12 Mar 233. Toni Basil: The Extraordinary Life and Art of the “Hey Mickey” Hitmaker
Behind the Curtain: The Extraordinary Life and Art of Toni Basil
Featuring legendary Choreographer, Dancer, Director, Producer, Recording Artist, Historian, and “Hey Mickey” hitmaker Toni Basil in a rare, intimate conversation! We explore her remarkable career spanning decades in entertainment, from backstage memories as Vaudeville royalty to collaborating with icons like Elvis Presley, David Bowie, Bette Midler, and Tina Turner.
Here’s what you’ll discover:
– How Toni’s behind-the-scenes childhood at the Chicago Theater shaped her love for performance
– The creative process behind Elvis’ in “Viva Las Vegas” assisting David Winters
– Her unexpected journey to becoming co-director for David Bowie after connecting through their shared mime vocabulary
– Insights on working with superstars who “care about their legacy” and the work ethic behind true stardom
This conversation reveals how following your artistic intuition—even when it leads to unexpected places—can create a lifetime of extraordinary creative collaborations. Toni’s fascinating stories illuminate how being fully present in each moment helped her navigate a groundbreaking career across film, television, and music.
Show Notes:
Follow Toni on:
YouTube: ToniBasilsHouse
TikTok: officialtonibasil
Listen to Toni’s re-release of “Breakaway”
Watch Toni’s parents’ Vaudville Act
Watch Toni’s aunt and uncle in a silent film from 1919
Watch Toni’s judges’ demo from Street Beat 2024
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