"There's No Business Like Show Business"

Justin LaVoie plays Irving Berlin's "There's No Business Like Show Business" on the 4/36 Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, MI. Based on an arrangement by master theatre organist George Wright (1920-1998).
Video is courtesy of my esteemed colleague, Donnie Rankin.
#pipeorgan #detroit #irvingberlin #wurlitzer

[@bootman26]

Brilliant! The only thing missing is Ethel Merman. I'm suprised theater organ makers haven't come up with an Ethel Merman stop!

[@SevenPlus65]

I was thinking the exact same thing! Probably my favorite movie of all time is It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. Ethel was the star among stars in that show. ✨️ ❤

[@LarcR]

They did, but they call it a post horn.

[@byronking9573]

Outstanding and uplifting! Classic Americana, played on a classic Americana musical instrument. Thank you for recording and posting.

[@BonnieRogers-i1j]

Dropping by again to hear your play this wonderful song. God Bless You Justin. Happy Easter 2024.

[@ryst19]

Absolutely fantastic! Thank you Wish more were posted from the Detroit Fox Wurlitzer!!!

[@johnsjohnson448]

I love it! LOL. Such showmanship! Elegant and Classy. Thanks for sharing. I'll be back.

[@matts.6904]

Love it! I have a dream to either play or hear played live at either the St. Louis or Detroit Fox Wurlitzers much of GW's arrangements as they were played at the San Francisco Fox farewell concerts. Several that come to mind are "The Burning of Rome," "Showboat Medley," "South," and "Pine Top Boogie."

[@neilrobinson1761]

Can't believe that amazing theatre was demolished.

[@JonasClark]

@@neilrobinson1761 The organ as installed at the El Capitan is admittedly lovely.

[@johngagliardi8753]

Whatever you do, don’t give up playing!Excellent job!

[@trainiacvideos3832]

Fabulous American Wurlitzer sound 👌 Full bass and brass sound ♥️

[@keithwizner5493]

Awesome Man! Would love to hear you play in person someday!

[@RicardoElCorrazonDeLeon]

Boy, did this make me happy!

[@mlaprarie]

For all us George Wright fans, that was a real treat. Beautiful!

[@jasminejohnston6393]

Pipe organs are awesome

[@hgarland]

Thank you for sharing this historically significant recording!

[@fixmyantique5729]

Ok that was awesome! Thanks for sharing guys.

[@stuartlodwidge6281]

I loved you playing that organ I had a kimball fun swinger all those songs you played I can play all those songs on my organ you are a great player from stuart lodwidge from southampton

[@Modeltnick]

And that’s how a theater organ should be played! Bravo!

[@HueyRocks23]

Almost makes you wanna get some popcorn and answer the trivia question: "What famous comedian played Tom Hanks' brother in 'Splash'"?

[@TheQuestioner139]

From Annie get your gun..good classic

[@1Noteworthybear]

You play that Wurlitzer like a boss!

[@geraldthorner8412]

what a hot player=so cool-extraordinary talent I am so envious.

[@organlover1968]

By any standards this is a great performance and a great video but, am I correct in thinking that the Fox Wurlitzer is still playing on its original pneumatic relays and wiring? If that's so then I'm even more impressed.

[@augustberchelmann4946]

Yes. He took this video while the participants of the SYA were exploring the pneumatic relay in the basement.

[@augustberchelmann4946]

Unfortunately one of the divisions of the organ is in boxes in the chamber so the organ isn't even in full working condition in this video. A little while after the filming of this video, the 32ft stop got stuck on lol.

[@altimaguy03ify]

I felt like I was at a Blackhawks game!!!!

[@theunknownorganist3593]

Love this! Thanks!

[@OrganMusicYT]

From a massive Reg Dixon fan, G.W would have been proud!

[@drepalla]

wow, that was good!

[@gary1705]

Well done 👏👏🎶

[@elliot_sander]

Boy, was some STELAR playing! Justin, you made that thing rock! I got to play the St. Louis Fox a few months ago. The Fox Special organs will do just about anything you ask them too. It's really something incredible, when you get to an instrument of that size, you don't play it, IT PLAYS YOU!! There's so much tonal variety and color there you almost don't know what to do with it all! Again, lovely playing!

[@EElgar1857]

Very fine! 😁

[@iamrepete]

Is the Detroit Fox Wurlitzer currently in playable condition?

[@rickbreitenbecher124]

Last I heard, no. Which makes me wonder when this was filmed....info which is probably somewhere on here, but I didn't see it.

[@philip25041948]

Brilliant!!!

[@EpsilonEridani_]

So how long does it to take to tune one of those?

[@brianmarsden2187]

Absolutely wonderful! Joseph Seal in Kingston-upon-Thames, Dudley Savage in Plymouth and Reginald Dixon in Blackpool, we're masters of their craft and created a sound and style that was unique to each of them. May they Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory, Amen.

[@robertpasquini4097]

Fantastic! My childhood piano teacher was the world famous Rosa Rio (who lived to be 107) and she performed on these magnificent Wurlitzer pipe organs her entire life, up to a month before she died.

[@jorgeandrade20]

This makes me so happy, it brought the biggest smile, thank you for your art!

[@SeattleBoatdog]

Hehehe . . Very nice!!

[@1Noteworthybear]

Love this video!!!!

[@micdom43]

Excellent

[@Tracy-s2c]

Nice job

[@sylvainbeaulieu6300]

Reminds me of that great Barton Pipe Organ at the old Chicago Stadium.

[@BonnieRogers-i1j]

Justin, your movement with your body shows that you were enjoying playing this wonderful song. You did a fantastic rendition of playing this song. I use to play the Hammond Organ years ago and still enjoy the sounds of the organs. (CA)

[@daviddiffenderfer3836]

Wonderful, hope you can come to Western Pennsylvania.

[@hiro4752]

If it sounds this good on my phone, how good must it sound in person

[@GEU30CG]

Awesome Justin!

[@allthingschadwick5059]

Very impressive!!! 🎶

[@BrickCityBuilder]

Bravo!!!

[@donaldhelton9308]

Great Thank you

[@tombicek4077]

Wonderful.

[@zendog57]

Awesome!!

[@angelsone-five7912]

Very well played.

[@sega62s]

gréât stuff

[@keithsgulbransen8397]

Wonderful!

[@lilahasson5110]

Fantastic!

[@tambrosia]

BRAVO

[@ericmetivier7418]

Génial ❤❤❤❤

[@DandyDon1]

I thought pants with rivets were a no no at the organ bench. ;)

[@21stcenturyozman20]

Well, remove his pants!

[@DandyDon1]

@@21stcenturyozman20 Are you familiar with Bench Stiction? ;)

[@21stcenturyozman20]

@@DandyDon1 No, I wasn’t, but have now looked it up. PX how it relates to playing the organ (with or without pants on).

[@DandyDon1]

@@21stcenturyozman20 Then there is the dreaded and at times dangerous Howard Seat. A real b*ll buster.... ;)

[@LarcR]

When you play like that, you are allowed to make your own rules.