Grammy-award winning songstress Debby Boone is in St. Louis this weekend for a concert at the Bezmes Family Theater on the campus of Lindenwood University. Boone's show features the music of Rosemary Clooney.

Boone, who is best known for her 1977 hit, "You Light Up My Life," gladly stopped to sign a couple of photographs and pose for this shot as she arrived in town earlier today. "Life" was a number one song for ten weeks on the Billboard charts in '77 and helped Boone earn a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

While waiting for Boone, another Grammy Award winner, Fantasia, passed by me. She was in town for a Mother's Day show at Chaifetz Arena. Although I already have a photo with her, I asked for a new pose. Unfortunately, her manager told me, "we don't take no pictures in no airports." OK.

Peter Yarrow and Paul Stookey are on the road one last time before calling it a career. Their current tour stopped at Sangamon Auditorium in Springfield, Illinois, Sunday evening as they paid tribute to former band mate Mary Travers.

Following the show, Yarrow set up shop in the Auditorium's lobby to greet fans and sign autographs, however, Stookey wasn't present. I made a quick decision to check the stage door, and a good decision it was as Stookey was already in his rental car preparing to depart to St. Louis to catch a flight early the next morning. Even though a light rain was falling, he was kind enough to sign a couple of 8 x 10s and step out of the car to pose for this shot.




Back inside, the line was long for Yarrow as he continued to meet and greet fans with his usual warm and welcoming demeanor. Once I reached the table, it was like meeting an old friend as he joked with me and added his signature to the 8 x 10s and to a copy of his book, Puff the Magic Dragon.

Ron White, an original member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, was in Springfield, Illinois, Friday night for a show at The Center. White stopped on his way to dinner at the local Bennigan's to pose for this shot and sign an 8 x 10. He was sporting some extra snazzy saddle shoes and I noted their attractiveness, to which he replied with a grin, "them's my drinkin' shoes."

I then headed north about an hour to Bloomington, Illinois, to get this photograph with Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin who was in concert at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. Colvin, who attended SIU-Carbondale, gladly signed a copy of her 1996 release, "A Few Small Repairs," as she departed the venue. The disk features "Sunny Came Home," the song that earned her two Grammy's for Record of the Year and for Song of the Year.

Bo Darvill, Lewis Medlock, Gator McCluskey. Recognize the names?

They are all characters portrayed by one of America's most famous film and television actors, Burt Reynolds. Reynolds is in Chicago this weekend for a Movie Tribute at the Hollywood Cinema Theater in Woodridge, Illinois.

Reynolds met fans, signed autographs, and took photos before and after screenings of Deliverance, Smokey and the Bandit, Cannonball Run, and The Longest Yard. Without a doubt, he is one of the nicest celebrities I've met. He was warm and genuine. Reynolds made me feel like a friend as we chatted. You don't get that from many "A list" celebrities. He signed a Smokey and the Bandit DVD cover and disk for my collection and then posed for this shot.

It was Coco, Faith, Huggy Bear, Murphy Lee, and that guy from The Man Show all in St. Louis Saturday.

Conan O'Brien and Faith Hill headlined the annual Bob Costas Benefit for Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital.

I pulled up just in time to get this shot with Faith as she arrived at the Fox Theater for her mid-afternoon sound check. In addition to the photograph, Hill signed a promo "This Kiss" CD for my collection.

About an hour later, O'Brien emerged from his hotel to catch his ride to the Fox. I was with a group of fans camped out across from the hotel's lobby. After we called to him, he walked over to us to sign autographs and take photos for all who asked. While signing, he asked how the Cardinals games was going, but he wouldn't divulge what his April Fool's Day prank was at the airport that got him in a little trouble.

Earlier in the afternoon, comedian/actor/talk show host Adam Carolla hosted a book signing at Vintage Vinyl in the Delmar Loop. The always cool and relaxed Carolla took a moment to pose before starting his event. The former Man Show host was in concert later in the evening at The Pageant.

While waiting for Carolla to arrive, I grabbed this photo with rapper Murphy Lee outside the store. Lee and his street time were distributing promo copies of his newest disk.

Finally, after getting Faith Hill, I walked across the street to the Grandel Theater to see if I could find Antonio Fargas. Fargas played "Huggy Bear" on the 70's sitcom Starsky and Hutch. It was my lucky day as I caught Fargas in the lobby on his way to an after matinee snack. Fargas has been in St. Louis the past several weeks performing in the play, The Real McCoy. After chatting about his colorful bathrobe, his stay in St. Louis, and his favorite eating establishments, he posed for this shot.

What started out as "he'll just wave and say hello to you because they're holding the airport open for us" turned out to be much better last Tuesday in Peoria, IL.

Yanni was in town to kick off his 2011 Spring Tour. Following the show at the Civic Center Theater, his tour manager appeared at the stage door to make the above announcement. A few minutes later, Yanni appeared and came right over to me to pose for the photo. And, since I noticed he had a Sharpie in his hand, I knew he was ready to sign, and sign he did, placing a beautiful signature on a promo 8x10 shot. He proceeded to do the same for the rest of the fans waiting.

And, a special "shout out" to Gary Mertz, (Yanni) SUPER FAN!

A few days before, I got this photo one of the most influential musicians in jazz, Christian McBride following two sold-out shows at Jazz at the Bistro in St. Louis. It's probably the first photo with that the celebrity wasn't wearing shoes. He had his shoes in his bag as he left the club. He also signed an 8x10 for my collection.

Earlier that evening, actor/comedian Harland Williams presented his special brand of comedy at the Comedy, Etc. club in Fairview Heights, IL. It was a great show, A+! He met his fans following the show, taking photographs and signing autographs. Harland has a special affinity for raisin bread, cole slaw, and corned beef. You'll have to attend a show to see what I mean.

Vicente Fox, former President of Mexico, was the guest speaker at last night's 113th Annual George Washington Banquet in Peoria, Illinois. Fox served as Mexico's President from 2000 to 2006.

President Fox and his wife, Marta, posed for this photo during the cocktail hour prior to the dinner. In addition to the shot, he signed an 8 x 10 photo for my collection. Gracias!

A couple hours later, and just two blocks up the street, blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa stopped on the way to his tour bus following his concert to take this photo with me and sign an 8 x 10. A surprisingly large group of fans were waiting for him and Bonamassa happily took care of everyone, posing for photos and signing autographs. His new CD, Dust Bowl, drops March 24.