When I think of record collectors, I always have the same pigeonholed idea of their images: quiet, reclusive, disenfranchised, and intense, but subdued. Quiet record collecting characters further perpetuate this stigma. Harvey Pekar of American Splendor, a discontent LP hoarder, and Seymour of Ghost World, a socially invisible, rare-blues record collector, are just two examples.
So naturally, when hearing that an avid, easy listening record collector has a book signing for his recently published book, Burt Bacharach: Song By Song (Schirmer Trade Books), one would expect a similar subdued character. However, author Serene Dominic, who is also the Human Torch and Vic Masters, is the exception to the rule.
The Human Torch? Vic Masters? What do these guys have to do with the mild-mannered, record-collecting author of the Bacharach book?
Ready for the Scooby Doo ending? Vic Masters is The Human Torch and The Human Torch is Serene Dominic: guitarist, vocalist, promoter, award winning rock journalist, recent author and an admitted workaholic. At 47, the Brooklyn-born Valley resident has written and recorded an extensive back catalogue of original recordings and covers for diverse acts such as The Ramones, Bobby Womack and The Beatles. In addition, the musical Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde writes his own public relations material, which is how he got into writing.
"Besides being a workaholic, Vic Masters is renown as 'The World's Most Maniacal Saloon Singer.' With his ever-changing Cabaret Revoltaire Shows, he proves both to be understatements," proclaims the crooner's Web site.
Serene Dominic (Vic Masters) at the Love Lounge Piano Bar at the Emerald Bar, 1514 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix. 9 p.m. Every Monday. Free. 602.256.9705.
Aside from a low-key Piano Bar night that he lends his vocal styling to, Masters periodically hosts a unapologetically gaudy variety show with a rotating line-up of tremendous, if not slightly askew talents. This includes The Human Torch, the aptly named bleeding heart singer of heartbreaking torch songs.
Upon moving to Arizona in 1993, Dominic sought to reestablish his act in the Valley and get exposure. "I sent some of my PR material to New Times to get some press coverage," Dominic says. "They called me back and said 'how would you like to write for us?'"
And just like that, Dominic became a writer. His extensive knowledge of music and his sarcastically humorous columns and reviews have received much attention, earning him two Arizona Press Club Awards and a Rock Journalism award.
He wrote one such piece for the Phoenix New Times about Burt Bacharach, which
prompted a call from Bacharach himself.
"The morning of the Grammy Awards, I come home and get a message on my machine," Dominic says. "He called the morning of the day he's nominated, just to tell me he really enjoyed the [New Times] piece."
Dominic never considered writing a book but was collecting an obsessive amount of Bacharach records. As a result, got intrigued with the idea of a Bacharach song reference book. The book, which might be considered Mana from heaven to Bacharach fans, is a fun, sometimes tongue-in-cheek coffee-table read for those who don't know that Bacharach started playing the piano to impress church girls or that Tom Jones named his first horse in honor of Bacharach.
Bacharach's songs have been sampled by Biggie, Tupac, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige and Sounds of Blackness-not bad for a white boy from Kansas City. The book is filled with album covers, and under each picture is Dominic's patented, smug commentary or information tidbit.
Dominic will continue to promote his new book with signings at several Borders Bookstores in the Valley and Tucson, each followed with a performance by none other than Vic Masters. The Masters persona will be singing Bacharach's hits and some obscure novelties.
In addition, Vic Masters will make weekly cameos at "Love Lounge Piano Bar" at the Emerald Lounge in Central Phoenix, the only night where the hair band Warrant and Frank Sinatra will be paid a tribute to in the same night, by the same crooners.
"We're just hideously deformed mutants who threaten the audience with bodily harm," Dominic says (or is it Masters talking?). "In between, we sing loving Beatles songs."
If Bacharach were dead, he'd be rolling over in his grave, but he's alive and as Dominic proudly declares at his book signing, Bacharach himself bought a crate of the books to give as Christmas presents.
Reach the reporter at saman.mehrazar@asu.edu.
