Let's Talk About Talent

     Let's talk about talent.
     Especially when the talent has a pretty close connection to "home," Boonetown.
     Thomas V. Grasso, BHS-60, has already had a tremendous Hollywood/Nashville type career and Maggie Baugh, a granddaughter of Jayne Clark Baugh, BHS-58, appears to be enroute to an outstanding career in music, especially country style.
     (1) Larry Kelley, BHS-63, who the Kornerman is naming CEO of the Korner's Entertainment Division, wrote, "how does a Boone boy get to work with hundreds of Hollywood and Nashville TV, film and recording stars? For Thomas Grasso, it all started when he got the opportunity to hold cue cards for entertainers like Bob Hope and Judy Garland. That, eventually, led to a long career of producing and directing nearly 300 TV specials and shows. A little digging on the internet will show parts of many of these shows. In them, viewers will find that Thomas worked with such actors, actresses, comedians and singers as June Allyson, Pearl Bailey, Tony Bennett, Les Brown, Howard Cosell, Fats Domino, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Merle Haggard, David Letterman, Brenda Lee, Liberace, Rich Little, Marilyn May, Rick Nelson, Roy Rogers, Mickey Rooney, Kay Starr, Mel Torme, Woody Herman and others."
     The Kornerman was especially drawn to a list of awards and honors Thomas has received through the years. He was honored as Director of Showtime's highest rated show of 1981, "Liberace in Las Vegas;" he received a 1981 Letter of Merit from PBS for "That Great American Gospel Sound' which was the 16th highest rated show and the highest per minute fundraiser in the history of PBS and a Letter of Merit from PBS for producing and writing the only two variety specials to air for six years in a row, "That Great American Gospel Sound" and "The Christmas Songs." Closer to his home state of Iowa, Thomas was honored by the Iowa Broadcaster's Association and also received a Governor's Award for producing the best variety program,"Memories of a Bicentennial" and the Iowa Arts Council has honored him for the best variety series the, "Bix Beiderbeck Jazz Series."
     Larry sent me a lengthy list of shows Thomas has been an important part of. Just to give you an idea, television specials such as the NBA Awards Show, Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA shows, those latter three where he was in charge of production for Paramount Studios, and also the Rick Nelson and Fats Domino "Live in Concert" production. Then, too, there were television series such as "Divorce Court," and "An Evening at the Improv," and, yes, even commercials for many nationally known firms.
     Obviously, there was more than "cue cards" involved in Tom's success. He earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas and followed up with a Master's in Theatre/Film from the same school. That was after attending a business college, Pasadena City College and the Community College of Southern Nevada where he earned various other degrees.
     (2) Jayne and C.L. Baugh's granddaughter, Maggie Baugh, is still a high school student but has already had her talents recognized by several well known country musicians. She's already played fiddle onstage with such country icons as Neal McCoy and the Charlie Daniels Band. She opened a show in South Florida for Ashley Monroe of Pistol Annie's, Cole Swindell, Josh Dorr, Radio Romance, Montgomery Gentry, John Anderson, Cowboy Troy and the Old Southern Moonshine Revival. Proud grandmother Jayne says, "she amazes us with her song writing as well as her singing and the instruments she is playing. We are going on a Country Cruise where she is featured. Her teachers are letting her out of school because the cruise features songwriters/future songwriter's classes."
     Korner viewers can read/hear more about this amazing young lady at this web site.......
music@maggiebaugh, or just maggiebaugh.com.
K-----K
     Boone Connected Deaths: Viola Gustafson, 103, Boone.........Robert (Buck) Williams, 61, Des Moines. Born in Boone. Son of George and Betty Clark Williams...........Dick Hamilton, 75, Frisco, TX, formerly of Boone. BHS-58. Spent his entire working career in banking in Texas after graduating from TCU. Boone area survivor is a sister-in-law, Rosalie Harrison of Boone. Dick was born in Jefferson. His parents were Avis and William Hamilton. In Boone, Dick's dad owned and operated Hamilton Hardware..........Beverly Garner Worm, 75, Pueblo, CO. Formerly of Boone, IA. and Boone, CO. BHS-58. Born in Boone, Beverly was a glee club singer, dancer, creative cook, world traveler, teacher and artist..........Mary Pat Portwood, 91, Harlan, formerly of Boone. Moved from Clear Lake to Boone in 1964. Pat worked at FS Farm Service, Boone State Bank, the ASCS office and at Iowa State University. She retired in 2002 and she and her husband, Les, moved back to Harlan that same year.