Stevie Nicks tribute band to play The Canyon




OAK PARK ENTERTAINER IN THE SPOTLIGHT-Bella Donna, a tribute band to Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac, will perform Jan. 23 at The Canyon in Agoura Hills. Call (818) 879-5016 for ticket information or visit via the Internet site www.canyonclub.net.

OAK PARK ENTERTAINER IN THE SPOTLIGHT-Bella Donna, a tribute band to Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac, will perform Jan. 23 at The Canyon in Agoura Hills. Call (818) 879-5016 for ticket information or visit via the Internet site www.canyonclub.net.


By Lori Porter
Acorn Staff Writer

Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks fans who missed the experience of Bella Donna, a Stevie Nicks tribute band that played at The Canyon last March, will have another opportunity to see this one-of-a-kind performance when the group returns to the Agoura Hills club at 9 p.m., Fri., Jan. 23.


Fleetwood Mac emerged as one of the greatest rock bands during the early ’70s with Stevie Nicks hits such as "Rhiannon," "Gold Dust Woman," and "Landslide"(recently recorded by the Dixie Chicks), just to name just a few.


Oak Park resident Michelle Tyler is Bella Donna’s lead singer and the one who takes the role of Nicks. Her husband, Bob Weitz, is the band’s lead guitarist and musical director. The two met while they were traveling musicians doing road shows and playing grandstands.


Both have lived in Oak Park for 13 years.


Tyler has been singing professionally for 20 years. She began singing at 14, when she’d come home from school, turn on her Grace Slick records and work on imitating Slick’s exceptionally powerful voice. Once she realized she could sing, she became serious about pursuing a career. Tyler later appeared on a Dick Clark Production called "Your Big Break," portraying Grace Slick.


In 1998, Weitz, who is also a recording engineer, won an Academy Award for Scientific Achievement after designing a tool for projection systems.


"We all have regular jobs," said Tyler. "We do the music because we love to—not because we need to."


During its act, Bella Donna pays attention to every detail. The group delivers a remarkably accurate portrayal of Nicks and her music as a soloist and as a member of Fleetwood Mac. Tyler wears an authentic Nicks wardrobe while mimicking the star’s stage presence and style.


They chose the name Bella Donna because it was the title of Nicks’ double platinum album.


Most recently, Bella Donna appeared at the 11th annual Veterans Holiday Celebration, the popular concert club Platinum Live in Studio City and at BB King’s Blues Club in Universal Citywalk.


"We love playing tribute to Stevie and her impressive body of work. The fact that our audiences have been so responsive is really satisfying to us," said Tyler.


Other band members include Darlene Martin, a vocalist and accomplished choral arranger with a music degree from Long Beach State.


Ken Dalton is the band’s keyboardist, who’s performed with the Ventura, Conejo and Santa Monica symphonies, and Robbie Diggs, a drummer inspired by his father, jazz musician David Diggs. Colette Lovejoy is another vocalist for the band and Matt Rodela is the bass player.


The band’s guitarist and vocalist is Bruce Lawrence, a prolific guitarist and songwriter whose credits include opening for Peter Frampton, Extreme and Blue Oyster Cult.


Tickets for Bella Donna’s performance at The Canyon are $15 and can be purchased by calling The Canyon at (818) 879-5016.


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