Her husband is pastor.
Her father is a psychologist
And Mary Jo Vitale says her singing partner, Josh Leggett, “is like my kid brother. I’ve got everything covered.”
Those words bring a smile to her face, but when it comes to singing, Vitale and Leggett have blossomed into an immensely popular duo on in The Villages. They perform a “Broadway Summer Serenade,” Sunday evening at 7 in Katie Belle’s.
“It’s very hard to find somebody you can connect with on stage,” said Vitale, who usually performs solo but has been making appearances with Leggett for about five years. “He’s very easy to work with and we just hit it off on stage.”
Leggett, 30, is classically trained, as is Vitale and musically, they have much in common. “We play off each other,” he said. “We love singing Broadway music and pop songs. We just fit each other.”
It’s more than just music with these two. Vitale, with long dark hair, a radiant smile and effervescent personality, sparkles on stage. Leggett is a prototypical leading music man, ruggedly dark and handsome, and perpetually cool. Both can not only hit the high notes but entertain with their stage demeanor and conversational interplay.
“They create a dynamic, rich approach on stage,” said Dr. Perry Vitale, Mary Jo’s father who is psychologist and also manages her career. “You can almost feel the connection between them.”
Vitale and Leggett got together almost by accident. She is married to Jon-Marc MacLean, pastor of the Hope Lutheran Church in The Villages. She had been performing here and one night Leggett came to a show at Katie Belle’s and met her. Leggett, originally from Huntsville, Ala., had been singing karaoke in The Villages.
The first song they sang was “The Prayer” and “it just felt good right from the start,” Mary Jo Vitale aid. “Our taste in music is so similar,” Leggett added. “I think we’ve grown together over the past few years.”
They have more in common than music. Both are raising a young child. Leggett and his girlfriend Nicole have a daughter, Madisen, 5. Mary Jo and Pastor MacLean have a son, Daniel, 4, who calls Leggett, “Mr. Josh.”
“We know all the Disney songs and kids’ music you can think of,” Vitale said. Both are also pursuing their dreams.
“I’ve always wanted to do what I love, and that’s singing,” Leggett said. “I want to keep performing professionally and make it to the next level.”
Vitale has faith in her singing partner. “I’ve seen him make women swoon with a beautiful love song,” she said. “Then I’ve seen Josh rock out and soar on a hard driving song. He has a powerful stage presence.”
Leggett has learned from working with Vitale. “She can sing anything — from opera to pop to Broadway. On stage she can adapt to any song and create a special mood. She sings these songs like she owns them.”
The duo’s chemistry was apparent during a recent weeknight rehearsal. They sat at a table behind a laptop computer, which played the music and showed lyrics. On George and Ira Gershwins’ upbeat and bright , “Hanging Around With You,” Vitale and Leggett acted out the roles with bouncy aplomb.
They joyfully weaved mock frustration and strained vocal conversation into a sound straight out of 1930’s Broadway. Next came the darkly elegant “Come What May,” from “Moulin Rouge.” This time Leggett and Vitale created a longing, romantic atmosphere in a contemporary style.
It’s all part of what makes this duo unique.
“No matter if you’re singing an old song or a new one, you have to stay true to the integrity of the music,” Vitale said. “There’s so much music today I don’t like. I think the older songs have stayed popular for a reason – because it’s great music.”
Like any musical combination, Vitale and Leggett occasionally have their differences.
“It’s kind of like a brother and sister climate, we can tell each other what we think,” Leggett said. “He’s a few years younger; so he better listen,” Vitale laughed.
In The Villages, these two relatively young performers have to continually play to older audiences. The young singers performing old songs strikes a respondent chord with audiences here.
“The people in The Villages appreciate good music and classic songs,” Vitale said. “I think it’s special for them to see younger people singing these songs. It makes the songs come alive again and brings back memories.” Or, as Leggett says, the old songs take the audience to “another place and time. They embrace that feeling.”
Vitale, who cherishes her roles as wife and mother, finds an invigorating outlet in performing. It’s a continuation of her musical passion that started in childhood. It took her on a musical scholarship to the University of South Florida, the Pinellas Opera League, and stages around the state, including Disney World.
“I have been so blessed to get to this point in my life,” she said. “Singing is what I love to do, but I always wanted to be a wife and mother. I don’t see how it could possibly be any better.”
For information on tickets, call 750-9444 or go to www.thevillages.net/katiebelles.
