"These City Blocks", is just one of the original songs composed for the play, First Love - A Musical, by lyricist and musician Michael D'Egidio. Michael is not only the vocalist on this video, but he also plays all the musical instruments including the extraordinary saxophone solos. He recorded and produced the song "These City Blocks", in his home studio.
Michael D'Egidio began playing the saxophone when he was nine years old and professionally at the age of thirteen. He began writing music at the age of fourteen.
He has appeared in concerts either as part of the band, or on the same bill with Bo Diddley, Roy Orbison, Patti LaBelle, Peter Wolf, Ben E. King, Three Dog Night, The Del Vikings, The Sherrills, Clarence Clemons, Rick James, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dionne Warwick, Cyndi Lauper, and the Buffalo Symphony Orchestra.
Composers John Heard, Karl Korte, and David Barnable gave him training in traditional classical music, contemporary classical music, and electronic music. Michael's songs are a synthesis of this academic training and music of the musicians and songwriters that he admired as a teenager and went on to connect with as an adult. His musical scores have been featured in commercials, documentary films, and in off-Broadway musicals.
The amateur and stock acting rights to this work are controlled exclusively by FIRST LOVE MUSICAL, LLC without whom permission in writing no performance of it may be given. Royalty fees are subject to change without notice. Royalty must be paid every time a play is whether or not it is presented for profit and whether or not an admission is charged. A play is performed any time it is acted before an audience. All inquiries concerning amateur and stock rights should be addressed to:
First Love Musical, LLC
8652 Via Reale, Unit 3
Boca Raton, FL 33496
www.firstlovemusical.com
Email: production@firstlovemusical.com
SYNOPSIS:
The year is 1964 in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The area is under change with many of the white homeowners and businesses moving out. African American's and Hispanic immigrants are replacing them. The area is becoming economically depressed. There are many confrontations between the ethnic groups especially in the schools.
Nick Colombo is a teenager lured into his cousin's gang and becomes involved with a robbery of an automobile belonging to the high school coach. The entire gang along with Nick is arrested for the crime. All the members except Nick are sent to jail. Nick is incarcerated at a Juvenile Detention Center, where he must spend the next three years in isolation due to threats upon his life.
In 1967, Nick is released and back at his old high school where he is ostracized by most of the student body. His only friends are Hispanic and African American, the exception being the head cheerleader Kimberly O'Donnell who is attracted to Nick. The only problem is her boyfriend Brett Dickerson who is captain of the football team is insanely jealous and threatens both Kimberly and Nick.
Kimberly and Nick soon fall in love to the distain of her father, Joseph O'Donnell, who views Nick as a criminal and bars Kimberly from ever seeing him again. She rebels against his restrictions. At the Halloween dance, Nick and Kimberly leave the gym and spend the night together. Arriving home early the next morning Kimberly is confronted by her enraged father. He immediately enrolls her in a boarding school in upstate New York. Before she is to leave, her brother Peter arranges a meeting between Kimberly and Nick at the local church where Nick says goodbye to her.
A few months pass and Nick is despondent over the lack of communication between Kimberly and him. The last letter he receives is very short and he becomes desperate to see her, believing she is dating another person. Without any money to make the trip, he plots a robbery at the local pawn shop where he worked in 1964 and tries to enlist his friend Cordero in the crime. Cordero will have nothing to do with the scheme and tells Kimberly's brother Peter of Nicks foolish actions. Peter contacts Kimberly and she arranges to return to Brooklyn desperate to stop Nick from committing the crime. Nick is told of her return by Peter and is relieved knowing she still loves him.
Upon her return they spend the night together at Nicks home, where they pledge their undying love for one another.
First Love -- A Musical; is a fast paced three act musical extravaganza with twenty-two original songs by musician and lyricist Michael D'Egidio. The libretto was conceived and written by Anthony D'Egidio.
Throughout the musical, a key instrumentalist is the lone saxophone player, i.e. street musician whose incredible saxophone solo's on stage add depth and meaning to the scenes.
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Sax In The City - Clarence Clemonsby bluetrane9471,024 views
Michael D’Egidio is an amazing saxophone player, song writer and performer. This song is just one example of his musical genius.
reynalinares48 10 months ago
This video has amazing lyrics with awesome saxophone playing.
thethirdcell 10 months ago
My uncle is pretty darn cool. Just sayin' =).
36Diggaroo94 1 year ago