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Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesBIG BAND LEGENDS TO ABOUND AT COAST FUND-RAISER

BIG BAND LEGENDS TO ABOUND AT COAST FUND-RAISER

At Saturday's Centennial Tribute to Duke Ellington fund-raiser for the Council on Alcoholism St. Thomas-St. John, a lot of legends from the big band era will be represented — in the literal sense of the word — but not the Duke himself.
"No one is doing the Duke," COAST executive director O.B. Smith said. "We didn't find the right person."
The right people have been lined up to interpret the jazz, blues and big-band music and stylings of plenty of others, though: Leroy "Sonny" Davis as Joe Williams, Rashawn Ross as Louis Armstrong, Al Langford as Sonny Rollins, Yvonne Tharpes as Ella Fitzgerald, Claire Mancivalano as Peggy Lee, Leeolive Tucker as Dinah Washington and Jerry Harris (who's directing the production) as King Pleasure, a singer who had some notable hits in the '40s.
To back them up, music director Sally Smith will be conducting the COAST Little Big Band — consisting of Joe Ramsay on tenor sax, Lorren Caffe on alto sax, Vince Wallace on bass, Ross on trumpet, Martin Lamkin on trombone, Louis Isaacs on drums and Smith on keyboards/piano.
The musicians will perform on an outdoor stage that's being set up on the deck of the big pool by the shore at the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort.
"We like doing the moonlight concerts," Smith said. "That's what we've always done, and it adds to the ambience."
And in case in inclement weather, with Tropic Storm Emily on the horizon? Well, they'll cross that bridge when it shows signs of getting wet.
This is the fifth COAST fund-raiser to take the form of a tribute to American musical icons. The others have honored Billie Holliday, Nat "King" Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. Ellington was chosen as honoree this time in part because 1999 is the centennial of his birth. Addie Ottley is serving as emcee for this show, as he has for others.
Tickets are $25 solo, $22.50 each for two, $20 each for parties of 3 to 9, and $18 each for parties of 10 or more. Patrons presenting tickets or purchasing them on the spot will be given identification wristbands gaining them access to the pool deck. Seating isn't reserved, so early birds will get first pick of where to perch.
Light food service will be available from the Palm Cafe adjacent to the BayWinds restaurant located alongside the pool deck. The Renaissance will provide cash bar service and COAST will operate a separate non-alcoholic bar. The refreshments will be available before the program begins and at intermission, but patrons can also be served throughout the evening, club-style, Smith said.
Patrons also have the option of dining prior to the program at BayWinds or Smuggler's on the resort premises. The restaurants will have their usual menu service and reservations are requested (call 775-1510).
On St. Thomas, tickets for the show are available at the COAST office, The Computer Place, Discount Travel, Dominic's Pastry and Bake Shoppe, The Education Station, both Modern Music stores, the Munchie Parlor and Sweets 'n' Eats. On St. John, they're being sold at Connections and the St. John Drug Center.

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