Thursday, February 19, 2009

Marlene VerPlanck live in NY, next Tuesday

Help us welcome Marlene VerPlanck: Celebrating her 20th CD, “Once There Was a Moon,” with Tedd Firth on piano, Steve LaSpina on bass and Ron Vincent on drums to “Jazz Tuesdays" in the Gillespie Auditorium at the New York Baha'i Center at 53 East 11th Street (between University Place & Broadway) next Tuesday, February 24. There will be two shows at 8:00 and 9:30 p.m. Call 212-222-5159 for Reservations and Information.

Throughout her career, Marlene VerPlanck has stuck to her guns, paying loving care to the great standards and new songs from our finest composers. Songwriter Hugh Martin ("Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas") expressed it well: "We know our songs are safe in the hands of Marlene VerPlanck, and she will sing them better than anyone else."

Millions of people first heard Marlene's crystal-clear voice anonymously, on radio and television, when she touted the merits of dozens of commercial products, including "Mm-mm good, mm-mm good, that's what Campbell's Soups are..." However, she got her start in the big-band business, as a very young vocalist with Charlie Spivak and Tex Beneke. During a brief stint with the last Dorsey Brothers Orchestra, she met her future husband, musician-arranger Billy VerPlanck.

In time, Marlene became one of the nation's busiest studio singers, backing up vocalists ranging from Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme to Kiss. Following appearances on Alec Wilder's historic National Public Radio series, "American Popular Songs," in the 1970s, Marlene emerged as a leading solo performer. Appearances at Carnegie Hall, Michael's Pub and the Rainbow Room brought rave notices, and national TV shows, including "Entertainment Tonight," "The Today Show" and CBS's "Sunday Morning," featured profiles of the increasingly popular singer.

Today, Marlene performs across North America and Europe, featuring music from her 20 critically-acclaimed solo CDs. The albums include exciting arrangements scored by her husband, Billy VerPlanck, with accompaniment by many of America's finest musicians. In addition to her Audiophile albums, Marlene joined Mel Tormé and Julius LaRosa with the Glenn Miller Orchestra on "In a Digital Mood," the first big-band CD to go gold. Also, at the personal request of Richard Adler, the renowned composer of "Damn Yankees" and "The Pajama Game," Marlene recorded some of Adler's most memorable music on "You Gotta Have Heart: The Songs of Richard Adler."

For more information and a sample of “Once There Was a Moon” and other music, visit www.marleneverplanck.com

Admission is 15.00, $10.00 for students.
Tickets will be sold at the door, or call 212-222-5159 for reservations and information.
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Jazz Tuesdays
in the John Birks Gillespie Auditorium
The New York Baha'i Center
53 East 11th Street (between University Place & Broadway)
Two shows: 8:00 and 9:30 p.m.

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