That’s entertainment!

It was Saturday night at The Dilmun Club and the Candles Restaurant was full to capacity.

Murthy Iyer, acting general manager, was in his office looking after Malcolm Pitt the ‘star turn’ who had flown over from Dubai to appear in his tribute show to Lionel Richie.
There have been a few technical hiccups with a mini-disc player which had caused a few anxious moments during  rehearsals until one of the committee members arrived who knew which button to push to get the music playing.
The tribute act travels light – a small bag, a set of stage clothes and some backing tracks.
A lot less than any ‘original’ live star who would be accompanied by an orchestra, a large troupe of hangers-on and the ‘rider’ – a nightmarish list of demands ranging from the colour of the flowers to be displayed in the dressing room to the label of the ‘organic lager’ to be placed in the fridge.
There were no such demands from Malcolm Pitt who has been singing professionally since 1989 when he appeared on  Sky TV with his soul band Times Square and won ‘Sky Star Search’, one of the numerous television talent shows that command a great deal of airtime nowadays.
He is the only “recognised” Lionel Richie tribute artist in the UK and is in great demand all over the country, Europe and now the Middle East.
“I’m under no illusion that if Malcolm Pitt was the headline name at the Dilmun Club it would not have sold out three weeks ago … yet mention Lionel Richie and people just can’t get enough of his songs.
“But it’s not easy being a tribute act – you’ve got to get it right from the moment you step out on stage, the voice, the stage presence, the lot.”
Malcolm started as the tribute act almost by accident when he bumped into a Lisa Stansfield sound-alike who was earning far in excess of what he could command on the northern club circuit.
“I approached an agent and knew I could do a fair impression of Johnny Mathis. He said, if you could do Lionel Richie you could earn a lot more.”
Never were truer words spoken, for Malcolm now makes a handsome living with his tribute to the Motown superstar and spends six months of the year plying his trade in sunny Spain.
He even got to the chance to say “thank you” to the star who has made him a mint when Lionel Richie opened an entertainment complex in his home town of Manchester.
“I do a good Bob Marley too – it’s huge in Spain but I haven’t got my wig with me,” Malcolm added.
Murthy told him not to worry, The Dilmun crowd liked a good entertainer and were sure to appreciate him whatever he delivered.
As I left the office, he shouted: “thanks Fred … I’ll give you a mention from the stage.”
“I’m not Fred, I’m Stan,” I replied, “from the GulfWeekly.”
“No problem,” said Malcolm, “I’m terrible with names.”
Malcolm made the entrance he hoped for and strutted on to the stage in all his ‘Lionel’ magnificence.
The ladies from the netball club were on the dance floor within seconds and stayed, as the song goes, “All Night Long”.
In between hit after hit, he called out requests, mentioned a birthday party by name and spotted me in the crowd.
“Let’s hear it for Stan the Man,” he shouted, “from Gulf News.”
“No, no,” shouted my listings reporter Sahar Mulla, “It’s the GulfWeekly!”
“Yes,” replied Malcolm, “Let’s hear it for the GulfWeekly News!”
He was right. He is terrible at remembering names, but he sure can sing.
Moments later Lionel had transformed into a wailing Bob Marley and the capacity crowd – particularly the netball club possé – was on the dance floor and on the stage … and loving every minute.
Well, what’s in a name?

Words & photos Stan Szecowka