Back to the ‘50s

Mike “Majik” Boyd will be jogging down memory lane when he brings his show of 1950s, ’60s and ’70s music to Burbank’s new Hampton Inn three nights a week in September.

Boyd, who once was a second-round draft choice by the Dodgers, is a longtime baseball coach to Burbank youngsters. But, when he’s not on the field, he’s onstage in Las Vegas or Laughlin singing songs made famous by R&B; artist Sam Cooke and others, as well as his original tunes, he said.

Through his Singboy Productions, he’s created a variety show “Trip Down Memory Lane: A Tribute to Sam Cooke” and after it opens Sept. 3 at the Hampton Inn, he hopes it will generate audiences for years to come, he said.

Considered a pioneer of soul music, Cooke was an American singer of gospel, R&B; and pop, who had 29 Top-40 hits from 1957 until he died in 1964. Some of those were “You Send Me,” “A Change is Gonna Come” and “Chain Gang,” Boyd said.

“He is the best vocalist to ever come along — the way that he impacted people on gospel and the R&B; side,” Boyd said. “People around the planet sing his music. He’s a musical hero to all of us. He influenced me more than anybody to become a singer.”

Boyd has been doing legends shows, recreating the music of his idol Cooke for more than 25 years. He’s produced more than 200 tribute shows, with Al Wilson and Cuba Gooding Sr. from the group the Main Ingredient in Las Vegas and Laughlin, he said.

“I combine my act with other singers and performers who do imitator acts for Judy Garland, Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and James Brown,” he said.

He got the idea to bring the act to Burbank while he watched the building of the Hampton Inn on Glenoaks Boulevard, he said.

“It caught my attention,” he said. “I never thought about doing a show there.”

In July, he produced a show to raise funds for American soldiers and veterans in July at Stengel Field in Glendale and approached the Hampton Inn hotel management to see if they would provide rooms for the talent and they did. So to reciprocate, Boyd told them he’d like to do a show at the hotel, he said.

Boyd has invited Bonnie Pointer of the Pointer Sisters, to be special guests for the debut weekend Sept. 3 and 4. She’ll perform hits like “Heaven Must Have Sent You,” and “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” and with her sister, Anita, they will perform their Pointer Sister favorites “Jump,” “Fire” and “I’m So Excited,” Bonnie Pointer said.

“We’ll let the spirit move us,” she said.

Having the Pointer Sisters and other acts like Ali-Ollie Woodson, former lead vocalist for the Temptations, and Don Black of the Platters, will be a great way to introduce the new hotel to people in Burbank, said Byron Newsome, night auditor at the Hampton Inn.

“I know the people coming to see the show will get something out of it, and not just the entertainment,” Newsome said. “[Boyd] gives me a positive vibe. [The show] is going to bring new people here and will be a positive thing for the entire city of Burbank.”

Boyd performs 1950s and ’60s music that Newsome’s parents would listen to when he was growing up, he said.

“I’ve heard them all my life,” he said. “I’m more into old school — 1950s and ’60s music. I was born in early ’70s. I’m going to tell my friends about this show. It’s exciting to me. It’s feel good music.”

Boyd is booking comedians and looking for a local magician for the show so it will be more than just music, he said. And on Sept. 5, the show will be a talent night for up-and-coming performers.

“I want it to be a little bit of Hollywood, here in Burbank, so people don’t have to go over the hill,” he said. “I want to take people back to their 20s when they met their wife and girlfriend.”