Musical theater singer-comedienne Carly Ozard, fresh from knocking out the crowds in New York, comes back to the Rrazz Room with her homage to her musical idol, Freddie Mercury, on May 20 and 22. Her show is called Someone to Love: My Musical Tribute to Freddie Mercury. No, Ozard will not attempt to imitate Mercury – that simply cannot be done. She will sing songs from the Queen repertory in her own engaging style. Ozard will also showcase tunes Mercury wrote as a solo artist away from Queen. Some of the tunes he wrote for the group were smash hits, such as Bohemian Rhapsody, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Killer Queen, We Are the Champions, and Somebody to Love.
Ozard is a Freddie Mercury expert, and will tell stories about him and reveal lesser-known details about his life.
Mercury’s live performances are the stuff of legend. David Bowie recorded Under Pressure with him. Bowie recalled, “Of all the more theatrical rock performers, Freddie took it further than the rest. … He took it over the edge. And, of course, I always admired a man who wears tights. He was definitely a man who could hold an audience in the palm of his hand.”
Mercury was always different. Born in Zanzibar and raised in India, Mercury was known as “Britain’s first Asian rock star.” He was endlessly colorful and a quote machine for journalists. He responded to that inevitable question, “How do you want to be remembered?”
“When I’m dead,” he said, “I want to be remembered as a musician of some worth and substance.” That’s somewhat self-effacing, but it certainly is the case.
Carly Ozard’s Someone to Love – My Musical Tribute to Freddie Mercury: The Rrazz Room, 222 Mason Street (at O’Farrell in the Hotel Nikko); May 20, 10:30 p.m. & May 22, 8 p.m.; tickets $20 (two-drink minimum) at 866-468-3399, www.therrazzroom.com
