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Rita loves those big band singers
Rita Stafford, vocalist extraordinare, will perform a salute
to the famous female big band singers at the next Jazz Vespers
concert on Sunday, August 1st at 8 PM. The show will be at the First
Presbyterian Church, Hughes & Decatur Streets, Cape May, NJ.
“I’ve always loved the sound of the big bands and their
wonderful melodic singers who were featured in the bands. From the
time I was little, I remember my mom would always be singing those wonderful
songs around the house. Mom and dad would be listening to the sounds
of the big bands and reminiscing about what was going on in their lives
during that time" said Stafford in a
recent interview. “At holidays, especially Thanksgiving, we'd be
listening to the music from the 1940's featuring the Great Ladies of Song,
and after dinner, everyone would just sit around the table and sing. It
was marvelous!"
Stafford has pursued her
interest in this great music by studying-up on the famous female vocalists and
the bands they fronted. She will share a bit of this knowledge by
way of introductions to her numbers at the concert.
Rita and her band will be performing songs by many of the
jazz greats including Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O’Day, Helen Forrest, Fran Warren,
Helen O'Connell, Peggy Lee, Jo Stafford, Lena Horne and Keeley
Smith and several others. These amazing vocalists sang with big
bands led by Benny Goodman, Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Artie
Shaw, Chick Webb, Count Bassie, Stan Kenton and Charlie Barnet
Ms. Stafford began her musical career playing in duos with
jazz pianists. She continues that tradition today, singing with several wonderful
jazz musicians and continues to lead her own corporate/wedding
band . Rita has also performed at the Performing Arts Center in
Stone Harbor as a featured soloist in
Dick Ludwig's big band. She has toured Italy as the featured vocalist with
the Atlantic City Jazz Band as part of their Jazz Ambassadors program in 2005,
2006 and 2008. She has performed Internationally in South America
and closer to home, she has performed for many years at the casinos in Atlantic City. She also
lead a 20 piece orchestra at theTaj Mahal Mark Etess Arena, New Years Eve Gala
1999, in tribute to the big band era and all the great band leaders that
performed at Steel Pier in Atlantic City.
Not everyone can sing this wonderful big band vocal music,
but Stafford is blessed with a voice that lets
her purr or roar, cry and laugh. She has assembled an excellent group of
musicians for this unique jazz concert, including Dean Schneider of keyboards,
Bob Ferguson on trumpet and flugelhorn, Andy Lalasis on bass, and a drummer to
be named.
This will definitely
be a wonderful show for anyone who loves or is simply interested in the big
bands and their amazing lady singers.
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