DOLENZ A HIT ON OPRAH'S WHERE ARE THEY NOW

****

THE GLORIOUS CORNER

Story By: G. H. HARDING

 ****

Micky Dolenz

ELLA HENDERSON – Every so often we get surprised too! Earlier this year, Brit-group London Grammar just knocked us out, but two weeks back we saw a new performer on The Today Show, Ella Henderson, and she just stunned us. Now, having heard her debut album Chapter One, it’s immediately in my Top 5 albums of the year (along with London Grammar).

We've written a lot over this year and last about the brilliant Brit-pop singers coming to our shores, starting with the indomitable Amy Winehouse and continuing with, Florence Welch, Jessie J, Emeli Sande, Leona Lewis, Ellie Goulding, Duffy, and still coming with the additional of Henderson.

Coming off the fastest selling debut from a U. K. artist this year with her single “Ghost,” Ella’s debut album Chapter One entered at #1 on the UK Albums Chart.

She was a finalist on the ninth cycle of The X Factor in 2012 and finished in sixth place, despite being a strong favorite to win. She was subsequently signed to Simon Cowell’s Syco Music.

Described as honest, assured, vocally astonishing and unmistakably special, the teenager (born 12 January 1996) co-wrote the album with some of the world’s greatest songwriters including Babyface, Al Shux (Alicia Keys) and Salaam Remi (Winehouse). Adds Ella, “There are lots of times I can’t believe what’s happening to me, but when it comes to my music I just completely found myself. This is the album I always wanted to make.”

There’s a track here, called, “Mirror Man,” that’s a combination of Adele, Dusty Sprinfield and Duffy, that’s a total home run. With the line, wish I could love you better than a mirror can, the track is splendidly irresistible and one of the best songs we've heard this year.

You can take Ella all the way to the bank. I think, the best Brit-pop artist yet!

OPRAH’S OWN --- Last night was the eagerly anticipated Micky Dolenz-profile on the Oprah Winfrey Where Are They Now. Micky’s segment was the closing one; after George Hamilton, Morgan Fairchld and Randy Spelling and, didn't disappoint at all. Opening with the Monkee-man walking through his garden beside his sumptuous home in the L. A. hills it was an invigorating and revealing look at the man, reflecting on his career and the upcoming Monkees 60th anniversary in 2016.

We also got a glimpse of him with wife Donna in the kitchen and his daughter Georgia, with whom he has launched the wildly successful Dolenz and Daughters fine-furniture company.

Dolenz will be in New York next week, first to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from Donnie Kehr and Cori Gardner’s Rockers On Broadway outfit. The show will be held next Monday at Le Poisson Rouge in Greenwhich Village.

He’s also doing several interviews while here, including Gilbert Gottfried’s radio-cast and catching some shows … including the Carole King-musical Beautiful with Jessie Mueller), where The Monkees are referenced several times during the play.

Twitter blew up before and after the broadcast. Well done all.

DAZED & CONFUSED --- In a story that will only add to the legend of Led Zeppelin, the band's lead singer Robert Plant reportedly turned down the chance for the surviving members to bank a staggering $800 million for a reunion tour. Our U. K. source King reported that Virgin boss Richard Branson, a life-long Zeppelin fan, proposed a contract of a 35- date three city tour that would have made Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones just over $300 million each before tax.

Drummer John Bonham, whose death in 1980 effectively ended the band, would also have been represented through his son Jason, who would have been paid as well.

Needless to say, the prospective tour would have been the most lucrative for any artist or act in the history of live music, and continues our source, Page, Jones and Bonham all eagerly signed up.

However, the implacable Plant wasn't so keen and reportedly tore up the contract in front of shocked promoters as he felt it was the right thing to do.

“Jimmy, John and Jason signed up immediately," said our source adding, "It was a no-brainer for them but Robert asked for 48 hours to think about it. When he said no and ripped up the paperwork he had been given, there was an enormous sense of shock. There is no way they can go ahead without him.”

Plant's refusal was absolute and there is no going back says our source. “They have tried to talk him round but there is no chance... His mind is made up and that’s that.”

The failure to agree to the mega-tour killed Branson's grandiose plans that included re branding one of his Virgin jets as The Starship to fly the band to venues in London, Berlin and New Jersey. Branson also offered the band an option to do 45 more gigs in five venues.

“Branson tried to pull out all of the stops. But even his money was not enough to get Plant to sign up. He is gutted,” said our source.

Since their split in 1980, the surviving members of Led Zeppelin have only performed together a briefly four times, the last occasion being a one night only gig at London’s O2 on Dec. 10, 2007 to celebrate the life of record executive Ahmert Ertegun.

My two cents: call Adam Lambert.

CLOSING NOTES --- Chris Gilman’s downtown boite Yerba Buena Perry will cater the backstage food for the Rockers On Broadway event next week. Note to all: go straight to the fish tacos …

Congrats to Brad Waddell’s Monkees.net site which celebrates 20 years today …

Adoroma and Cannon present photographer David Bergman and his new book Bon Jovi – Work, this Wednesday at The Altman Building in NYC …

Joy Behar, that mouth that roared on The View, is performing her one-woman show Me, My Mouth & I. Previews began last Thursday at downtown’s Cherry Lane Theatre. Limited run through Dec. 21. Her husband Steve is the producer.