Arts Center Should Book New Talent

The late Andy Kaufman’s tribute/parody should have buried the others-as-Elvis shtick forever, so the Orange County Performing Arts Center’s (coming) “Elvis: A Musical Celebration,” featuring three actor versions of the King, is an unnecessary and puzzling presentation.

By digging up the bloated corpse of Elvis while ignoring the vital contributions of living contemporary musicians, the “Arts Center” reveals itself to be nothing but cold concrete anchored in mud.

Only an inventive, diverse booking policy recognizing fine talents such as Celia Cruz, John Lee Hooker, Public Enemy, Yellowman, 3 Mustaphas 3, Eddie Palmieri, Kassav, B-H Surfers, Dwight Yoakam, Black Stalin, Flaco Jimenez, Jane’s Addiction, Alpha Blondie, Pancho Sanchez, and Beausoleil--to name a few--will bring much-needed credibility (and patrons) to the Center.

DARYL FLOOD

Orange