Billy Stritch Puts The Nightingale Back Into Berkeley Square

A Recipe For  A Great Night Out   17th - 21st August, 2011

Take one amazing pianist with a great singing voice and a gift for narrative.  Add one talented bass player, David Olney and put them both into the Pheasantry in Kings Road.  Enjoy with a pizza and wash down with your favourite tipple and you will be guaranteed a great night that won’t break the bank..but hurry Billy is only here until Sunday, 21st August.  Show begins at 8.30pm.


Billy Stritch

Texas born Billy Stritch not only entertains but takes you on a journey through the life of Mel Torme starting from the age of four when he won a talent contest in 1929 singing 'You’re Driving Me Crazy', which earned him fifteen dollars and return engagement, to his latter years when Billy had the pleasure of actually knowing him. 

This is an evening filled with timeless favourites such as ‘The Best Things In Life Are Free’, ‘Sunday in New York’ and ‘Cottage for Sale’ to name but three.  But the evening was made more special for me when Billy gave one of the best renditions I have heard of ‘A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square’.  The song is meaningful to me for a number of reasons, not least that my dog, Berkeley was named after this song. At the end of the show I had the opportunity to congratulate Billy and to tell him how the Berkeley Square song figured so much in my life and that was when I discovered Billy is an ardent dog lover too and is missing his Border terrier, Ivy who is waiting for him back in New York. 

 
Ivy


Ivy is healthy, energetic 12 year old that Billy describes as making his life complete:

“I was single 13 years ago and feeling isolated and, to be honest, lonesome. I knew getting a dog would be the answer and would give me a reason for getting out and meeting people.  We always had dogs when I was growing up.  When I was very little we had poodles and then we had Dachshunds.  I wasn’t sure what breed of dog I wanted then, so I completed a questionnaire online from the Purina Dog Show that helps people determine the type of dog that would fit into their life style.  I got Border terrier.  I hadn’t even heard of the breed!  We don’t have many in America.  I had to look them up on the internet and thought that they looked real cute.  Then I did another questionnaire, this time it was through the American Kennel Club.  There were about a hundred questions and again I got Border terrier. They are described as being small, smart and laid back and I knew one of these dogs would be perfect living with me in my New York apartment, but, where was I going to find one? Like I said, we don’t have many in the States.

“Eventually I tracked down a breeder in Pennsylvania who happened to be expecting a litter in 2 months.  I managed to get my name put on the list and when the litter was born there were three puppies.  I went to visit and play with them when they were a month old and that was when I picked Ivy.  I had to wait until she was weaned but she has been with me ever since.”



I asked if Billy ever took Ivy to work,

“I used to, occasionally,  when she was a puppy, but I move about too much now and besides I have a partner who takes care of her when I’m not there who loves her even more than I do.”

Somehow I found that last statement hard to believe, Billy so obviously worships the ground Ivy walks on.  We went on to talk about the breed.  Billy told me that when he walks Ivy in Central Park, which is within a stone’s throw from his apartment, fellow Americans always comment on how cute she is and always ask what breed she is, however,  as soon as he meets English or Scots they recognise her immediately saying ‘I have one of those back home’.  Billy doesn't remember seeing many Border terriers in London either.  I commented that I had noticed a big increase in the Border terrier population in the Park over the past decade .  We agreed that they are a great size for living in a city but are also game little characters too.   I wondered with their wiry coat whether they shed much hair? 

“Ivy doesn’t shed at all.  She is very low maintenance.  I just take her to the groomers about every couple of months for a bath and a trim.”

“Then that must be another good reason why Border terriers have become so popular,” I exclaimed.  “They are perfect for people who have allergies to dog hair.”

Apart from their wonderful nature, the Border terrier is a fit and long lived breed.

“Ivy was 12 in April and has had nothing wrong with her until this year when she developed a limp and could no longer get on the couch. It turned out that she had torn a ligament and needed an operation.  I felt so guilty the next day as it seemed to have taken so much out of her but within a few days it was all I could do to stop her jumping up.  She's fine now.”

Billy has a show tonight so I didn’t want to keep him much longer.  I asked how long he was planning to stay in London?

“I have to get back to New York on Monday and then I am straight off to Las Vegas working.  I like to keep busy.”

And Billy certainly does keep busy.  He is a Grammy winning composer, a musical director and is in great demand not only for his own act but also as Liza Minelli’s  pianist. 

Thank you, Billy for this interview.  You are a great guy with a huge talent AND you love dogs!



The Pheasantry
152-154 Kings Road
London, SW3 4UT
Phone: 020 7351 5031