Billie Thatcher displayed an indefatigable spirit bursting with joyous energy and delightful vocals Sunday evening at Temple Shalom Auditorium.
It was Billie Thatcher doing what Billie Thatcher does best: singing, dancing, kibitzing and oozing life from the addictive drug that drives her — an audience.
The stage transforms Thatcher. She takes on the personality and emotion of her songs. Sunday that included everything and everyone from “Gypsy’s” spunky Mama Rose to New York-tough Frank Sinatra to Judy Garland’s little Dorothy.
Put them all together and you have the essence of Billie Thatcher, an old-school trouper who knows how to grab an audience and jolt them with music.
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The veteran performer achieved a career first Sunday: a one-woman show with a live three-piece band. She was in versatile and vintage form, backed by the Kevin O’Connell Trio for a show called “Broadway and More.”
“For me this is the fulfillment of a dream,” Thatcher said early on. “I never sang a whole show with a real, live backup band before. I’ve always used pre-recorded tracks. Tracks are fine, but there’s nothing like live music.”
The trio featured O’Connell on keyboards; Kent Ingram, drums and Bob Swing on bass. They added tight, jazz/pop backing to Thatcher’s splendid and lively vocals.
“I was in ‘Company’ last year and one of the reasons I was in it was to sing this song,” Thatcher said, introducing, “Ladies Who Lunch.”
Thatcher then sang the number with a kind of boozy defiance. She made it click and then moved on to a big band sound on “Orange Colored Sky.”
Then Thatcher created a kind of intimate, club setting, as she sat on a stool and held a microphone in her hand. She took on the Judy Garland standard “The Man that Got Away,” written by Harold Arlen. Thatcher may not have Garland’s range (Who does?) but she made the song her own with a powerful interpretation of the number.
Thatcher is a master at setting moods. She was a red-hot mama for “All That Jazz.” Then came a tender yearning for love on “Someone to Watch Over Me.”
There was more power and energy in “New York New York.” But Thatcher’s favorite musical is “Gypsy” and she threw herself into a couple of numbers from that show. First came the fist-pumping, declaration of independence “Some People” followed by the soft introspection of “Small World.”
Thatcher had a couple of guests during the concert. The singer known as “The Skipper” came on stage and did heartfelt tributes to his parents, including “Oh My Papa.” He also teamed with Thatcher on a duet, filled with hot harmony on “Listen to Rag.”
“I’ve known the Skipper for a long time,” Thatcher said, adding they met at a charity concert in a Methodist Church. “Then he asked me to sing at the Temple. It’s great to be here.”
“Billie is an honorary member of Temple Shalom,” said Susan Feinberg, concert director for the Temple. Feinberg noted how Thatcher did benefits for the Temple over the years, even before it was built.
A surprise guest was keyboard player Hector Garrido. “He’s in the audience, I know he’s out there and I want to call him up here to play something for me,” Thatcher said. Garrido, one of the most popular and accomplished musicians in The Villages, sat down behind the keyboards and accompanied Thatcher on an exquisite version of “What A Difference A Day Makes.”
“Billie is a consummate professional,” Garrido said before the show. “She’s got something special and she shares it with an audience. She belongs on stage.”
Thatcher saved the best for last, closing with another Arlen number, “Over the Rainbow.” She gave the song all the emotion she could deliver. After it was over the people stood and cheered.
Carolyn Hoffman, another popular singer who was in the audience, summed up what makes Thatcher so special.
“Billie gives her heart to everything she does,” Hoffman said. “She loves people and that love is reflected every time she goes on stage. That’s Billie.”
