Among them, they've got more than 100 years' worth of performances under their belts:
Betty Craig: Former teacher and lifelong chanteuse, she's portrayed everyone from Peggy Lee to Auntie Mame.
Jeff Haskell: Jazz pianist, arranger and composer, his résumé includes conducting the Tucson Boys Chorus and working on albums for Linda Ronstadt and Buck Owens.
Jack Neubeck: Baritone and actor who's done everything from low-budget horror flicks to Broadway, including appearing in the original casts of "Evita" and "La Cage aux Folles."
Friends who've shared a variety of stages for close to two decades, the three teamed up in 2005 to form "The Band, the Blonde and the Baritone."
Their latest gig, featuring them, a six-piece band and a couple of dancers, is "It Might As Well Be Swing," celebrating the music from 1935 to 1945.
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It swings Nov. 1 and 2 at the Berger Performing Arts Center.
Recently, we sat down with this lively threesome — all now in their 60s or close to it — for a freewheeling discussion about their lives in the spotlight.
Jack, when did you know you wanted to be a performer?
Jack: "I've always had the showbiz bug. When I was a freshman at Adelphi University (on Long Island) I got my Actors' Equity Card. I went to an audition. Two out of 800 men got the card. I was one of the two. When I was going to the audition, I was 'shat' on by a pigeon. Someone told me that was very good luck."
Betty, have you always been a singer?
Betty: "I don't remember a time when I didn't sing. I was in high school choral groups at Amphi and then went to the U of A. I was going to go to another college but this group of guys there wanted me for a vocal jazz quartet. So I went to the U of A."
But you became a teacher.
Betty: "And a singer. I was in the classroom every day and then I'd sing six nights a week at the Tender Trap with Mickey Greco or at the Saddle and Sirloin. Students and their parents would come and see me."
Jack: "Live music like that doesn't happen anymore."
Jeff: "I disagree. There are lots of clubs still around, but they don't do the stuff we do."
Jeff, when did you come to Tucson?
Jeff: "Jack and I are both from Philly. I came to Tucson in 1963 to get my master's in music at the U of A, which I did in 1964.
"The next year, I took over as director of the Tucson Boys Chorus after the director, Eduardo Caso, died. Somebody put us together, we met. It was the Saturday before he died."
And you were with the Boys Chorus 10 years?
Jeff: "Yes. During that time Buck Owens contacted me. I knew his sound engineer, Lee Furr. I did an album with Buck called 'Switched-on Buck.' I did the Moog synthesizer.
"After I left the chorus I did some conducting for Buck in Las Vegas and Reno and Toronto. We were on the circuit. I remember I was at the Sands Hotel and somebody called out just before showtime that they wanted to change the show. We had 30 seconds to go. We changed the show."
Jack, what did you do after college?
Jack: "I went to work for a Wall Street law firm as a messenger. They would send me to places like Las Vegas. Then they offered to send me to law school. But two or three days later, I got a six-month gig for a variety show in the Bahamas. I was out of there."
When did you start working on Broadway?
Jack: "I came back in 1975 and landed a role in the 'Where's Charley?' revival. Then in 1979, I did 'Saravà,' which was the embodiment of 'The Producers.' They were trying to lose money.
"In 1979, my now-ex-wife and I got offered 'Evita.' She was a dancer, I was Eva Perón's brother. Later on, I left 'Evita' to do 'La Cage aux Folles.' "
Betty, when did you start doing musical theater?
Betty: "When Mickey sold the Tender Trap in the 1980s. I did 'Pajama Game,' 'Mame,' 'The King and I.' This was at SALOC (Southern Arizona Light Opera Company). We don't have that anymore. Now, all the big shows come from out of town."
You also are the creator of a tribute to Peggy Lee.
Betty: "I thought it would be a good match with my voice. I asked Jeff to do the arrangements, and I worked with Jeff's band on the show. It's 23 of her numbers. I also explain her life. You know she performed for 60 years."
Jack, your résumé says you did two low-budget horror films in the early '70s.
Jack: "Yes, 'Shriek of the Mutilated,' and 'Invasion of the Blood Farmers.' Two years ago, they were having this schlock festival at the Loft.They asked me to come down, introduce the show and answer questions."
Why did you move to Tucson?
Jack: "We had a daughter born and my wife was going stir-crazy. Her family was from Tucson, so we moved here in 1986."
Did you think you'd moved to the other side of the moon?
Jack: "Not really. I still did shows here but I enjoyed it more. It wasn't a job. For my day job, I went to work for my father-in-law, who was a real estate attorney. Now I'm one of the owners of The Planning Center. We do master-planned communities. I was a schmoozer before. It's not that different."
How so?
Jack: "I've gone to the Board of Supervisors, where it is a performance. I've even been applauded a time or two."
DID YOU KNOW
Longtime announcer Don Pardo, who still introduces "Saturday Night Live," now lives in Tucson and will introduce "It Might As Well Be Swing" via recording.
IF YOU GO
• What: "It Might As Well Be Swing."
• When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1, 2 p.m. Nov. 2.
• Where: Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway.
• Tickets: $30 general admission, available at www.brownpapertickets.com or call 1-800-838-3006.
