Chuck Brown, who styled a unique mix of funk, soul and Latin …
Steve Martin performs with the Steep Canyon Rangers band at Largo at the Coronet Theatre in Los Angeles, Friday, March 19, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Ellen DeGeneres, who broke ground in 1997 as the first lead …
Advertisement
Banjo eased Oscar stress for Martin
Playing with Steep Canyon Rangers helped nerves
Updated: Friday, 26 Mar 2010, 8:54 AM EDT
Published : Friday, 26 Mar 2010, 8:52 AM EDT
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Steve Martin says playing the banjo helped prepare him for his Oscar-hosting gig.
The 64-year-old actor-writer-musician says performing live with the Steep Canyon Rangers made him feel comfortable on the Kodak Theatre stage at the Oscars.
Martin says he wasn't sure why he wasn't nervous before co-hosting the March 7 Oscars with Alec Baldwin, but a friend suggested maybe it was because he'd been in front of audiences around the country with his banjo.
Martin said in a recent interview that he "hadn't been on stage live in front of people in a long, long time, except for this," gesturing toward the banjo in his hand.
He'll begin another tour with the Steep Canyon Rangers on April 19.
___
On the Net:
Email This
Print This
View Story on a Single PageAdvertisement
Five Star Family Fun Update
Subscribe to Maranda's Five Star Family Fun Update for great ways for families to spend time together.
Advertisement