to spend time with Carol in Chicago, and he really got her bizarre voice right. He sang "Spanish Eyes" for Maria. Everyone loved it. Michael frequently changes instrument sounds on his keyboard, which is very effective. He played a nice Latin vibes solo. Using his expert phrasing, he did a spoken take off on "Proud Mary", followed by the song. "Blue Bayou" was a romantic crowd pleaser. Did he stay serious? Of course not! He slipped on a pair of shades for "I Just Called To Say I Love You".
On to Duke Ellington's wonderful "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing', which was fun and bouncy. He told us about seeing Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias at a theatre in the round, and showed us what went wrong. Turning slowly in a circle he let the sound die on the back side, exclaiming, "For this I paid sixty five dolars"? That's a sound man's horror, but it happens. Then he did a perfect Willie imitation. "Kokomo" had a fine steel drum sound. Michael sang "I've Got You Under My Skin" over an easy swing. It was lovely.
Wilhelmina presented Michael with Honary Conch status, which delighted him. We had a fine time in the lovely, elegant Grand Key setting with its spectacular, enormous round aquarium in the lobby between the restaurant and the lounge. Michael sang Tony Bennett's hit, "Stepping Out With My Baby", which was a winner. Michael Thomas is a winner. Go see for yourself! Stay cool.v