“TRIBUTE TO TINA TURNER” STARRING COOKIE WATKINS—FEATURED FINALIST ON ABC-TV’S “THE NEXT BEST THING”—COMING TO ARLINGTON’S REGENT THEATRE

Acclaimed R&B Singer with Storied Career To Play Exclusive Boston Area Shows Saturday and Sunday, September 29 & 30, 2007

As part of its popular Vegas Legends series, The Regent Theatre, “Arlington’s Show Place of Entertainment,” will present “Tribute to Tina Turner” starring Cookie Watkins, for two shows only Saturday, September 29 at 8pm and Sunday, September 30 at 2pm.  Watkins, who will be backed by a full band and back-up singers/dancers, was recently featured in the finals of ABC’s “The Next Best Thing: Who is the Greatest Celebrity Impersonator.”

With a little push at age 14 from none other than Duke Ellington, Watkins set off on a career path that would lead her to the off-Broadway stage, an in demand session singer, and a recording artist in her own right—before finding her calling as “The World’s Number One Tina Turner Tribute Artist.”

“I was always described as the little girl with the big woman’s voice," Watkins recalls. Her big brother had been a singer for nine years with Ellington’s band, and one night, the Duke heard Watkins singing along in the dressing room and persuaded her to perform on stage. (He mentioned her in his book, Music Is My Mistress and gave her a coming-out party at New York City’s Rainbow Room on her 18th birthday.)

Watkins studied opera at Temple University and the Manhattan School of Music but turned to popular music when she realized how long it would take to reach her peak in opera. Cookie’s vocal style—heavily influenced by such R&B legends as Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin and, of course, Tina Turner—landed her in the original cast of “Beehive” which had a lengthy run in the 1980s at the “Top of the Gate” in New York’s Greenwich Village (where she “repeatedly [raised] the roof, “ according to a New York Times profile at the time.)

In 1991, Watkins released “I’m Attracted To You,” a 12” dance single on Island/Smash Records heard locally on KISS-108. After years of playing clubs with her own band and recording or performing with such diverse acts as the J. Geils Band, Debbie Harry, Kitaro, Nona Hendryx, and Lou Gramm of Foreigner, Watkins ultimately landed herself a regular spot as part of the rotating cast of the long-running feature show, “Legends In Concert,” at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas.

“Tribute to Tina Turner” starring Cookie Watkins plays Saturday, September 29 at 8pm and Sunday, September 30 at 2pm at the historic Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St. (just off Mass. Ave.) in Arlington, Massachusetts. Tickets are $37.50 for preferred seating, $27.50 for reserved seating, and $22.50 for seniors, groups, and balcony seating (prices include $1.50 restoration fee).  For tickets and more info call 781-646-4849 or visit www.regenttheatre.com. The Regent Theatre is MBTA and handicap accessible with free parking across the street.