Music Director Tim Fowlar Conducts Live Band at TheatreZone Gala Fundraiser

When Broadway and television star Eddie Mekka (Carmine "the big Ragu" Ragusa from Laverne & Shirley TV series) entertains at TheatreZone's gala fundraiser later this month, he'll be backed by a live six-piece band, led by legendary musical director and saxophone player Tim Fowlar. They will be joined by TheatreZone artistic director Mark Danni playing drums, Joe Choomack on bass, Tom Weaver on guitar, Mike Santiago on trumpet and Peter Van Wyk on trombone.

Well known as a great "LIVE" show conductor, Fowlar honed his craft during his many years on the road with the Roy Radin Vaudeville Revue where he first met Eddie Mekka and began a lifelong friendship. In fact, Fowlar produced Eddie's original CD "Eddie Mekka...with a little Ragoo on the Side."

"Tim Fowlar has been performing professionally since 1970, although he began studying the saxophone at an early age and has never set it down," explains Danni. He is an accomplished flute and clarinet player and a veteran video and record producer.

As a conductor, Fowlar has worked with over 500 acts, including George Burns, Milton Berle, Dick Haymes, and Johnnie Ray. His performance at the famed London Palladium, with song and dance legend Donald O'Connor, was highlighted by the fact that, in 1980, Fowlar was the youngest musical director to have performed there.

Fowlar's successful alliance with Donald O'Connor began in 1976 continuing until O'Connor's passing in September 2003. A favorite performance took place when Fowlar returned to his hometown with O'Connor and performed at the San Francisco Jazz Festival, where he conducted the legendary Count Basie Orchestra.

After guest-conducting one performance with singer/actor Eddie Fisher, Mr. Fisher asked Fowlar to be his musical director. He continued to work with Mr. Fisher until 1985, including performances in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Mexico and with the Philadelphia Pops. According to Fowlar, one of his greatest thrills was conducting the Duke Ellington Orchestra in Monterey, Mexico.

As an instrumentalist, Fowlar has played shows from variety to Broadway. His first love has always been jazz, although he enjoys performing all forms of music. Tim's higher education was pursued at the Berklee College of Music in Boston where he studied performance and arranging with such jazz greats as Herb Pomeroy, Joe Viola, Andy McGhee and Gary Burton, as well as independent studies with saxophone greats Vince Denham, best known with Vince Guaraldi and Sal Nistico, of Woody Herman fame.

While at Berklee, Fowlar played in classes with Burton and performed with Abe Laboriel, George Zonce, Eddie Byrne, and most extensively with jazz trumpeter Tony Klatka - Woody Herman Band and Blood Sweat & Tears.

Becoming increasingly frustrated by the recording industry, Fowlar and his long time friend, recording artist Larry White, started a new innovative jazz Internet label Newport Pacific Records.com, a subsidiary of Newport Pacific Records, a label started by Larry and his wife Margaret, to expose the best of the undiscovered jazz artists to the listening world.

Newport Pacific Records presented the first annual Newport Pacific Jazz Festival in Henderson, Nevada in August 2005. Fowlar was an associate producer of this successful two-day event, with such star acts as "Devoted Spirits" made up of three of the original members of "Earth, Wind and Fire," NILS, the number one smooth jazz artist and "Rick Latham and the Groove Doctors" from Los Angeles, along with 12 other wonderful jazz groups.

Tax-deductible tickets are available for $150 each, which includes an open bar and a variety of hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, small bites and gourmet carving stations. A pre-show reception and silent auction begins with doors opening at 5 pm followed by Mekka's show at 6 pm.

The silent auction features an array of Broadway and theatre related items, including celebrity signed scripts from Laverne & Shirleyand private drum lessons with TheatreZone artistic director Mark Danni that include personalized drum sticks. A live auction highlighting a walk-on acting role in TheatreZone's May production of 110 in the Shade will take place between sets.

Seating is limited. To purchase tickets, call TheatreZone at 1-888-ZONE-FLA, 1-888-966-3352, visit on-site Box Office Wednesdays from 10 am until 12 noon or purchase tickets online at: www.theatrezone-florida.com.

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