Buzz Worthy's 10 best songs about babies

Apparently we're all supposed to be jazzed today about the impending birth of the first baby in the new generation of British royals. We're not, but William and Kate seem like decent people and we're happy for them, so let's mark the occasion by listing some of the best songs about babies. Please feel free to add your favorites.

1. "Isn't She Lovely," Stevie Wonder.
2.  "Beautiful Boy," John Lennon.
3. "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby," Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer.
4. "Sweet Baby James," James Taylor.
5. "Stay Up Late," Talking Heads. 
6. "Nancy With the Laughing Face," Jimmy Van Heusen and Phil Silvers (recorded by Frank Sinatra).
7. "Mammas Don't let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys," Ed Bruce.
8. "Kooks," David Bowie.
9. "Cleo" Built to Spill.
10. "You're Having My Baby," Paul Anka.

 (We know, it's one of the worst songs ever, but we couldn't resist.)

Gala celebrates Manatee Performing Arts Center opening

   After nearly five months, a couple of musicals, a movie and some private events, the Manatee Performing Arts Center is finally ready for its grand opening.

The center's lobby

   On Aug. 3, the Manatee Players will host a Crystal Gala to celebrate the grand opening of the center at 502 Third Ave. W. in downtown Bradenton. The gala starts at 5:30 p.m. and will include a reception with hors d’oeuvres and an open bar, followed by entertainment from John and Alexandra Nock, who are contestants on "America's Got Talent" this season. After the performance, dinner prepared by Pier 22 will be served, followed live music and dancing. 

   The Manatee Performing Arts Center opened in March with a production of "Miss Saigon." The Manatee Players' first full season in the center begins Aug. 8 with "Les Miserables."

   Tickets for the gala are $175 per person and are available at www.manateeplayers.com or by calling the ticket office at 941-748-5875. Black tie is preferred.

"The Underpants" extended again at Sarasota's FST

   "The Underpants" is such a huge hit that Florida Studio Theatre is extending its run for a second time. It's now set to run through Aug. 11.
   Steve Martin took a 100-year-old German play and adapted it into a farce with some hilarious moments and a hint of social commentary. (Don't let that scare you off, though; it's essentially merriment, not message.)

A scene from "The Underpants"

   The story's about a beautiful young married woman who's watching the king pass by in a parade. When she rises up onto her toes to get a better look, her underpants fall to the ground. It causes a minor scandal, and two men become obsessed with her.
   FST is
at 1241 N. Palm Ave. in downtown Sarasota. Tickets are $18-$24. Call 941-366-9000 or go to www.floridastudiotheatre.org.

Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly comes to St. Petersburg

Maze featuring Frankie Beverly

   When you're in the mood for some sweet '70s soul music, you can't do much better than Maze featuring Frankie Beverly.
   The group behind such classics as “Lady of Magic,” “Workin’ Together" and “Traveling Man” will be at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg Sept. 15. 
   The band became a staple on "quiet storm" radio stations in the late 1970s and continued to produce gold albums into the '90s.
    Tickets go on sale July 12. They'll set you back between  $49.50 and $79.50. You can get tickets and information  by phone at 727-893-7832 or online at at www.themahaffey.com.

More of Steve Martin's "Underpants" in Sarasota

   Florida Studio Theatre's staging of the "The Underpants," a farce adapted by Steve Martin from an obscure 100-year-old German play, is such a hit that FST has added more shows. It's now set to run through Aug. 3.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2013/06/20/4575252/sarasota-hosts-steve-martins-underpants.html#storylink=cpy

   The story has to do with a woman who's watching the king pass by in a parade. She rises up onto her toes to get a better look, and her underpants fall to the ground. Two men who see it happen become obsessed with her.
   It has messages abut feminism and celebrity, but director Bruce Jordan says that at its heart it's meant to be pure comic entertainment.
    Tickets start at $32. Call 941-366-9000 or go to www.floridastudiotheatre.org.

Manatee Players single tickets on sale Monday

   The Manatee Players' first full season at in the gorgeous Manatee Performing Arts Center is only about a month away. Individual tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. July 8.
   The season gets going Aug. 8 with the highly anticipated staging of "Les Miserables." Given the company's spectacular staging of "Miss Saigon" last season, audiences can reasonably expect "Les Miz" to be something special.
    The season features 14 plays and musicals in the center's two theaters. Tickets for shows in Stone Hall range from $26-$36. Shows in the more intimate Bradenton Kiwanis Studio Theater will set you back $26.
    Here's the schedule for Stone Hall:
    Aug. 8-25: "Les Miserables."

Stone Hall

    Sept. 12-29: "Grease."
    Oct. 24-Nov. 10: "Young Frankenstein."
    Dec. 5-22: "Peter Pan."
    Jan. 9-26: "The Mystery of Edwin Drood."
    Feb. 13-March 2: "Shrek: The Musical."
    March 20-April 6: "Man of La Mancha."
    May 1-18: "My One and Only."

   And in the Bradenton Kiwanis Studio Theater:
   Sept. 19-Oct. 6: "Always... Patsy Cline."
   Oct. 31-Nov. 17: "Our Town."
   Dec. 5-22: "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever."
   Jan. 16-Feb. 2: "Stepping Out."
   Feb. 27-March 16: "Beehive." 
   April 10-27: "Greater Tuna." 

   The Manatee Performing Arts Center is at 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton. Call 941-748-5875 or go to www.manateeplayers.com for more information or to order tickets.

Vanilla Fudge to play Tampa next month

   Sixties psychedelic soul greats Vanilla Fudge have scheduled a concert for Tampa Aug. 17.
   Unlike a lot of bands that have been around since the '60s, Vanilla Fudge has its classic lineup almost entirely intact: Singer/vocalist Mark Stein, guitarist Vince Martell and drummer extraordinaire Carmine Appice are all still Fudging. They're joined Pete Bremy, who replaces bassist Tim Bogert.

Appice, Martell and Stein

   Vanilla Fudge are best known for their uber-emotional version of the Supremes' "You Keep Me Hangin' On," but they had some strong albums and a few other great singles. They were prone to the excesses of their era -- including seven-minute singles with long, indulgent solos -- but their musicianship was  impeccable and they created great reworkings of other bands' hits.
   They'll be at Friday Morning Musicale, a small, historic concert venue in a residential neighborhood, at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17. Tickets are $55-$100. (The high-priced tickets include a meet-and-greet.) The Musicale is at 809 W. Horatio St. Call 813-251-1990 or go to www.fridaymorningmusicale.com.
   Before the show, outside at 6 p.m., you can hear a local tribute band called the Sting Police. In case it's not obvious, they do songs by Sting and the Police.