COVER STORY by Valerie Lagrange
SUZANNE GRZANNA, DIVA OF THE YEAR
Ms.
Suzanne Grzanna on the front cover of "Entertainment Greats from the 1800s to
the Present."
Berlin-Germany. Apparently, talent per se is not enough to create a buzz in the media. The "Un Je Ne Sais Quoi" got to be there to fuel interest. Could this be the case of American star Suzanna Grzanna? Yes and no. According to FAMSPA, Ms. Grzanna has been selected as the cover girl of the forthcoming book Entertainment Greats from the 1800s to the Present; the 6th volume of the extensive publication on Jazz and entertainment known as World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment written by Dr. Maximillien de Lafayette, an international bestseller, historian and stage producer. Such an honor attests to the status of an artist and cements a public recognition. Being on the cover of a major publication such as the World Who's Who is a statement. And Ms. Grzanna has earned such an honor. How did she get there? Why illustrious stars like Eartha Kitt, Doris Day and Mario Lanza are not on the cover? Carol Lexter, the driving force behind these publications told Inga Schuller from the European Journal and World Television "Grzanna was chosen because she is an accomplished artist who contributed so much to American standards and showbiz. She is creative, innovative and pretty." Rephrasing my question is very a propos "Still, why Grzanna and not a bigger name in the world of entertainment? Insiders told the World Art Celebrities Journal, Suzanne Grzanna is highly admired by the editorial board of FAMSPA. Others said that contact and good connection do the trick. In other words, Grzanna is the protégée of FAMSPA. But the fact remains, Suzanne Grzanna is remarkably talented and well admired in the entertainment community. Author de Lafayette said: "Ms. Grzanna comes from a musical family...a group of siblings who made their mark on music. Her father is a magnificent accordion player, her mother is a music and piano teacher, her sister Michelle is a lovely saxophonist... the whole family is music in motion. Besides, Ms. Grzanna is one of the best female entertainers in the United States." Suzanne Grzanna performed as a vocalist in an HBO Movie called "Path to War" starring Alex Baldwin and Donald Sutherland. She also released in November 2001 - Sex and Bullets (Cure for Boredom) starring Judd Nelson and Seymour Cassell Song Featured: Mystery Man ( Cat's Meow CD). Unquestionably, Ms. Grzanna is a seasoned performer and a world-class artist. Having her on the cover of an authoritative publication is a sign of a strong name recognition.
According to her
official biography, Ms. Grzanna started in classical music. At the age of
five she started piano and won many awards in "The National Guild Auditions"
throughout grade school. During this time Suzanne also started learning the
clarinet, saxophone and voice. She attended Wisconsin Lutheran College from
1986-1989. Ms. Grzanna graduated from Carroll College in Waukesha, WI in
1991 with a B.S. in Music and Business Administration. Ms. Grzanna was also
a member of the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus from 1988-1991. In the
contemporary band, Malachi, Suzanne refined her talents as a saxophonist,
vocalist and keyboardist. In August of 1993, Suzanne Grzanna started her
jazz quartet. Her first CD titled "The Cat's Meow" was aired on BET (The
Black Entertainment Channel). Not only has Ms. Grzanna performed in
Milwaukee, but also in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Santa Barbara, Las Vegas,
Chicago, Vail, and Oregon.
Ms. Peggy Judy, aka Molly
Brandenburg.
Last week, in New York City, FAMSPA announced that Volume VI of the World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment shall be published by the end of August. This tome is a jumbo size chronicle of the divas and legends of the screen, stage and music of the 2 past centuries, as well as, the rising stars and divas in the making. There is an abundance of artwork and photos exceeding 1,100 rare and vintage photographs of stars, pioneers, icons and headliners. Worth mentioning, Ms. Molly Brandenburg aka Peggy Judy is on the back cover of the book. Peggy Judy is the personal creation of Ms. Brandenburg, a noted artist, author and entertainer. Some refer to her as the extravagant queen of musical comedy. Previously, Ms. Brandenburg was a Hollywood studio executive. But now, she is a regular performer on the ritzy stages of California.
Volume VI is published by TimeSquarePress, Elite Associates, and the Federation of American Musicians, Singers and Performing Artists. Written by Dr. Maximillien de Lafayette and edited by Carol Lexter and Germaine Poitiers.