Shirley Jones, Nat King Cole, Linda Ronstadt and Johnny Mathis Named 2014 Songbook Hall of Fame Honorees

The Center for the Performing Arts and the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative announce the 2014 Encore Gala Weekend presented by Krieg DeVault on Friday, June 20 and Saturday, June 21. All proceeds from the weekend will benefit the Center for the Performing Arts.

The Saturday evening of the gala weekend will feature Michael Feinstein as he inducts a new round of honorees as part of the Great American Songbook Hall of Fame. The star-studded ceremony will honor the musical contributions of Shirley Jones, Nat King Cole, Linda Ronstadt, and Johnny Mathis. Conceived as an enduring testament to the Great American Songbook, the Hall of Fame honors performers and composers responsible for creating America's soundtrack. Saturday evening will include the Katz, Sapper & Miller After Party.

"The Hall of Fame honors America's songwriters and artists," said Feinstein, the Center for the Performing Arts artistic director. "We are celebrating the Great American Songbook by recognizing artistic contributions, and providing a showcase for the next generation to discover our musical heritage."

The 2014 awards include:

Legend: Awarded posthumously to an artist who made a significant contribution to the Golden Age of American popular music, typically defined as the period from the early years of the 20th century through the 1960s. Inductees: Nat King Cole, 2014. Previous honorees: Frank Sinatra, 2013; Cole Porter, 2012.

New Standard: Awarded to the artist, songwriter and/or performer, who continues to create the soundtrack of our lives by writing and/or performing music that will stand the test of time and become the pop standards of tomorrow. Inductees: Shirley Jones, 2014; Linda Ronstadt, 2014; Johnny Mathis, 2014. Previous honorees: Liza Minnelli, 2013; Rita Moreno, 2013; Barry Manilow, 2012.

For the third year, the Encore Gala Weekend is presented by Krieg DeVault, with support from Katz, Sapper & Miller LLP, and First Merchants. The silent and live auction on Friday, June 20 will allow guests to bid on vacation packages, exotic trips, unique experiences and one-of-a-kind memorabilia from artists seen at the Palladium. All proceeds from the weekend will benefit the Center for the Performing Arts. Preview auction items and online bidding starts in mid-June at the Center's website.

Weekend highlights:

Friday, June 20 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom
The gala weekend kicks off in red-carpet Hollywood style with a cocktail reception and silent auction sponsored by First Merchants Bank, followed by dinner and dancing to a big band orchestra led by New York's acclaimed Tom Postilio. Plus, a special performance by Michael Feinstein.

Saturday, June 21 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts
On night two, experience history in the making as artists are inducted into the Great American Songbook Hall of Fame. Conceived as a tribute to the legendary lyricists, composers and performers whose talents have produced the enduring popular soundtrack of American life, the Hall of Fame inducts new members annually. Live musical performances at the Katz, Sapper & Miller After Party caps a star-studded celebration: Dance in the Latin-inspired Caliente Club, make memories at the Great American Songbook Lounge, or rock out at The Club Katz.

For table reservations, call Laura Varnau at 317-819-3521. Pricing information is available online at www.TheCenterPresents.org. Tickets are sold as a package and include admission to all events on both evenings. Also available: Individual tickets for the Saturday night Palladium performance and after party.

Michael Feinstein's Great American Songbook Initiative is an archive, museum and education center at the Center for the Performing Arts, in Carmel City Center. The Center for the Performing Arts campus includes the 1,600-seat Palladium concert hall, the Tarkington 500-seat proscenium theater and the 200-seat Studio Theater. The Center is a permanent fixture on the Central Indiana landscape and provides an extraordinary listening experience for audiences, acting as a museum and education center by day and a concert venue by night.

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