The burlesque show was a popular type of entertainment and the staple of American musical theatre in the 2nd half of the 19th century. Imported from England, the first real burlesque show was in 1866 called The Black Crook which was followed by Lydia Thompson’s troupe of British Blondes that staged Ixion in 1868. Most burlesque productions are dramatic extravaganzas or farcical travesties of some serious subject. Burlesque was lifted from its vulgar connotations and became an accepted instrumental or vocal form in the late 19th century.
Richard Strauss wrote a Burleske for Piano and Orchestra, as did Bartok and others! Stravinsky’s ballet Petrouchka is subtitled Scenes burlesques. The 20th century film The Night They Raided Minsky’s had the infamous burlesque club as its central character and during this century striptease was added to many burlesque revues. During the 1960s, at the height of the sexual revolution, burlesque shows lost a lot of their mainstream popularity. However the Broadway hit Sugar Babies (1979) which caught the comic spirit of 1930s burlesque, and the 2011 film Burlesque starring Cher and Christina Aguilera, have introduced the art form and musical genre to a new generation.
“Big Willie,” A Modern Day King of Burlesque
Drummer, bandleader and vocalist Willie McNeil, aka the “King of Burlesque” has released a new recording titled Bunny Girl. Inspired by the burlesque tradition, the CD features 11 original songs written by McNeil as homage to the golden days of burlesque. It is his ninth release and the first under his popular “Big Willie” burlesque moniker.
The set features temperature-raising saxophonics with such racy titles as “Butt Dimples,” “Nice Tits and No Tats” and “Wined & Grind” which all bring the vision of scantily clad artists in farcical roles to mind. The classic striptease, and joint-jumpin’ blues, can be heard on such tracks as “Bunny Girl,” “Big Drums,” and “Shame On You.” The title track appears as both a vocal and instrumental with McNeil providing the vocals.
As one of Los Angeles’ most diversified percussionists, Willie McNeil brings the history of burlesque full circle during his productions at Edison, Ivan Kane's Cafe Was and La Descarga. His one-of-a-kind burlesque shows feature professional dancers and the music heard on his new recording titled Bunny Girl. The music has a strong personality and the titles suggest rollicking spoofs of …well let’s leave that to your imagination! Bunny Girl by Big Willie’s Burlesque is available on iTunes.
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