 They’ve
Got The Beat
By Bobbie Katz
For nearly six years now, Marley Taylor and Chris Phillips
have been making beautiful music together.
Not only are they a couple in the romantic sense but they
are also the lead components of a band named Zowie Bowie.
Born, raised and having spent their entire lives in Arizona,
Taylor and Phillips are currently in a new stage of their
career – the one in the nightclub at the Red Rock Casino
Resort & Spa in Las Vegas, where they perform their very
high-energy show comprised of singing, dancing and humorous
bantering with each other every Thursday through Saturday.
Both are hoping that their success will tip the scales in
their favor when it comes to achieving their ultimate dream.
“Chris is a native of Tempe and I’m originally
from Scottsdale,” notes Taylor. “Our goal was
always to move to Las Vegas, which we did in April 2006. We
had been performing in a $10-million nightclub, which was
THE place in Scottsdale, Arizona, for four years previously.
We made entertainment the main thrust of the nightclub where
it had never been before, building a fan base that brought
in 4,000 people every weekend. The Fertitta family came to
Scottsdale and swept us off our feet, asking us to come to
Las Vegas to perform at Red Rock. ”
“The room is packed every night and we’ve already
won the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Best of Las Vegas
poll in our category as well as being named America Online’s
“must-see” show in Vegas,” she continues.
“But someday we’d like to be headlining on the
Las Vegas Strip.”
While according to Taylor, Phillips might quip that what accounts
for the duo’s popularity is a lot of Crown Royal, she
views their show as being a fresh approach to the nightclub
concert scene. Wanting to keep live entertainment and the
spirit Las Vegas was built on alive, the duo creates a party
atmosphere that people come back to enjoy week after week
and there is also a lot of audience participation.
<TOP>
“It’s like weekly therapy,” Taylor says.
What also works is the chemistry between Taylor and Phillips,
who got engaged three years ago on stage in Scottsdale and
say that they will know when the time is right to get married.
They had both been performing individually all their lives
in different parts of Arizona, when, as fate would have it,
they ended up using the same keyboard player (who still performs
with them today). He felt strongly that the two meet and there’s
no denying that it was love at first sight.
“It was instant -- I knew that we were going to be a
couple and have a successful show together,” Taylor
explains. “Everything kind of clicked. At the time,
Chris was doing the more disco 80’s thing and I, being
a songwriter, was doing more original music in the adult contemporary
vein. He had been performing in the Arizona Valley for years
and he had the name Zowie Bowie. Previously a heavy metal
rock drummer, Chris was asked to cover for the lead singer
of a friend’s band who had gotten sick. Chris told him
that he would cover for the guy but not under the name Chris
Phillips. So being a big fan of David Bowie, he went under
the name of Zowie Bowie. It just came up and it fit the moment.”
“David Bowie actually does have a kid named Zowie Bowie,”
she adds. “But he changed his name to Joey or something
like that. His mother, Bowie’s ex-wife, lives in Arizona
and gave us permission to use the name since her son isn’t
using it anymore.”
Taylor admits that she and Chris are much about the show and
that it consumes most of their waking hours. They are together
24/7, which Taylor says is “effortless” and “easy”
for them. They both love what they do and they both have the
same visions and goals, which she admits happened for them
later in life than for others. Taylor is 37 and Chris is 40
and their dreams didn’t start until their 30’s,
an age by which many performers have already given up.
“Both of us have brought the best out of each other,”
Taylor muses. “We don’t have any fear. We keep
positive and that will bring in the good. Age doesn’t
worry us – we feel that we’ve been waiting all
of our lives to get to this point. We’re lucky to experience
success at this age – we appreciate it so much more.
It’s great to share it with Chris and it’s an
especially empowering message for women. I feel lucky to be
able to help women realize not to give up on their passions
and dreams and to be themselves no matter what age they are.”
<TOP>
“One of my and Chris’ favorite things to do is
dream,” she continues. “We go down to the Strip
and feel the energy and dream about our next step with almost
kid-like wonder. I think that’s what keeps this thing
alive -- having each other. We’re constantly reminding
each other of what it is we’re going to do – it
keeps the dream alive, positive and in the right direction.”
While Taylor and Phillips do have a lot of down time and they
are always working on their show, they both have a trainer
and work out quite a bit so that they can stay on top of their
game. They are also spontaneous people who enjoy going to
the Strip and seeing shows and going to parties.
Taylor also loves to shop and likes the old Hollywood glamour
of the era of Marilyn Monroe and Brigette Bardot. She has
a chance to plug it into their show on Saturday nights at
9 p.m. when she and Chris do a Big Band show that pays tribute
to the legendary entertainers of Las Vegas. That’s when
she gets to glam it up and do the vintage Vegas thing. Otherwise,
because she does so much jumping around and dancing in the
high-energy sets, she needs to dress more on the comfortable
side.
For Taylor and Phillips, performing is all about giving and
they have recently hooked up with Opportunity Village and
will be doing fundraisers and events for them.
“We really like to tie ourselves in because if you’re
not giving to others, then what is this all about?”
Taylor asks rhetorically. “It’s always the intent
behind everything we do.. When people who come to your show
tell you .that you have helped them get through a divorce
or an illness or whatever, it puts everything in perspective.”
Zowie Bowie --together wherever they go.
NIGHTCLUBS
STRIP CLUBS
<TOP>
|
