- ZaSu Pitts Memorial Orchestra
The ZaSu Pitts Memorial Orchestra was formed in
San Francisco by Stephen Ashman, a bass-player. They released several LPs in the1984 -1987 time period and continue to be active. The Orchestra did not have any overt connection toZaSu Pitts beyond the name. The band consisted of approximately 15 members (mostly male instrumentalists and female singer-dancers) who performed full band renditions ofMotown ,soul ,R&B and other classic pop songs along with a few original compositions. A mid-1980's New Years Eve live show broadcast byKQED-TV (San Francisco) is sometimes shown on public TV in the United States.In the mid-1980s, a rift developed between Ashman and the members of Zasu Pitts who left the band en masse. Departing members, including Morey Goldstein, Katie Guthorn, Keta Bill, Antoinette Olesen, Armen Boyd, Eddie Berman, Kathy Kennedy, Bruce Paine, Maurice Tani and Steve Stanley, formed "Big Bang Beat" a similarly themed band. [http://www.bigbangbeat.com link] . Ashman recruited new musicians and continued under the Zasu Pitts name.
The Zasu Pitts Memorial Orchestra won a "Bammy Award" for Best Independent Album of 1985 [http://www.katieg.org/Stage.htm link]
Keta Bill is married to long time
San Francisco Chronicle rock critic Joel Selvin [http://rockcriticsarchives.com/interviews/joelselvin/joelselvin.html link]On June 23, 2008, the original Zasu Pitts Memorial Orchestra lineup reformed for the first time in nearly 23 years for a one off concert at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco to benefit original Zasu Pitts/Big Bang Beat saxophonist Morey Goldstein who had recently been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. [http://sanfrancisco.tribe.net/event/One-Morey-Time-A-Benefit-For-Morey-Goldstein-Zasu-Pitts-Memorial-Orchestra-Butch-Whacks-and-the-Glass-Packs-Great-American-Music-Hall/san-francisco-ca/d83314cd-ee68-419c-be70-e209357b3532 link]
Booker T ofBooker T & The MGs made a guest appearance at this show. Morey Goldstein passed away on July 5, 2008 [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/13/MNGOLDSTEI10.DTL&hw=courageous&sn=010&sc=644 link] .External links
* [http://www.associatedentertainment.com/aec/Music/Party-Bands/Zasu-Pitts-Memorial-Orchestra Samples available]
* [http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=zasu_pitts_memorial_orchestra Trouser Press entry]
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