Steve Cooper Orchestra
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Steve Cooper
Orchestra
Monday, July 11, 7 p.m.
Town Square
Park
The Steve Cooper Orchestra has been
performing in the Chicago area for more than 20 years. It is one of
the most popular ballroom bands in the Midwest and
regularly performs at the Willowbrook Ballroom, Glendora House, Cantigny Park
and many
others. In addition, the orchestra plays for weddings, parties and
corporate events in the Chicago area. Steve has also performed on
the Oprah Winfrey Show and recently played private parties for Mary
Tyler Moore, Julie Andrews, Jim Belushi, Phil Donahue, Liza Minelli,
Carol Channing and several other celebrities. Orchestra members have
played with bands including Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Bob Crosby,
Sammy Kaye, Wayne King and Lawrence
Welk. A few
years ago they were the only band in the country to receive the
actual music of the Lawrence Welk Orchestra. The band also plays
current tunes from the Beach Boys, Jimmy Buffett, Santana, Stevie
Wonder, etc. in ballroom style. They play songs
from current Broadway shows and popular movies, country and western
tunes, as well as Dixieland Jazz, Jitterbug & Swing, Polkas and
all the hot Latin
Mary Kalfas
music.
Joining the
Steve Cooper Orchestra on July 11 is
vocalist Mary Kalfas. Mary is well known in the Chicago area and
receives standing ovations wherever she sings. She sings in the
styles of composers Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George Gershwin,
Sammy Cahn, Rodgers and Hart and Jerome Kern. Mary easily slides
between the styles of Big Band and
Swing.
Steve
Cooper
Entertainment planned for the evening includes the recreation
of a 1940's Your Hit Parade show. Steve Cooper will be using the
original script from the show. The radio show was very
successful beginning in 1935 and ran for 15 years before moving
to television. Both the radio and television versions featured the
most popular songs of the previous week as determined by a national
"survey" of record and sheet music sales. Both the TV and radio versions
were sponsored by the American Tobacco Company's Lucky Strike
cigarettes. (We've cut out most of the cigarette commercials) The
top tunes will be played in reverse or der counting down to the #1
song of the weeks.
Next, Steve Cooper will do a recreation
of a Coast-To-Coast Big Band radio remote broadcast where dozens of
famous bands played their themes and famous songs. Steve plans to
use their actual musical arrangements. As the program continues, we
will hear bands from all across the country that
were famous in hotels, ballrooms and nightspots such as the
Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, the Coconut Grove in Hollywood, Glen
Island Casino and Roosevelt Hotel in New York. Some of the featured
bands will be Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Dick Jurgens, Eddie
Howard, Lawrence Welk, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller Harry James,
Wayne King, Jimmy Dorsey, Guy Lombardo and many others. Mary Kalfas
will sing the vocals and John Russell will be our announcer.
You won't want to miss this
program.
The
Steve Cooper Orchestra can be heard on
regional radio stations and internationally on the Internet. If you
are interested in engaging the Steve Cooper Orchestra for one of
your functions, please contact Steve Cooper at (708) 354-2263 or
e-mail: scooper763@aol.com
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July Programming
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Spring Valley Concert Band
Spring Valley Concert
Band
Wednesday, July 20, 7
p.m.
Town Square Park
Schaumburg's very own community band will appear for the
eighth consecutive year. Founded in 1994 by
area musicians for musicians, the Spring Valley Concert Band,
encourages lifetime participation in and appreciation of the arts.
The band provides an invaluable service to anyone who plays or has
played a band instrument, giving them a venue to continue their
musical experience beyond the high school or college band level,
regardless of their career choices.
John N. Snow has served as music
director and conductor of the Spring Valley Concert
Band since August 1999, following his outstanding
contributions as a musician and associate conductor. Some audience
members may remember him from his student teaching days at
Schaumburg High School. He graduated from the University of Illinois
(Champaign) with a bachelor's degree in Music Education. He has been
a band director of middle and high schools for the past nine
years.
The band's roster of more than 40 musicians represents
diverse occupations and ages include students to seniors, and
playing levels from talented amateurs to professional status, each
one reflecting a commendable spirit of volunteerism. The repertoire
is not limited to style. Concerts may include swing, show
tunes, patriotic tributes, contemporary jazz and classical
overtures, along with legendary marches including "The Stars and
Stripes Forever" - a signature closer. If you are interested in
engaging in the Spring Valley Concert Band for one of your
functions, please contact the bands voice mail system at
847-289-4227 or e-mail the band at postmaster@svcb.net.
The Spring Valley
Concert Band has performed for a variety of audiences. A complete
listing can be found on their website at http://www.svcb.net
Yorkville American Legion Big Band
Yorkville American Legion Big Band
Monday, July 25 at 7
p.m.
Town Square Park
The
Yorkville American Legion Big Band
is directed by Rick Falato and has been delighting
audiences since 1993. Rick is an experienced band director who is
still enjoying music after 38 years of teaching instrumental music
in the Illinois Public School System. For several years, large
enthusiastic audiences have been attending the monthly Yorkville Big
Band Dance held the 3rd Sunday of each month from
September through May. The danc es are held at the Yorkville
American legion hall located on Route 34 and east of Route 47 in
Yorkville, IL. In April 1994 the Yorkville American Legion Post 489
chose to sponsor the group and the Yorkville American Legion Big
Band was born.
A “labor of love” best describes
the band. Their music covers a large area of sounds from the 40’s
and 50’s along with new arrangements of the famous big bands such as
Glenn Miller, Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie, Ray Anthony,
Billy May and other great bands that played in that era. The band is
composed of musicians from the entire Fox Valley area: Yorkville,
Plano, Aurora, St. Charles, Morris, Sandwich, Bristol, Newark,
Montgomery, Naperville, Clarendon Hills, Winfield and Oswego. The
instrumentation of the Yorkville Big Band consists of 5 saxophones,
4 trombones, 4 trumpets, keyboard, bass, drums, guitar, 2 vocalists,
mistress of ceremony and band leader/trumpet soloist Rick
Falato.
Dean Potter & Leslie
Beukelman
Vocals are offered by two
talented performers: Leslie Beukelman and Dean Potter. Leslie is a
voice major at Roosevelt University Chicago and has performed many
guest shots with the Yorkville American Legion Big Band since she
was in high school. Dean’s pure rich voice and unique vocal style
mesmerize all who hear him.
Carol Falato
The Official Mrs. of Ceremonies,
Carol Falato is a retired nurse. She is married to Band Leader Rick
Falato. She introduces the band, soloists, and songs, as well as
providing comic relief during solo assignments. Previous engagements
of the band include Paramount Art Centre in Aurora, Aurora Glass
Ball, Yorkville Riverfront Days, Oswego Prairie Fest, Sandwich Fair,
Speaker of the House Denny Hastert’s Homecoming reception, Mercy
Center Christmas Dinner/Dance, Oswego’s Relay for Life, Walter
Payton’s Round House for the Aurora Chamber of Commerce and many,
many more. If you are interested in engaging the
Yorkville American Legion Big Band for one
of your functions, please contact Rick Falato at 630-553-0153 or
e-mail: rgfalato@aol.com.
August Concerts in Town
Square
Aug. 1 Dick
Gulbrandsen Big Band with vocalist Julie Creighton.
Rain date: Thursday, August 4
Aug.
8 Larry Bemben Jazz
Ensemble
Rain date: Thursday, August 11
Aug.
15 Jay Mau Orchestra with voc alist
Luci D'Mari.
Rain date: Thursday, August 18
Aug.
22 Seymour's Big Band with
vocalist
Patsy Ihrke.
Rain date: Thursday, August 25
Aug. 29 Vito Buffalo
Orchestra with vocalist
Lee Stevens.
Rain date:
Thursday, September
1
We are grateful to
the following businesses for their involvement and support
and encourage all of you to patronize them.
Applebee's (847)
352-4706
Bonefish Grill (847) 534-0679
El Meson Mexican
Cuisine (847) 882-1716
Oberweis Ice Cream & Dairy Store (847)
534-0544
Schaumburg Academy of Music (847) 534-6633
Sterling
Promotions Plus (847) 895-6414
Washington Mutual (847)
891-6102
Wayne Giesel, CLU/Farmers Insurance
(847)
884-8400
90.9fm WDCB Public Radio from College of
DuPage
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Ron Smolen Orchestra
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Ron Smolen Orchestra
Monday, July 18, 7
p.m.
Town Square Park
Directed by Ron Smolen, this orchestra has
been performing professionally since 1969. Recently celebrating
their 36th anniversary, it is currently one of the last
traveling big bands under the direction of a "LIVE" personable
leader. For years, Ron Smolen has been successfully touring and
doing what he does best, making beautiful music and entertaining
thousands throughout the
Midwest.
Ron Smolen
Ron began his career
playing at local weddings and soon his accordian talents were in
great demand by many prestigious leaders. By age 20, he already had
his big band on the radio and was featured at Chicago's famous
Aragon Ballroom. The Ron Smolen Orchestra
is available for ballrooms, fairs, concerts, big band festivals,
weddings and many other affairs. The ten piece orchestra
features four saxophones, three brass, bass, drums and Ron on piano
or accordian. Vocals are often provided by Ron and other members of
the orchestra.
Marvina
Bowker
During the
program, Marvina Bowker will be the featured vocalist. The
charming Marvina takes her audience on a magical trip down memory
lane with her heartfelt renditions of class standards. This singer,
songwriter has appeared at Steel Pier in Atlantic City; the Empress
Casino Lounge and the 2003 Illinois State Fair. Her vocal style
includes jazz, pop, standards and cuntry. She is noted for her
special tribute to the late great Patsy Cline.
The
Ron Smolen Orchestra has performed for a
variety of audiences. A complete listing can be found on their
website: www.ronsmolenorchestra.com
The
orchestra can be heard on dozens of regional radio stations from
coast to coast, in Canada and now internationally on the Internet.
If you are interested in engaging the Ron Smolen Orchestra for one
of your functions, please contact Ron S molen at 773-545-1881 or
e-mail: rso1000@hotmail.com.
Movie Licensing
USA
The Library has acquired
a Movie Copyright Compliance Site License from Movie Licensing
USA.
Every Wednesday at 7 p.m
and every Thursday at 2 p.m. the Audiovisual Department will exhibit
a feature film. For additional information, please contact the
Audiovisual Department at (847)
923-3182. | |
Midwest Ballroom
with John Russell
Ghrist
Midwest Ballroom Programs for July