The Arts Foundation of Cape Cod (AFCC) is pleased to announce that William Shatner will take up the baton as Celebrity Guest Conductor for the 21st Annual TD Banknorth Pops by the Sea concert. Although William Shatner has ascended the podium numerous times to accept some of the most prestigious awards in the entertainment industry, this will be his very first time conducting a live orchestra.
Margaret Van Sciver, President of the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, stated, “William Shatner is as delighted to accept this honor as we are to bestow it upon him. We are thrilled that Mr. Shatner has accepted our invitation. Throughout his career, he has inspired television fans, moviegoers and live audiences worldwide. It will be a unique privilege for all of us attending the concert at the Hyannis Town Green on Sunday August 6th to experience Mr. Shatner in this new role.”
William Shatner has had a distinguished career spanning 50 years as a professional actor, director, producer, screenwriter, recording artist, author, and horseman. He is one of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, and has established himself as a major Hollywood philanthropist.
In 1966, Shatner originated the role of Captain James T. Kirk in the television series “Star Trek”, which rocketed into fame only after the show was canceled and relaunched in syndication. The series spawned a feature film franchise and Shatner reprised the role of Captain Kirk in seven of the Star Trek motion pictures. He has since appeared in other movies such as Airplane II: The Sequel, Loaded Weapon 1, as well as both installments of the Miss Congeniality franchise.
The actor has starred in several hundred television programs including classics such as “The Twilight Zone”, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, and “Mission: Impossible”. He also appeared repeatedly on other staples including “77 Sunset Strip” and “Dr. Kildare” before garnering an Emmy nomination for his appearances in “3rd Rock from the Sun”.
More recently, the 2006 Celebrity Guest Conductor won an Emmy for his recurring role as eccentric law firm partner Denny Crane on “The Practice”, the David E. Kelley-created legal drama that had an impressive run on ABC television. Shatner is reprising the role as a series regular on the hit ABC program “Boston Legal”. Last year this portrayal garnered him his first Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award. Visit William Shatner’s official website.
The TD Banknorth Pops by the Sea concert is scheduled for August 6, 2006, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the Hyannis Village Green, featuring the only Cape Cod appearance of Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra.
He must have a following. His music is right now at #31 on http://www.moosak.com.
http://www.moosak.com/william-shatner/
I know many will find this hard to believe, but Shatner is considered one of the best living musical poets to span the 20th and 21st century. Putting his poetically written lyrics (which he actually does write himself) right up their among the stratosphere with other modern greats as Bob Dylan, Harry Nilson, Joan Baez, John Lennon and Rufus Wainwright.
His lyrics in the CD “Has Been” is some of his most profound to date – especially his grippingly heart-tearing anguished cry-out over his last wife’s death in “What Have You Done” – (forget that horrific 60’s album – that one was done for the bucks and its tongue-in-cheek value).
http://www.lyred.com/lyrics/William+Shatner/Has+Been/
Just a little trivia for the buffs out there. 😉
He definitely DOES have a following. He is now #1 at Moosak.com