Happy New Year, friends and family! I don’t know about you, but I was ready to get back to work. Yes, you read that right. Like many of you, I love what I do!
Over the break, I heard from Mark Staycer (a grad from way back) and so I thought I’d share his latest endeavors as a John Lennon impersonator with you. That's him pictured above and not the actual Lennon, by the way. Uncanny, isn't it?
About six years ago, it occurred to Mark that he should put his “fab” collection of guitars and his resemblance to Lennon to work and began performing as ImagineLennon professionally. And it wasn’t long before he left a successful radio career in Northern Michigan to pursue his job as “John Lennon” full-time.
Mark has since played Liverpool during International Beatles Week, toured Japan for two months and was recruited to join a Beatle tribute band in Toronto called the BeatleManiacs. Since last November, they have been touring the world -- as in Italy, England, Greece, Turkey, Russia, France, China, and so on on major cruise lines such as Princess, Royal Caribbean, Regent, and Cunard.
Currently, he is flying from Traverse City to St. Maarten every Tuesday to perform two cruise ship theater shows on Wednesdays and flies back on Thursdays.
He also recently portrayed Lennon in a Canadian film titled, “I Was There.”
“I had a blast working on the project,” says Mark via email. “It's a cool film, if I do say so myself. Producers are working on getting it into various film festivals like Sundance.”
Check out Mark’s video below. His portrayal of Lennon is truly remarkable!
Grad lights up the sky
Imagine my surprise upon opening last Friday’s Free Press and reading a major feature story about the Motor City Casino’s amazing nightly light show (pictured below) capable of over 16 million color possibilities and discovering that grad Marty LaCombe had designed and is responsible for programming it.
If you haven't had the chance to see it after dark, trust me it's worth a ride down the Lodge, but please find a place to stop and check it out as trying to drive and look at the same time could be dangerous.
Click here for more about Motor City Casino's light show.
In other grad news...
I also heard from several grads who have new jobs.
*Jennifer (Heffernan) Sulik is now Sales Manager at l06.7-The Fox
*Brian Chidester is Operations Manager at Postique
*Amy Fueheris a reporter for WNEM-TV Ch.5
In Memory
In closing, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to the family & friends of a true Michigan radio legend, Charles (Chuck) Mefford who passed away December 6th. I'll never forget the first time I met him at WITL in Lansing back in the early 70s. I figured I could place entry-level grads with him because the station was playing country music for gosh sakes. Who the heck listened to country music?
Yeah, I've always been a genius!! I also pass along regrets from Kevin Scollin who worked for Chuck twice, first as an air talent, and later as an account executive. Chuck served as President of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and in 1989, was elected to the MAB Hall of Fame.
Click here for more about Chuck Mefford.
