King of Song

Written by Victoria Baker
Wednesday, 09 September 2009 23:00

OK, so his music may not be at the top of the charts anymore, but contemporary crooner Michael Bolton is keeping it trendy with his latest collaboration with none other than Lady GaGa, and it’s his husky, deep voice that has earned him a legion of fans.

Those of you who are great fans of his may still have a chance to take advantage of a local performance. As part of his Michael Bolton Charities, the singer will be giving a concert on Sunday, Sept. 13, at the Marriott Hotel in Stamford. The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by a concert at 7. Mr. Bolton will be performing alongside other to be announced guest performers. Joan Lunden will be the mistress of ceremonies.

The festivities will be continued Monday, Sept. 14, with a celebrity golf classic at the Rockrimmon Country Club at 10:30. For more information, call 483-6463 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

One of Mr. Bolton’s most talked about records was his 1998 album of opera arias with Sony Classics called My Secret Passion. The album quickly climbed to the top of the Billboard classical charts, irritating the purist opera aficionados who feared that he would be compared favorably to traditional tenors like Luciano Pavarotti. And what do I think? I love Mr. Bolton’s voice and I have no qualms about his singing opera, as it exposed this kind of music to a whole new audience. Beyond that, I like Mr. Bolton’s version of Nessun Dorma about as much as I’d enjoy Luciano Pavarotti singing When A Man Loves A Woman. Having said that, I think when Mr. Bolton sings his adult contemporary style he is unmatched.

In 1993, the much-loved singer established the Michael Bolton Charities to assist women and children at risk from the effects of poverty and abuse. Over the years, the foundation has provided more than $3.7 million to various charities. In 2003, Mr. Bolton joined others to lobby on behalf of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence to provide more assistance. Mr. Bolton has received the Lewish Hine Award from the National Child Labor Committee, the Martin Luther King Award from the Congress of Racial Equality, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations.

So he is talented, good looking, charitable and kind, but that’s not why his fans are obsessed with his music. I really think it is that magical voice that sweeps audiences, mostly female audiences, off their feet. He has a unique sound that is instantly recognizable, so much so that no matter what he sings, he will always be the king of soft rock!

Victoria Baker of Greenwich is an opera singer. She teaches piano and voice privately in Greenwich. Questions, call 531-7499 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .