MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Interviews

SUSAN JOHNSON GONZALEZ

With hits such as “Fascinated” and “Full Circle,” The South-Florida group, Company B, is forever cemented in the public’s consciousness of the 1980s.  But why did Susan Johnson Gonzalez, the group’s only original member, initially move to South Florida? 

Where did you grow up?  In Jacksonville.  How long have you lived in South Florida?  All my adult life.  Why did you move here?  For a modeling and an acting career.  What part of South Florida do you live in?  In Miramar.  What do you like most about living here?  The weather.  I don’t like the cold.  What South Florida venue do you miss that’s gone, and why?  Club 1235, because it had great ambiance and a great crowd.  Where do you hang out in South Florida?  In Wynwood, at the beach, and at home with the family.  What’s your claim-to-fame?  I’m an original member and the owner of Company B.  What’s your most cherished live performance, and why?  It was in Brazil.  The audience was unbelievable.  They were singing every song, and they waited for us afterwards to take pictures.

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Which one of your songs is special to you, and why?  “Fascinated,” because that was our first music video.  What performer do you admirer, and why?  Prince, because he wrote and produced all of his music.  Also, because he didn’t take any crap from anyone.  Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now?  I was a receptionist for a boat propeller company.  How would you like to be remembered?  As someone who was inspiring and uplifting to others.  Will you ever retire?  When I can’t dance anymore I will.  What’s the weirdest question that a fan has asked?  “Would you leave your husband for me?”  What celebrity did you act like a “fan” around?  No one.

What’s the last thing that you looked at online?  Instagram.  What’s the best place that you’ve visited, and why?  Paris, because of the culture, the history, and the food.  What’s your favorite movie?  Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  What drives you crazy?  Dishonest people.  How would you feel if your dog was the master in heaven, and you were the pet?  I would feel loved.  Would you give a kidney to a relative or close friend?  Yes.  What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older?  To trust my instinct.  What did you learn from your parents?  That to be early, is to be on time, and to treat others as you want to be treated.  What’s your best characteristic?  That I’m honest.

How do you enjoy spending your time?  With my family, going to the beach, the gym, bowling, and just hanging out.  What celebrity do you have a crush on?  Shemar Moore.  Who do you admire, and why?  My mother, because she’s always had my back and supported me in everything that I do.  She gives me unconditional love.  If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be, and why?  My grandma, because she was a great cook and a Godly person.  Where would you go in a time machine, and why?  I would go to Jerusalem to see all of the miracles that Jesus did.  What would your last meal be?  Shrimp, because I’m allergic to them, and they were my favorite.  What do you worry about?  My children.  What are you afraid of?  Snakes.

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Company B’s debut album, featuring the hits, “Fascinated” and “Full Circle”

If you were a musical instrument, what would you be, and why?  The piano, because of its versatility.  Are you more like a sheep or a wolf?  A sheep in wolf’s clothing.  Who depends on you, and for what?  My children do, for love and support.  Who are you closest with?  My husband.  He just gets me!  What would your autobiography be called?  Don’t Be Surprised.  What music do you listen to when you’re upset?  Gospel music.  What’s on your bucket list?  Sky driving, Dubai and Greece.  What’s your greatest regret in life?  Nothing.  Everything is a learning experience.  What’s something that you never told anyone else?  I can’t tell you.  Where can we see you?  On the Freestyle Explosion Tour, and at companybmusic.com.

 

 

MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

SHERRY VINE

From crack whorehouses in Hollywood, to men getting fisted next to her on a movie set while she’s putting on her makeup, international drag star Sherry Vine tries to make the most out of each and every day 

PHOTOGRAPH BY JAX KOYOTE

Where did you grow up?  In Columbia, Maryland.  What do you miss about Columbia?  Absolutely nothing!  Where do you live now?  In NYC, in the Hell’s Kitchen area.  What’s something that’s unique about New York that would surprise most people?  People always say, “There’s too much concrete.”  And I say, “Honey, there’s this little thing called Central Park.”  Surprise!  What New York venue do you miss that’s gone?  Many of the ones from the 1990’s: Bar d’O, Jackie 60, Squeezebox and BoyBar.  If you had to live somewhere else, where would you live, and why?  Barcelona.  It’s my favorite city for culture, food, beach, art and men.  I’m always content there. 

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Will you do anything fun while you’re in South Florida?  Yes.  I’ll go to the mall (laughs).  What’s your claim-to-fame?  International drag darling, YouTube sensation, and the creator and star of She’s Living for This.  How did you come up with your name?  There was a building on Vine Street in Hollywood that looked like a crack whorehouse.  Appropriate.  Other than your own TV series, what’s your favorite TV show or film that you’ve been in, and why?  Scream, Teen, Scream.  We had so much fun filming it, and 20 years later, it’s still funny.  Did you watch the sex scenes being filmed in The Raspberry Reich?  No, but someone was getting fisted next to me, at 7:00 a.m., while I was doing my make-up.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JEFF EASON

What town did you perform in that was most unique, and why?  Bisbee, Arizona.  It’s the strangest mix of people: gays, lesbians, trans, bikers, and copper miners.  But they all get along, and it works.  What’s your dream gig or role?  My own variety show, like She’s Living for This.  Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now?  Folding sweaters at Benetton.  How would you like to be remembered?  “Sherry made me laugh when I needed it.”  Will you ever retire?  I hope not!  What’s the weirdest question that a fan has asked?  “Why?” (laughs).  Literally, that’s what was asked.  A guy came up to me and just said, “why?”

ADVERSTISEMENT

Featuring Sherry Vine, Canadian sexploitation filmmaker Bruce LaBruce goes to Germany to write and direct the satire, The Raspberry Reich, inspired by real-life ’70s radical group the Baader-Meinhof gang.

What celebrity did you act like a “fan” around?  Carol Burnett and Madonna.  What’s the last thing that you looked at online?  Press-on fingernails.  What’s the best place that you’ve visited, and why?  Budapest.  It’s a stunning city.  What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older?  How to peel away the layers of bullshit and the things that don’t matter, and how to focus on what does.  Let go, girl!  What did you learn from your parents?  Unconditional love and empathy, and how to laugh.  If a politician that you didn’t like was drowning, would you save him or her?  Yes. 

What’s your favorite drink?  Jack Daniels and ginger beer.  What’s your most treasured possession?  I’m not materialistic, but I treasure my photo albums.  Do you believe in ghosts?  Yes.  Either living or dead, who would you love to have lunch with?  Carol Burnett.  What performer do you admire, and why?  Jackie Beat.  She’s lightning fast.  What’s your best characteristic?  That I genuinely care.  How do you enjoy spending your time?  Watching the same Marvel movies over and over.  What celebrity do you have a crush on?  Joe Manganiello.

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If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be, and why?  Douglas Sanders, who passed away too young.  He was my best friend and co-conspirator in theater.  Where would you go in a time machine, and why?  To Studio 54, in the 1970’s, so that I could dance and party!  What would your last meal be?  Popeyes fried chicken and a milk shake.  What do you worry about?  The next gig (laughs)!  What are you afraid of?  Spiders.  If you were a musical instrument, what would you be, and why?  An electric guitar.  It’s so sexual.  Are you more like a sheep or a wolf?  Both, depending on my mood.  Who depends on you?  I don’t think that anyone depends on me, actually.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JUSTTOBY

Who are you closest with?  I’m very close to my parents.  I’m also close with Josh, Erik, Bruce and Jackie.  Oh, and Joey Arias.  What would your autobiography be called?  Little Votive Nights.  What music do you listen to when you’re upset?  I play the guitar.  It always lifts me up.  What’s on your bucket list?  I don’t have one.  I try to do what I wanna do as it comes up.  What’s your greatest regret in life?  Je ne regrette rien.  What’s something that you never told anyone else?  I’ll never tell.  Where can we see you?  You can see me this Friday and Saturday at The Pub.  I’m also all over the world with lots of exciting shows.  Check out my website for my schedule!

MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Events

COMPANY B

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Everything’s that old is new again, when Miami-based 1980s pop trio, Company B, performed on St. Patrick’s Day at The Pub.  Featuring an interactive set that was composed of both cover and original songs, the trio performed such numbers as Full Circle, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, and rousing take on Ike and Tina’s version of Proud Mary, before finishing off the 45-minute set with their 1987 hit single, Fascinated.