Jim Vukovich ( VOO-ko-vich ) is a local boy who's made it big as the musical director of the national Hairspray tour. ( Unfortunately, Hairspray has come and gone from Chicago, but it will be in Milwaukee in late May. ) Vukovich, who was born in Waukegan, spoke recently with Windy City Times.
Favorite childhood memory: It would've been when I was alone in the basement of my house listening to my mom's records. I would listen to Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, the Fifth Dimension, Al Green, Etta James, and others. It molded my tastes in music.
Favorite celebrity you've met: It's probably Jay Leno. He's such a cool guy. I directed a lot of opening acts for his shows in Vegas and I got to know him. He's very gracious and down-to-earth.
Last movie to make you cry: I'm such a sap; I cry at the drop of a hat. However, I would say Breaking Away, with Dennis Christopher and Dennis Quaid. It's about a big [ cycling ] race and, you know, you root for the underdog. [ Laughs. ]
Favorite vacation spot: That would be just about anywhere in the Mediterranean. Cruising Turkey, Israel, and the Greek Islands was fun—but that's equal to the trip I took to the south of Spain. Any place in the Mediterranean where people have dark eyes and dark hair does it for me. I just break my neck [ looking ] because everyone is so beautiful.
Favorite guilty pleasure: Illegal pleasure or guilty pleasure? [ Laughs. ] I would say shopping —I can spend some money. I probably have the biggest coat and jacket collection of anyone I know. I have two walk-in closets that have nothing but coats—and I live in [ California ] , so I'll need them, of course. [ Laughs. ]
Choice—A nice body or a nice brain?: Nice brain, no question. My body doesn't react unless there's a brain that stimulates me.
Choice—Confronting or avoiding?: Confronting—avoiding just delays the confrontation.
Choice—Mall of America or Disney World?: Oh, the Mall of America. You'd have to pay me to go to Disney World. It's a big rip-off; it was $60 just to get in! Plus, I hate theme parks. I would pick a better mall than Mall of America; there have to be some high-end stores for me. I work hard, I play hard, and I spend hard.
Choice—Elton John or Olivia Newton-John?: Elton John, any day. I think Olivia is great and that she's done some nice humanitarian work. However, for a guy like me—a piano player who writes songs—it's definitely Elton.
Choice—Fame or fortune?: Fortune. I don't care about fame at all. Fame is just a smokescreen for something that's not real; it's ego-based. So many entertainers are driven by their egos and they forget about the artistry that drew them there in the first place.
