YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The cabaret duo of Mary Jo Maluso and Rick Blackson returned to live performance in mid-2021 as the entertainment industry emerged from the pandemic shutdown.
In addition to outdoor concerts for private parties, the Mahoning Valley-based act was invited by the area’s newest department store franchise, Boscov’s in Eastwood Mall, to perform a series of cabaret concerts.
As in 2020, the duo appeared as special guests in Easy Street Productions’ televised version of “Miracle On Easy Street.”
The Arms Museum featured Maluso as the voice of Olive Arms in its series of television commercials for its “Memories of Christmas Past” exhibition. The commercials were narrated by Blackson.
The couple finished the year with performances at corporate Christmas parties at Waypoint 4180 and Tippecanoe Country Club.
The duo looks forward to booking more private parties, country club events, and dinner shows at fine restaurants this year.
“Our repertoire will continue to be a mix of Broadway, country, and songs from the American songbook, as it has been since we initiated cabaret concerts in this area at Alberini’s in Niles back in 1992,” Maluso says.
Maluso and Blackson are also available to create original songs as unique gifts.
Blackson will continue to offer virtual and in-person music lessons that focus on piano and vocals but also include songwriting, music theory and improvisation skills.