The American Songbook Association/Cabaret Scenes Honors Lina Koutrakos

Lina Koutrakos is the perfect recipient for the Darrell Henline award due to her commitment to the art of cabaret as a performer, director, songwriter, and producer. Her forty-year career was launched with her own rock band in decades-long residencies at legendary venues. Koutrakos garnered multiple pop songwriting awards while simultaneously presenting her cabaret shows at the Metropolitan Room, 54 Below, and the Waldorf Astoria.

She has had extensive tours in both genres in St Louis; Chicago; Washington, DC; Paris; Las Vegas; and more. Her awards began with the Village Voice‘s Best Rock Newcomer and continued to include Best Director and Best Vocalist from the Manhattan Association of Cabarets (MAC), the Backstage Bistro Awards, and France’s Le Petit Piaf. (Frank Dain)

Green Room 42 overflowed with family feeling Thursday night on the occasion of ASA/Cabaret Scenes presentation of The 2024 Darrell Henline Award to multifaceted Lina Koutrakos. The artist is admired, respected, and loved; her spirit, savvy, talent, and sense of humor recognized through testimonials preceding performance. The community has turned out as much to salute Koutrakos as to support the venerable institution bestowing an award.

“My relationship with Lina can be summed up in three words she just said to her husband: Patrick knows everything… I have laughed through almost three decades with her…” Patrick DeGennaro opens the show infectiously grooving with Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together.” Right leg pumps, arms go wide. Notes are massaged. Performance is expressive and fun. (Lenny Babbish-piano)

Patrick DeGennaro; Beckie Menzies

Chicagoan Beckie Menzies (also at the piano) has conducted international workshops with the honoree. She shares an anecdote about Lina’s wisdom and sense of responsibility. A unique version of Joni Mitchell’s “Free Man in Paris”  arrives lively and emphatic, yet with balladic undertone.

Shawn Moninger has known Lina since meeting at Don’t Tell Mama in 1985. “We both always had great shoes, a good foundation for friendship.” The vocalist shares a song by husband of six weeks David Friedman at the piano:  I never thought that there could be a love like yours and mine/And now the only thing we really need is time…“We Live On Borrowed Time” should become a cabaret (and wedding) staple. A great song delicately rendered by one who clearly understands.

Shawn Moninger; Charles Busch

Charles Busch tells us he and Lina shared mentors. They got to know one another further at a St. Louis workshop to which he was invited. “She’s lovable, fun, and a glorious person.” Busch’s rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” is a theater piece, a scene in one. Part spoken, part sung, the song emerges buoyed by a lifetime’s experience. Its tender wisdom is immensely moving. Busch is very like Fred Astaire in that interpretation of any song gets to its roots and heart.

John McDaniel met Lina at The fabled Metropolitan Room. “Her unique style captured me and we’ve been friends ever since.” The performer sings (and plays) Stephen Sondheim’s “Anyone Can Whistle” in tremulous, unfussy style perfectly suited to its lyric.

John McDaniel; Sally Mayes

Sally Mayes and MD/pianist Tedd Firth apparently whipped up an original tribute song minutes before the show. These two should write together more. The witty ditty begins by grousing: Nothing “fucking” rhymes with Koutrakos/ The name just seems to lie there on the page and mock us… She’s talented, she’s smart/Now here’s the gooey part, Lina Koutrakos is my darling friend…A nifty segue takes us into Gretchen Cryer’s “Old Friend.” Mayes exudes warmth and the bonds of joint history. (Yasuhiko Fukoka- piano) Nancy Timpanaro-Hogan, who couldn’t be present, celebrates 40 years of friendship and cites those who have passed upon whose shoulders they stand.

Bowing to Lina’s request, Marcus Simeone offers “Lay Me Down.”  (Sam Cooke) Beginning a capella, eyes closed, with only an occasional guitar chord, the vocalist kneads notes – as Dot says in Sunday in the Park with George – “You know, like bread…” squeezing out emotion as if the song courses through him. If only his eyes weren’t closed. ( Sean Harkness- guitar)

Marcus Simeone; Sean Harkness, Kathleen Turner

Actress Kathleen Turner notes that Lina sang with her ex-husband’s band. The surprise guest decides a water song was appropriate as the celebrant is Greek. “William Finn’s “I’d Rather Be Sailing” …and then come home to you…is both vocally sandy and invested. (Mark Janus – piano/Sean Harkness – guitar)

“In my mind, Lina is a kindred spirit and a rock star – she can’t help it,” comments Sean Harkness. The artist then presents original composition “Nastishe” with pristine, finger work and successive rhythms embodying some of the multitude of genres at which he excels.

Sean Harkness

Darrell Henline (1928–2003) was founder of Cabaret Scenes Magazine, editor and publisher until he passed. Presenter Keith Meritz, a board member, was his life partner and the publisher after Henline died, stepping down when Peter Leavy took over.

“My first recollection of Lina was at 88s with her artistic director the late great Dick Gallagher,” Meritz recalls. “When we heard that sultry voice, we knew we were in for a treat. She cast a wider net in many directions and exemplifies the goals of ASA’s mission.” Meritz then presents Lina Koutrakos with her award.

Keith Meritz; Keith Meritz and Lina Koutrakos

“When Carolyn (Montgomery) called to tell me about this, I thought, shit, I’m old,” Koutrakos quips. “Who am I kidding? I always wanted to be the little girl at the center of attention…My whole life all I’ve ever wanted to do is sing… Not unlike George Bailey (It’s a Wonderful Life), the older I get, the more I think I’m incredibly lucky. My entire life has been filled with voices…I don’t want to die because I’m afraid I’ll come back and in my next lifetime, I won’t get to do this…Thank you for the gold watch.”

Lina Koutrakos

The performer’s “I’m Glad There is You” (Paul Maderia/Jimmy Dorsey) prefaces a deeply memorable Interpretation of “God Bless the Child.” Back of throat vibrato and blues timbre create an on-ramp for gospel. Wrenched phrasing, including growl, is very much her own. Arms seemingly move of their own volition. Talent is a vessel. (Gregory Toroian – piano)

An encore of “Diggin’ My Grave” (Bradley Cooper/Lady Gaga) is unleashed by the trio Clearly Now – Lina Koutrakos, Marcus Simeone, Sean Harkness: Every little lie you tell can’t keep it hid/You’re just another nail on the coffin lid/ Someone else is gettin’ all the love you never gave/Woo (Yeah)/And you’ve been out all night/Diggin’ my grave, yeah…The iconoclastic choice rocks hot and hard eliciting chair dancing.

Lina Koutrakos, Marcus Simeone, Sean Harkness

A cornucopia of talent and devotion.

The American Songbook Association Salutes Lina Koutrakos
Yasuhiko Fukoka – MD/Piano
Executive Director Carolyn Montgomery – Announcer
Michael Kitk Lane – Stage Manager
The American Songbook Association

Performance Photos by Conor Weiss
Opening Photo – Gene Reed

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