Late night talk host Jimmy Fallon thrilled the crowd at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock Saturday night by sitting in with singer-songwriter Robbie Dupree.
Fallon, who grew up in Saugerties and still has family there, brought his father, Jim, on stage to sing backup on "Steal Away," Dupree's monster hit of decades ago. Fallon and his father stood with Dupree's two female backup singers, on a riser to the rear of the stage. Fallon was obviously having as much fun as the near capacity crowd, and at one point raised his hands above his heads and started clapping, triggering a copy-cat response from the audience.
Following Dupree's introduction of Fallon, the late night talk show host said, from the stage, "Aw, that's my man, Robbie Dupree. Come on. How fun is it, you guys? Turn it up, Woodstock. I'm so happy to be home."
Dupree and Fallon's relationship stretches back to Nov. 2009, when Fallon told Rolling Stone magazine that Dupree was his "dream booking" for "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," the talk show the Saugerties High School graduate hosts on NBC. Fallon's wish came true in May, when Dupree performed on the show — with Fallon singing backup.
Fallon has strong roots in Poughkeepsie. While a teenager, he launched his comedy career at Bananas Comedy Club on Route 9.
"Steal Away" opened the second set of the evening, and was followed by a little doo-wop, with Fallon, his father, Dupree, and the other members of the band moving to the front of the stage and delivering "In the Still of the Night." Fallon hammed it up and paid homage to Dupree by jokingly getting down on one knee in front of the Saugerties resident.
Moments before taking the stage, Fallon, his father, Dupree and the band worked through the vocal parts for "In the Still of the Night" in the green room at the Bearsville Theater. They also ran through "Steal Away."
Fallon and his family watched the first set from the first row of the balcony. And shortly before the impromptu rehearsal session backstage, Dupree said of Fallon, "He's an incredible guy."
Even though he grew up just a few miles from Woodstock, Fallon had never been to the Bearsville Theater. He said he loved the intimacy of the venue built decades ago by Woodstock music impresario Albert Grossman, and said he hopes to attend Friday's concert by the Psychedelic Furs. Fallon gave Bearsville Theater complex owner Peter Cantine a hug after learning that Cantine Field in Saugerties was named for his family.
