tag:jmsings.com,2005:/blogs/newsNews2018-03-12T16:39:18-05:00Jennifer Martinfalsetag:jmsings.com,2005:Post/43994302016-10-01T11:47:24-05:002019-06-14T13:37:11-05:00Wives and Lovers<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/189939/495e17c762a55a4285274a2d28f9404f819dfbf5/original/img-6480-3.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
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<p><strong><font color="#0000ff"><em><span class="font_xl"> Wives and Lovers</span></em> <br> </font></strong><br>Two successful partnerships, two strong voices, two excellent musicians unite to form a new musical format. Kay and Kent Ellingson and Jennifer Martin and her husband Greg Herring combine to double your pleasure, double your fun! The music is an exciting blend of Jazz standards, Latin tunes, Pop, and even a little Country. Kay and Jennifer both sing lead and harmony with Kent, sometimes, throwing in that third harmony part. Kent is magical on keys and Greg on drums creates the groups infectious rhythms. Together their vast experience, talent, and passion create a new sound you won’t want to miss! Below is a short bio of the group. Jennifer’s bio can be found on the bio tab of this website. <br> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/189939/72bfc637867bc79b03d20a5ee7403f5de29823d8/small/kent-ellingson.jpg?1475339686" class="size_s justify_left border_" /><br><br><br>Kent Ellingson has been active in the Dallas/Ft. Worth music scene since arriving to the area in the early 1980’s. He graduated with a master's in Music from University of North Texas in 1983. Kent is the jazz piano instructor for Collin County Community College in Plano and is a performing member with the faculty jazz group. Kent has appeared in concert with such jazz greats as Clark Terry, Randy Brecker, Bob Mincer, Greg Bissonett, Chris Vadala, Kevin Mahogany, and others. He was featured in a solo jazz piano concert last summer at Eastfield Community College.<br><br>In addition to playing extensively as a pianist/keyboardist, Kent is a full time music instructor at Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas. Before that he was the head of the music department at the Arts Magnet High School from 2004-2009. Kent is also the music director for the Cathedral of Light Church in Carrollton, where he has been involved musically since 1991. <br> <br> <br> <br> <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/189939/f9bd258cf15cca124f351fcb6b3b0b1484c7bb99/small/kay-ellingson.jpg?1475339875" class="size_s justify_left border_" /><br><br><br>Kay Ellingson’s smooth and silky style has earned Kay Ellingson a loyal fan base that circles the globe. That is no surprise, though, to anyone who has enjoyed a performance by this “small but mighty” singer with a dynamic range of voice and style. Beloved by audiences for years, she is a staple at local college jazz programs when she is not performing with the Center Stage party band and her own jazz group. She has performed at the Dallas Museum of Art, appeared in the Sammons Center Cabaret Series, and is a regular in the Dallas/fort Worth club scene. </p>
<p> <br> <br><br><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/189939/230c361dd09f94735db54ebfbf12da4feb8737d2/small/greg-herring.jpg?1475339952" class="size_s justify_left border_" /><br><br><br>Greg Herring is an experienced drummer, versatile in all genres. Greg is the Canadian husband of Jennifer Martin. He was the drummer in her band in Canada playing the famous Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. Greg has been a professional for many years beginning with leading his own group in university. He taught drums and was the drummer for various bands playing pop, country and jazz in clubs throughout Canada including playing at the Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta. Now he is playing in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, appearing at The Kitchen, Stoney’s Wine Lounge and is a regular at Soho. <br> </p>Jennifer Martintag:jmsings.com,2005:Post/39931312016-01-17T12:59:46-06:002017-12-14T16:42:59-06:00Musicians on CDs<p><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/189939/79abc6a54043db74d0317122e1880b9dcb1424f1/small/group-photo.jpg" class="size_s justify_left border_" /></p>
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<p>As a player Brian Piper has made quite a name for himself, performing and recording with musicians and artists of all musical styles, from Texas legends Jerry Jeff Walker and Lloyd Maines to jazz greats Cab Calloway, Kenny Rankin and Clark Terry. He has conducted for Eartha Kitt, Rosemary Clooney and many others as the assistant musical director at Dallas’ famous Venetian Room in the Fairmont Hotel. He has also played for the Dallas Summer Musicals and traveled with New York touring companies of several shows, including Grease and Godspell. He has worked with actors James Earl Jones, Tim Curry, Kris Kristofferson and Patrick Bergen. Recently he performed with Sheila E, Will Kennedy, Mike Davis and Bill Reichenbach.</p>
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<p><br><br>If you’ve watched television or listened to the radio just about anywhere in the world for the last twenty years, you have heard his music. From local jingles to national advertising campaigns, Brian has written, produced and/or performed music for Miller Brewing, Barbecues Galore, Ford, John Deere, Wyndham Hotels, American Airlines and countless others. Recently he produced the music for NBC Sports Arena Football League. He has become one of the most sought after studio musicians in the business. Brian is also in demand as a conductor, orchestrator, arranger and producer.<br> </p>
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<p>Brian Piper</p>
<p><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/189939/aec332aa3bcf34f9233a10fadddfdaae1051cbfc/small/john-adams-pic-2.jpg?1453056329" class="size_s justify_left border_" /></p>
<p><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> John Adams</p>
<p>As an accomplished acoustic and electric bassist, John Adams is one of the Southwest’s most versatile and in-demand musicians and band leaders. He currently leads various performing groups. John served as Music Director and performed weekly for three-and-a-half years at Dallas’ prestigious Crescent Court Hotel. </p>
<p>Adams holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of North Texas, where for ten years he was the jazz bass professor. He is also active as a producer/arranger, a composer, clinician, and an instructional author. </p>
<p>John has appeared on recent releases from Joe McBride, Bobby Lyle, and Phil Driscoll. He has backed a wide array of artists from vocalists Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Wayne Watson, and Sandi Patti, to jazz artists such as </p>
<p>Woody Herman, Randy Brecker, Marvin Stamm, Carl Fontana, Chet Baker, Clark Terry, and Dave Liebman. His broad musical background has also included extensive orchestral, pop, and show work. </p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Through his Congruent Music label, Adams has released six highly acclaimed CD projects. They have received radio </span><span class="font_regular">airplay on over 160 stations nationwide and have been prominently featured on various online formats, including Smoothjazz.com.</span><br><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/189939/d7d984870f337af126396017a13073bf15b4f711/small/mike-drake-pic.jpg?1453056594" class="size_s justify_left border_" /></p>
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<p><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> Mike Drake</p>
<p>Originally from Durban, South Africa, Mike moved to the Dallas metroplex to study at the University of North Texas where he received his degree in jazz studies. Both locally and nationally, he is very active leading his band, The Mike Drake Band, as well as performing with Dave Liebman, Marvin Stamm, Kenny Werner, Ed Calle, Paquito De’ Rivera, Rosemary Clooney, Bobby Shew, Kenny Rankin, Dan Haerle, Lynn Seaton, Fred Hamilton, Rosana Eckert, Joe McBride, Paul English, Andrew Firth, Dave Pietro, John Adams, Dave Zoller, Genie Grant, and Trella Hart. </p>
<p>Mike has also performed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas Jazz Orchestra, Pete Petersen and The Collection Big Band, the Cal Lewiston Orchestra, Keely Smith, The Fifth Dimension, John Gary, The Platters, The Inkspots, The Mamas and Papas, Jerry Jeff Walker, Four Girls Four, Eartha Kitt, Joe Henderson, Billy Taylor, Lee Konitz, George Mraz, Lewis Porter, John Pattitucci, Frank Wess, Conti Condoli, Mark Murphy, Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs), Pete Brewer, to name a few. </p>
<p>He conducts clinics and jazz camps in the area, as well as internationally. Mike is sought after to record on numerous CDs for various artists, as well as radio and television commercials.<br><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/189939/fc516d5eac5ed643b8a565a39442fa4c065752f3/small/shelly-carroll-pic.jpg?1453056675" class="size_s justify_left border_" /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> Shelly Carroll</p>
<p>Shelley, while attending the University of North Texas earned a spot in the Grammy Nominated One O’clock Lab Band. There he recorded two critically acclaimed CD’s in 1990 – 91. During the same period, Mr. Carrol was invited to join the Duke Ellington Orchestra by trumpeter Barry Lee Hall. This would prove to be an enormous musical opportunity with worldwide exposure. Since joining the band, he has toured the U.S. and over 30 foreign countries. He has also recorded and or performed with Sheryl Crow, Maureen McGovern, Tony Bennet, Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams, Roger Waters and a host of others. Shelley evolved to record as a leader in 1997. He was able to feature members of the Duke Ellington Orchestra on his debut CD for Leaning House Records. </p>
<p>Carrol was a 2006 finalist in the Texas Commission for the Arts "State Musician" recognition. He was named the 2007 Sammons Center Jazz Artist of the Year and a 2014 Dallas Observer nominee for Best Jazz Act. Shelley has been on tour with multi-platimun artist, Sheryl Crow. This has lead to many endorsements and various national TV appearances.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/189939/bd8a4d794bd4604e6226e4c2f69be201f940a761/small/rodney-boothe-pic.jpg?1453056751" class="size_s justify_left border_" /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> Rodney Boothe</p>
<p>Rodney Booth has been an active professional musician for over 30 years. A native of El Paso, Texas, he began his professional career at age sixteen as a trumpet player in his father’s bands. He received his degree in Jazz Studies at the University of North Texas and was a student of Don "Jake" Jacoby. Rodney was a member of the renowned One O'Clock Lab Band. </p>
<p>He traveled across North and South America and Europe with Woody Herman's Thundering Herd Big Band. He has performed with many major recording artists such as Lou Rawls, Nancy Wilson, Wayne Newton, Michael Feinstein, Dionne Warwick, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Hamlisch, Ray Charles and Natalie Cole to name a few. He has recorded professionally with the popular artist Al Green and country star Janie Fricke. </p>
<p>Rodney is very active in studio and commercial recordings. He can be heard on national commercials for the Fina Corporation, Texaco, McDonald's Corporation, Domino's, Miller Brewing Company and Chevrolet. In addition, he performed on the commercial recordings for the Texas Rangers, the Boston Red Sox, CNN News, the US Postal Service and also the popular television series, "Wishbone". He recently recorded the music for a national documentary, "The United States and Mexican War." </p>
<p>His various bands have been chosen to perform for companies such as Exxon, the Zales Corporation, Gordon’s Jewelers, Merle Norman Company and Cartier's Jewelers. The Rodney Booth Big Band and his seven piece dance band are in demand for weddings, private and corporate events and award shows throughout the area. </p>
<p>Rodney is an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas where he teaches Improvisation, ear training, and jazz trumpet lessons.<br><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/189939/66dff7dd2aad9ff30318f68b1d84372ac740eb3a/small/jenmathe-032006-42copyright.jpg?1453056930" class="size_s justify_left border_" /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> Mike Garvey</p>
<p>Mike is an accomplished Pianist/Composer who has been based in Dallas since 1998. A native of the San Francisco Bay area, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree from the University of California and has played professionally for over 30 years. </p>
<p>Mike is a recognized talent within the music industry and has been the featured pianist with many groups, playing such local venues as Scat Jazz Lounge, Sambuca, Sandaga Market, the Balcony Club and Soho Food and Jazz. He played regularly at the Adams Mark Hotel and was a featured pianist at Nordstrom's for four years. Prior to moving to Dallas, Mike was an active participant in the New Orleans and Nashville music communities. Mike spent three years on staff at RCA Records in Nashville.</p>Jennifer Martintag:jmsings.com,2005:Post/39907682016-01-15T12:39:22-06:002017-01-15T22:25:32-06:00Reviews<p><br><span class="font_regular"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/189939/686d645bb9151b17c5100803469e404dbd5375fd/medium/slide1.jpg?1453058829" class="size_m justify_center border_" />Jennifer Martin's new CD, <em><strong>Someone You've Loved</strong></em>, is the type of music you'd hear at a classy restaurant where there are drinks before dinner, waiters with white jackets, and a little patch of light at each table from a single candle. It's a little old-fashioned without being dated: a nice mix of ballads and jazzy up tempo tunes describing love lost and found, abandoned and remembered. Backed up by an excellent rhythm section (Brian Piper and Mike Garvey on piano, John Adams on bass and Mike Drake on drums) trumpet and sax players Rodney Boothe and Shelly Carrol, she sings an uncommon set of standards. The path taken by many singers these days is to suddenly discover the Great American Songbook - only to record the most familiar Gershwin, Porter and Richard Rogers songs. Ms. Martin has picked a set of songs that she makes her own ("Bad News", "Yes, I Know When I've Had It," "Sway"). Her voice is always clear and obviously experienced in this genre, and her great gift is understating her performances slightly while presenting the songs as jazzy stories or somewhat torchy songs - not overly dramatic and never over the top.<strong> Amazon.com</strong></span><br><br><br> </p>
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<p>Jennifer deserves FIVE STARS. The choice of material is very impressive, the musicians are among the very best in the world of music today, the voice is in top form and the packaging is picture perfect. What more can we ask for? We have our EXCELLENCE! <br> <strong>S Kaye - CD Baby</strong> <br><br><br>Jennifer Martin has an interesting and very pleasant voice - one of the best I've heard in quite a while. The songs she chose to sing are also interesting: mostly off-the-beaten-path jazz-pop standards, with an enchantingly reimagined Ian Tyson song "Lost Herd" to add color. <br><strong> Steve - CD Baby</strong></p>
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<p> Jennifer Martin has some obscure gems in her repertory. Standard-worthy material<br>(like those Johnny Pate numbers from charts Johnny turned over to Jennifer personally)<br>that you will hear nowhere else. Walk past the chattering cigar chewers at the front<br>of the bar and cozy up on the sofa next to Ms. Martin. If you are entertaining guests who<br>know, and love (and remember) the great standards, the will have the time of their life!<br><br><strong>Robert Swann</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">Oh, Jennifer! We were SO pleased to have you!! Your performance was SPECTACULAR!!!<br>I just hope you felt special because you and your music was indeed special and I LOVED<br>how you carried out the theme. And YOUR line-up was mesmerizing as well. Please know<br>that you are welcome any time! Thank you for making our gift to the Dallas community<br>possible. It was an incredible experience.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>St Paul's Tuesday Night Jazz Concert</strong></p>Jennifer Martintag:jmsings.com,2005:Post/39820222016-01-13T14:52:24-06:002017-01-15T22:25:32-06:00Who Is Johnny Pate?<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/189939/f909e69fc75742b306017b092ff67f142a06f4b3/original/slide0001-image001.jpg?1452380189" class="size_l justify_left border_" height="127" style="width: 108px;" />I had the privilege of meeting Johnny Pate in the Spring of 2009. I was on a quest for the chart of the song “An Older Man Is Like an Elegant Wine” which I had heard on a Nancy Wilson CD. Johnny’s name appeared in the liner notes. I rushed to the internet and discovered an article written by Devra Hall mentioning Johnny Pate. I contacted her and within two days, Mr. Pate sent me an email. Technology is really wonderful! </p>
<p>I explained to Johnny that I was preparing to record a CD and wanted to sing that song but could not locate the chart. He said he could have it ready for me in a couple of days. When I gave him, my address he said, “ where in Texas is that?” I told him near DFW airport so he said, “then why don’t you just come out to my house and pick it up.” </p>
<p>At that time I did not know who he was but did some more research and was overwhelmed! This man is a Jazz legend! </p>
<p> When I arrived at Johnny’s home, this very handsome gentleman answered the door. I thought it must be his son as Mr. Pate was in his 80’s. WRONG! I was surprised to see that he had been working on a list of songs he thought might be good for me to record. Johnny sat on the floor and played song after song while telling me wonderful stories of his life. His lovely wife, Carolyn, served tea and cookies and added a few stories of her own. Johnny also provided suggestions for singers to whom I should listen. He did all that for someone he had never even met!</p>
<p>Asked how he knew what would be best for me, he said he had listened to the sample songs on my website. All the material he selected was perfect. I came away with 5 songs for my CD, two written by him, “Someone You’ve Loved” and “Yes, I Know When I’ve Had It.” </p>
<p>Sitting with the legendary Mr. Pate widened my musical horizons. Johnny is passionate about jazz and that passion is contagious. To say that Johnny Pate is inspirational is an understatement. </p>
<p>Although Johnny has “retired” in North Texas, it is my hope that he will never really retire as he has so much to give to the musical community. </p>
<p>I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to know the marvelous Johnny Pate. Thank you Mr. Pate!</p>
<p><strong>About Johnny Pate taken from his website www.patesplace.net </strong></p>
<p>About Johnny Pate </p>
<p>Born in Chicago Heights, Illinois, Dec 5, 1923, Johnny Pate is a self-taught bassist and arranger, having learned these skills while serving in the 218th AGF Army Band during World War II. After his discharge in 1946, he played with Coleridge Davis’ big band and from 1947 to 1949 worked, in succession, with jazz violinists Stuff Smith and Eddie South. While performing with South, Johnny furthered his musical training by studying at Chicago’s Midwestern Conservatory from 1951 to 1953. In ’53-’54 he was with Dorothy Donegan’s Trio and moved from there to the Ahmad Jamal Trio in 1956. During this same time period, Johnny worked for the Club De Lisa as the arranger of its shows’ production numbers, which were modeled after the famous Cotton Club reviews in Harlem. The feature male singer in the show was a young man by the name of Joe Williams. Johnny and Joe became life-long friends and Johnny often says that he met Joe long before Count Basie even knew who he was.</p>
<p>Toward the end of the 50’s, Pate led his own trip that served as the house band at Chicago’s Blue Note. There he worked with such stalwarts as Ella Fitzgerald Sarah Vaughan and Duke Ellington. Johnny’s stint as Ellington’s bass player at the Blue Note was the result of Jimmy Woode, the band’s bassist, having taken ill. Johnny ended up subbing for Woode throughout the entire Ellington Blue Note appearance. Unbeknownst to Johnny, Duke, or anyone else in the Ellington orchestra, a “bootleg” recording was made and eventually released in 1994 much to Johnny’s surprise. On that recording you can hear Duke recognize Johnny following his solo on Satin Doll. </p>
<p>Having recorded as a bassist with his own trio on the Federal, King, Gig, Salem, and MGM labels, Johnny wrote the arrangements, played bass, and conducted on James Moody’s 1958 Argo album, Last Train from Overbrook. That album was one of his last as a bassist as the demand for his services as an arranger, conductor, and producer of jazz albums forced him to make these his main musical pursuits. Among the albums that Johnny produced or arranged in the 1960s were Wes Montgomery’s Movin’ Wes on the Verve label and Shirley Horn’s Travelin’ Light on the ABC-Parmount label, the latter of which also featured two of Pate’s songs: “Have You Tried To Forget” and “Yes, I Know When I’ve Had It.” Other Verve albums followed: Stan Getz’ Didn’t We?, Kenny Burrell’s Asphalt Canyon Suite, Phil Woods’ Round Trip, Monty Alexander’s This Is Monty Alexander, and Jimmy Smith’ The Other Side of Jimmy Smith. In 1993 Johnny produced a second album for Smith, Sum Serious Blues, on the Milestone label that features the vocal work of Marlena Shaw. </p>
<p>Johnny also successfully ventured into the rhythm and blues field at the request of record producer Carl Davis who wanted to add a new musical twist to h9s recordings of “doo-wop” groups Johnny’s suggestion was to add some brass to the backup arrangements. The first recording was of a tune titled “Monkey Time” by Major Lance that became a big R&B hit. The composer of the song, Curtis Mayfield, was the leader of the R&B group the Impressions. Curtis Mayfield was so taken by Johnny’s arrangements that he asked him to do the arrangements for the next Impressions ABC-Paramount recording session. Johnny accepted the offer and soon found himself working for ABC-Paramount full-time as a producer. In his own words: “all of a sudden now, I’m doing rhythm and blues things that I’m picking checks up (for) that look like telephone numbers and I wasn’t getting these kind of checks doing jazz!” Johnny worked with Mayfield on a string of singles hits that included: “It’s All Right,” “Amen,” “Keep On Pushin’” and “People Get Ready.” Johnny would later arrange, orchestrate and conduct all of Curtis Mayfield’s original music for the highly successful movie Superfly. </p>
<p>B.B. King signed with ABC-Paramount right around the same time that Johnny joined the company, and Johnny soon found himself regularly producing albums for B.B. One of those albums, B.B. King Live at the Regal, is considered one of the greatest live rhythm and blues albums of all time.</p>
<p>Johnny’s success in the R&B field was followed by film and television scoring projects in the ‘70s, the best known of which is the music for Shaft in Africa (1975). Johnny also did the scores for the Shaft television series (1976) that, unfortunately, was rather short-lived. Other Johnny Pate movie scores include: Brother on the Run (1973), Bucktown USA (1976), Dr. Black and Mr. Hyde (1977), Satan’s Triangle (1978), and the original score for Bustin’ Loose (1980). </p>
<p>When Johnny finally decided to seek “retirement” in Las Vegas, he quickly found his good friend, Joe Williams, on his doorstep insisting that not only was he not retiring yet, but that he had several projects for which he needed Johnny’s services as both an arranger and conductor. Williams was getting more and more requests to perform with symphony orchestras and Joe was adamant about having Pate as his conductor. From Johnny’s arrival in Las Vegas until Joe’s passing in 1999, Johnny wrote arrangements and conducted for Williams on many occasions. He and his wife Carolyn also accompanied Joe and Jillean Williams to England for the recording of the CD Here’s to Life with Robert Farnon. Included in that album was the ballad that Shirley Horn had recorded in 1965, “Have You Tried to Forget?” under its new title “Someone You’ve Loved.” </p>
<p>For several years, Johnny hosted a Las Vegas radio show and shared his great musical expertise with his listeners as well as with music students at UNLV where he taught. Johnny since left Las Vegas but he continues to produce music…at his own tempo… and continues to maintain close friendships with the artists with whom he worked through an illustrious career. </p>
<p>~~~ </p>
<p>This text is taken largely from a bio written by Ken Hanlon and printed in a March 30, 2003 concert program as well as in the CD booklet for “Johnny Pate: 80th Birthday Celebration,” recorded live at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The text was edited and updated in July 2007 by Devra Hall Levy.</p>
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<p><br> </p>Jennifer Martintag:jmsings.com,2005:Post/39826902016-01-13T14:52:11-06:002017-12-30T14:05:23-06:00Live Music for the Homeless<p><span class="font_xl"><strong>Live Music for the Homeless </strong></span></p>
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<p>Imagine having no music in your life. No radio on the way to work, no iPod when you are exercising, no concerts, no music to accompany dinner at your favorite restaurant and parties. That is what it is like for the homeless. Imagine how stressful it is to have no home, adequate food, medical care, etc. Imagine how stressful it is to be homeless, worrying constantly about where to take a shower, use the bathroom, about how to stay safe on the street. They never have the opportunity to meet friends, sit down in a safe environment and just listen to some good music. <br> <br>Now there is an innovative program created by Bruce Frankel, the Director of the Day Resource Center in Fort Worth, Texas – the Cypress Street Café. The Day Resource Center is a day shelter that serves as many as 600 people daily in the city’s homeless district. Once a month the Day Resource Center opens its doors in the evening and becomes a coffee house/night club. Here the homeless have the opportunity to met their friends and listen to music provided by some of North Texas’ top musicians. Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, Country, Folk – something different each month. Musicians are donating their time and talent so that these people can, at least one night a month, relax, forget about their struggles and enjoy great music. <br> <br>Cypress Street Café began a few months ago drawing 30 to 40 people for the once a month concert. Now it regularly draws more than 100. “Good coffee, good cake and good entertainment. What more could you ask for?” said guest Kelly Pennington, 61, cutting into a slice of cake. “We love it.” <br> <br>One homeless woman at the café who identified herself as “Tinkerbell” said it was the only safe place to hang out after dark. “There is just really no place to hang out.” She said. “I heard about this and thought it was great. We’re all having fun.” <br> <br>This is a comment from one of the Musicians, Candy Williams, who shared her talent for the evening. <br> <br>Hello, peace and blessings to YOU! The PM Jazz Combo from Collin County Community College (I'm in it!) performed for the clients of the Day Resource Center in Ft. Worth tonight. People who have to call "shelters" their homes. They were the best audience, they danced, they gave their love, and they reminded me of why I sing. We played "Moanin'" with me on vocals, and I just had to cry, so I did.... I ain't got shit to moan about, really, and I chose that word on purpose! Those folks blessed ME with their comments, conversations, and smiles. BIG thanks to Diva Jennifer Martin for giving her love in coordinating this monthly event, and thank you PM Jazz Combo for giving your God given talents for NO MONEY in doing the good work. This has been a very grand day! And good night!<br> <br>The shelter does not have extra money to spend for these monthly concerts so it relies on volunteers. Several Churches provide refreshments, coffee, soft drinks, cakes and cookies. And the staff volunteers extra hours to assist. <br> <br>The Day Resource Center opened in 1999 offering homeless people showers, storage, laundry, mail service and help with jobs and housing. Check out their website at www.fwdayresourcectr.org/ <br><br>"One of the main deterrents to evening activities for the homeless is that they have to be in their shelters at a certain time, usually 7 p.m.," Jessica Grace, staff member who coordinates these evenings, said. "So we worked out an arrangement that if they attend Cypress Street Cafe, we give them a late pass that verifies they were here and they can get back into the shelter." </p>
<p>Shelter staff members and the contributing musicians hope that on Cypress Street Café nights their clients don’t feel like homeless people. “There are no labels,” Frankel said. “They’re just friends meeting for a cup of coffee and great music!” <br> <br>Interested in helping? Use the CONTACT on my website. <br> <br>Here is a list of some of the fantastic North Texas Musicians who have volunteered their time and talent: Shelly Carroll, Bregett Rideau, Freddie Jones, Tatiana Mayfield, Victor Cager, Mario Cruz, Gale Cruz, Candy Williams, Jay Gewertz, Paul Miller, Mike Garvey, Tony Key, Jeff Eckels, Duriye, Quintine Perry, Carolyn Lee Jones, Marty Lowly, Kent & Kay Ellingson, Pam & Tom Burchill, Gwynne Johnson, and more! <br> <br> </p>Jennifer Martin