7.10.07
Arnold Writes Michael
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote Michael a personal letter thanking him for the cigars! Click here to view the letter.

2.15.07
CELEB INSIDER: Arnold Smokin' Lington's Stogies
You know you've made it when you've got Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger smokin' on your stogies. Super hot jazz saxophonist Michael Lington says it was nothing but destiny that his new line of Michael Lington Classic cigars made it into the Gov's hands, er, mouth, the other day.
Click here for the full story.

RENDEZVOUS RECORDS’ SAXOPHONIST MICHAEL LINGTON LAUNCHES HIS LINE OF FINE CIGARS TITLED “MICHAEL LINGTON CLASSIC”

World renowned saxophonist and Rendezvous recording artist MICHAEL LINGTON announces the launch of his own new line of cigars, the Michael Lington Classic.  The cigar, rich in flavor, consists of a fine blend of Dominican tobaccos with a mild to medium bodied filler and Connecticut seed broadleaf binder.  The cigar line is currently available at www.michaellingtoncigars.com, and will be available next year in national retail tobacco stores.

Says Michael, “This is another dream come true for me to have my own line of fine cigars.  I have been enjoying stogie’s for over 10 years now, but have always been in pursuit of the ‘perfect’ cigar.  I believe I have found it in the Michael Lington Classic.” 

He continues, “What one will notice, is how smooth the cigar is from the beginning to the end, and how even it burns all the way through.  We decided to test it out for a special cigar event I was hosting for the 2006 Dave Koz and Friends jazz cruise, and the response was fantastic!”

MICHAEL LINGTON, whose new CD A SONG FOR YOU, is currently making its way up the charts, features Michael on sax, backed by lush strings, performing underexposed standards of tomorrow -- contemporary jazz sax covers of modern day pop classics, mainly from the ’70s that have been rarely covered in a jazz instrumental format.   
 
In collaboration with Rendezvous, Grammy nominated arranger and composer Randy Waldman, and Grammy winning Engineer Woody Woodruff, Michael assembled a collection of new standards that range from the album’s first single, It’s Too Late and You’ve Got a Friend, both by Carole King;   to Fragile by Sting, Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now, Paul Simon’s Still Crazy After All These Years, and Michael Frank’s Tell Me All About It, featuring guest and Rendezvous co-founder Dave Koz.    Michael was also joined by an All-Star ensemble with Randy Waldman on keyboards, Vinnie Colauita, Brian Bromberg, Dean Parks, Luis Conte, and a top Los Angeles session orchestra.

MICHAEL LINGTON has demonstrated his contemporary saxophone chops with a steady stream of chart-toppers since his album STAY WITH ME, which yielded three Radio & Records national jazz hits with Show Me at # 2;  Two of a Kind at # 2; and Pacifica at # 6.  Stay With Me also remained on the Billboard contemporary jazz chart for a total of 24 weeks. 

Twice In a Lifetime and Sunset from VIVID; and Still Thinking of You from Lington’s EVERYTHING MUST CHANGEall went Top 5 as well.  His duet with Bobby Caldwell on Tell It Like It Is from his self-titled debut, ascended both the jazz and adult contemporary charts.