SIng! Sing! Sing! The McCallum Theatre Brings the Desert 'A Salute to Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall'

The McCallum Theatre presents "Salute to Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall" on Monday, March 6, at 8:00pm.

The performance features the Benny Goodman Tribute Orchestra with 18 of the country's top musicians, conducted by Terry Myers, and with Special Guest Vocalist Nancy Osborne. Relive the legendary concert that made Benny Goodman the most celebrated jazz bandleader of his day. Leading a band of musicians including Harry James, Ziggy Elman, Gene Krupa, Teddy Wilson, Lionel Hampton, Johnny Hodges and Count Basie, Benny Goodman played music ranging from "Honeysuckle Rose" to "Sing, Sing, Sing." We re-create that night in 1938 with today's best musicians.

One of the most important events in American music history took place on January 16, 1938, at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The "King of Swing" Benny Goodman, along with his big band, had been invited to play Carnegie Hall for one of the first "popular" music concerts the Hall had ever seen. This show proved to be the introduction of Jazz and Swing music into mainstream American society and is widely regarded as the beginning of the Swing Era that carried on through WWII and beyond, shaping American popular music to the present day.

Goodman was at the height of his career at the time of the concert - he was starring on radio, the concert stage, in films, and was on his way to becoming one of the most popular band leaders and musicians of all time. He is said to have laughed off the idea of a concert at Carnegie Hall when it was presented to him as Jazz and Swing were not considered part of "American high culture" at the time.

Nevertheless, he put together a concert of his biggest hits featuring the likes of Harry James on trumpet, Gene Krupa on drums and Lionel Hampton on the vibraphone. The recording of this concert was lost until the 1950s, but once released, became hugely popular and is treasured by music buffs the world over.

The music in tonight's concert will be performed by some of the top musicians in the world, led by clarinetist Terry Myers. Vocalist Nancy Osborne will recreate some of Goodman vocalist Martha Tilton's songs from the concert including "And the Angels Sing".

Terry Myers was a member of the US Marine Corps Reserves for five years. After college, where he majored in music and education, Terry found a successful career in Nashville and New York City. When Terry moved to Florida, he became one of the most in-demand musicians in the state. He was a band leader at Disney World's Epcot Center for four years and led the band at Rosie O'Grady's, part of the popular Church Street Station entertainment complex in downtown Orlando.

In 1990, he became one of the original members of Bill Allred's Classic Jazz Band, performing at jazz festivals in the United States, Europe, and Asia. He has appeared at the North Sea Festival in Holland, England's Birmingham Festival, the Cork Festival in Ireland, the Bern Festival in Switzerland, and many others. He has toured the world as a guest artist on both clarinet and saxophone.

Terry has performed with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, The Tex Beneke Orchestra, The Les Elgart Band, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Ray Charles, Don Lamond, Chubby Jackson, Jake Hanna, Butch Miles, and many others. He led the Artie Shaw Orchestra when former leader Dick Johnson was on hiatus. Terry led the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra to two consecutive victories in the Montreal Jazz Festival "Battle of The Bands."

In 1992, Terry was invited to form and lead a "Tribute to Benny Goodman" orchestra, which performed for many years at such attractions as Busch Gardens in Florida and Virginia, Cypress Gardens and Silver Springs, and continues to tour across the country.

Nancy Osborne has used her musical talents to thrill audiences across the United States and Canada. Her singing and acting abilities and dynamic personality create an entertaining show, drawing raves from every audience.

As a vocalist, she has been featured with such bands as the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Tex Beneke, Ray Anthony, Pat Longo, Legends of Swing, and Johnny Vana's Big Band Alumni, with whom she made two CDs and a DVD of their "Live from Las Vegas" show.
Nancy produced her own 17 piece big band CD, Hot Swing, Cool Jazz, played on radio stations around the world. She also sings with the Chordettes, doing 50s shows with groups including the Crewcuts, the Four Preps, the Four Lads, and the Four Aces.

At 17, she started her career singing with the Young Americans, then toured nationally in such shows as Lil Abner, Cabaret, Gypsy and My Fair Lady. Nancy worked for Walt Disney Productions, performing with the Kids of the Kingdom, and starring as "Slue Foot Sue" in the Golden Horseshoe Revue.

Her acting experience on stage, in films and television, includes a three month tour as the leading lady in the comedy Viagara Falls in Canada.

Nancy is both witty and good-natured and listeners are captivated by her lovely voice. In swing, novelty and most of all, the intimacy of romantic ballads, she is to be a crowd pleaser for all ages.

Swinging with Nancy Osborne is a major popular event that brings audiences back again and again.

Tickets for this performance of "Salute to Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall" are $77, $67, $57 and $37. Tickets are available at the Theatre's website at www.mccallumtheatre.com or by calling the McCallum Theatre Box Office at (760) 340-ARTS.

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