Many thanks to my old friend Mike DiLeva for sending me a link to this clip from the Michael Keaton film Johnny Dangerously (1984). Mike was working in public relations at Bally’s in 1992 when I first met him. I was a cub reporter and Mike facilitated an interview with a revue show producer. I was working at the Cumberland News in Vineland at the time, but wrote that piece as a freelancer for Casino Player magazine, which was the next stop on my career path. Mike DiLeva is now a hospitality and gaming marketing consultant at Experior Consulting. Thanks to Mike, you can check out the clip below to see why, when you’re not sure what to believe, it pays to “know this Grapevine.”

Blue-eyed soul singer Michael McDonald was great laying down lead vocal tracks such as “What a Fool Believes” and “Takin’ it to the Streets” with the Doobie Brothers in the mid-’70s. His unmistakable pipes have also contributed in on-again-off-again fashion to the success of Steely Dan (that’s McDonald’s wailing in the backing vocals in “Peg”) for the past four decades. He teamed up for mega hits in the 1980s with James Ingram (”Yah Mo B There”) and Patti Labelle (”On My Own”). But McDonald has also proven he can top the charts as a solo performer with hits such as “I Keep Forgettin’.” But in 2003, he took his career in a different direction by recording his tribute album Motown. That album included covers of so many famous Motown hits, including Marvin Gaye’s “Heard it Through the Grapevine.” Check it out:

The gig on Saturday night (4-26-08) lived up to its name: “Cumberland County’s Got Talent.” The Vineland Rotary Club sponsored the talent contest, and 400 people were treated to 27 varied acts (28 if you include Trainwreck, the Rotary band) during the night. The contestants ranged from singers and street dancers to choreographed karate and a film short — all interspersed with comedic rants by emcee and former Miss New Jersey, Dena Blizzard. By the time the dust settled at the Centerton Country Club, The jazz band Zoe emerged with both the People’s Choice Award and the grand prize of $500. (click on pictures for larger version and caption)