Tonia Bern-Campbell Brings PIAF, CHEVALIER, BREL… AND ME To Palm Springs

Belgium born Tonia Bern-Campbell has won international acclaim as both an actress and a singer. At the age of 13, she went to study acting and music at the Conservatoire Royale in Brussels and won her first stage success in Paris at age 16. Tonia went on to headline at Carnegie Hall, and venues in Monte Carlo, Las Vegas. It was at the famed Savoy in London, were she was approached by Jack Benny to guest on his TV show. Next came a stage production in Italy, for which she won the coveted Passerella d'Oro Award for best musical performance before returning to the London stage in Conscience And Desire. Several motion pictures followed including The Outsider, Keep It Clean, and The Flaw.

In 1958, Tonia married one of Britain's national hero's, speed ace, Donald Campbell who set two world speed records in 1964, on land at Lake Eyre, Australia at 403.1 mph and on water at Lake Dumbleyung, Australia at 276.33 mph. To date, he remains the only person to achieve both Water and Land Speed Records within the same year. Wanting her near, Donald requested that she concentrate on benefit shows only, and it was during one of those charity events at Buckingham Palace in 1967, that Donald's life was taken when his speedboat crashed leaving Tonia devastated.

It wasn't until her dear friend Maurice chevalier convinced her to come out of retirement that she accepted an appearance on the Johnny Carson Show, which was followed by a concert tour as guest star with Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians. She has since played the top theatres and supper clubs of the world, from Hong Kong to Johannesburg, from Oslo to Rome. Back in London, Tonia was a frequent guest on TV's Benny Hill Show, and the Val Doonigan Show, and for a time had her own radio program, Tonia's World, on the BBC.

Fast forward to more recently, with two CD's: Totally Tonia In Performance and Love And Music - The Rolls Royce Of Cabaret, in addition to her book: My Speed King - Live With Donald Campbell, Tonia lives in Lake Arrowhead and is a regular headliner in the desert as well as around the country. Her latest cabaret concert: Piaf, Chevalier, Brel,... and Me, tells the story of Tonia's life, performance career, and her relationship to the names she shares the title with. In fact, we will be treated to a rare film clip of a very young Tonia with Chevalier himself. Joining her on the baby grand piano on Sunday, September 4th, 2 PM will be local musical director Denis Moreen. Doors at The Arthur Newman Theatre will open at 1 PM with tickets available at the door for $10 cash only. The theatre is located at The Joslyn Center, 73-750 Catalina Way in Palm Desert. Advance reservations may be made at 760-325-2731.

WHO: Tonia Bern-Campbell in Piaf, Chevalier, Brel and Me, with Denis Moreen on piano

WHAT: Live music - concert cabaret show- Tickets are $10 cash at the door

WHERE: Arthur Newman Theatre at Joslyn Center, 73-750 Catalina Way - Palm Desert, CA. 92260

WHEN: Sunday, September 11, 2011 - Show time 2 PM matinee

HOW: Call 760-325-2731 for reservations