2 www.orchestrakentucky.com 2019–2020 SEASON 19–20 Sponsors | 5 Music Director | 6 The Memphis Sound | 9 Rodgers & Hammerstein | 14 Best of Retro | 22 Music of John Williams | 25 Orchestra Kentucky Personnel | 30 ART ACCESS FOR ALL: CORNERSTONE SPONSORS The support of our Cornerstone Sponsors through the Arts Access for All program enables Orchestra Kentucky to provide tickets for underserved children and seniors in our community. Orchestra Kentucky 3 4 www.orchestrakentucky.com Orchestra Kentucky 5 JEFFREY REED MUSIC DIRECTOR “A melody, a lyric, or a certain harmony can trigger memories,” says conductor Jeffrey Reed. 6 www.orchestrakentucky.com JEFFREY REED MUSIC DIRECTOR Reed has been bringing back the memories as music director of Orchestra Kentucky since he founded it in 2000. Sometimes combining classical and popular music, his concert presentations are singularly authentic, recreating the soundtracks of music’s greatest decades. From the 17th century to our time, his concerts celebrate anniversaries and music milestones, from Beethoven, Mahler and Stravinsky, to Elvis, The Beatles and The Carpenters, drawing on some of the nation’s brightest musical talent. Reed has worked with Air Supply, Bill Gaither, BJ Thomas, Larry Gatlin, Paul Williams, Peter Tork, Glen Campbell, Keith Emerson, Neil Sedaka, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., Mary Wilson, Melissa Manchester, Chris Young, and many others in appearances with his own orchestra and orchestras in Milan (Italy), St. Petersburg (Russia), and South Korea. Reed has twice appeared with the Royal Philharmonic at London’s Royal Albert Hall at the specific request of Neil Sedaka. In the United States, Jeffrey Reed has conducted the orchestras of Alabama, Augusta, Charleston, Detroit, Greensboro (NC), Knoxville, Louisville, Memphis, Nashville, Omaha, Phoenix, Portland (ME), Quad Cities (IA), Sacramento, South Bend and Winston-Salem. Reed has been involved in commissioning world premieres of classical works by legendary pop artists Neil Sedaka, Keith Emerson, Peter Tork, Jimmy Webb, and Italian pops sensation, Giovanni Allevi. His programming has been nationally recognized. Bestselling author and marketer Seth Godin singled out Jeffrey Reed in his best-selling study of new creativity, “Small is the New Big.” Godin praised his “clever” concerts and praised the “totally different way” Reed approaches programming. Reed is the only musician featured in the book. In 2015, the University of Louisville named Reed its Alumni Fellow for the School of Music in recognition of his distinguished work in his chosen field. In 2008, he received the Jefferson Award for public service in South Central Kentucky. In addition to his work with Orchestra Kentucky, Reed served as principal guest conductor of Symphony Orchestra Augusta and has also served as music director of the North Charleston Pops and the Murfreesboro Symphony. He is represented by agent Rachel Bowron. Orchestra Kentucky 7 THE MEMPHIS SOUND SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2020 | 7:30PM Orchestra Kentucky Jeffrey Reed, conductor Tyrone Dunn, lead vocals Terry Mike Jeffrey, lead vocals Thomas Michaels, lead vocals Billy Duvall, Jr., lead and background vocals Sandra Dye, lead and background vocals Lisa Oliver Gray, lead and background vocals Kimmy Stofer, keyboards and background vocals Ernie Raymer, keyboards John McCracken, guitar Dave Horovitz, bass guitar Webb Hendrix, drums Selections to be announced from the stage. RETRO SERIES SPONSORED BY Jim & Darlene Johnson CONCERT TITLE SPONSOR CONCERT CO-SPONSORED BY Heart Strings & Chatters Orchestra Kentucky 9 GUEST ARTISTS Tyrone Dunn Tyrone Dunn was born and raised in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He started singing at the age of 14 and participated in high school choir and school musicals at Warren Central High School. Tyrone is married to Tracie and they have two children, Blake and Bailey. “Though I have never had a vocal lesson, I will continue to sing from my soul.” Billy DuVall, Jr. Billy DuVall, Jr. is a cosmetologist and gospel singer from Park City, KY. He has a theatre and art degree from Berea College. When Billy is not doing hair, you can find him in several local churches ministering through music. Some of his most memorable moments were singing at the Florence Air Force Base in Belgium and (while on boat tours) singing in Israel on the Red Sea and the Sea of Galilee. He is proud to be a part of Orchestra Kentucky. His motto is “I’m only a vessel being used by God”. Sandra Dye Sandra Dye is the last of thirteen siblings in her family. She is the mother of Walter, Stephon, and Levise, and grandmother of Noah. Sandra is the founder/manager of two gospel groups in South Central Kentucky and a back-up/lead singer for several others. She loves church, playing the piano, and singing. She is proud to know that her children, family, and friends are very proud and support her. Webb Hendrix Webb Hendrix is originally from Morgan City, Alabama and attended Western Kentucky University as a music major. He is employed at Music and Arts and plays music in various local bands and praise teams. He has been a member of Orchestra Kentucky since 2000. Webb lives in Bowling Green with his wife, Tammy, and girls, Lilli, Evie, and Jenny. David A. Horovitz (aka Dave Allen) David A. Horovitz (aka Dave Allen) was born and raised in Pennsylvania. He has been playing electric bass for 47 years. When not playing music, Dave enjoys cooking and eating, reading, movies, UK basketball, and hiking. Dave is a generous tipper. Lisa Oliver Gray Lisa Oliver Gray currently lives in Nashville, TN and is an in-demand session and live vocalist who has performed with many notable artists. Lisa is a WKU graduate and is also co-owner of multiple locations of Suzie’s Espresso at Vanderbilt University and The Medical Center. She is very involved with the nonprofit Cherylslist.org, co-founded by her husband of 30 years, Michael Gray. Lisa also loves songwriting, playing the guitar and taking care of her four dogs and two cats. 10 www.orchestrakentucky.com GUEST ARTISTS Terry Mike Jeffery Terry Mike Jeffrey is a veteran singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter who began singing on stages at the age of 3. Fronting his own band since the early ’70’s, he has performed all over the planet. Terry Mike is especially known world-wide for his presentation of Elvis Presley’s music. In recent years he has performed the King’s songs with symphony orchestras across the country, including those in Detroit, Jacksonville, Birmingham, Denver, St Louis, Knoxville, 5 recent concerts with the Nashville Symphony, and 17 appearances fronting the Memphis Symphony. John McCracken John McCracken is married to Debbie and they have two children, Courtney and Olivia. He has played guitar with The Rewinders for 16 years. Thomas Michaels Thomas Michaels’ musical journey started at the age of eight when he was fortunate enough to begin guitar under the guidance of his favorite guitarist, his father. He began playing locally, and in 1986, became guitarist for the MTM recording artist, The Girls Next Door. In 1997, he became the lead guitarist and singer for the Country Tonite Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. In 2006, he became the guitarist and singer for the Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers Kentucky, where he still performs today. Ernie Raymer Ernie Raymer is originally from Russellville, Kentucky, where he was a member of the Marching Panthers under Band Director Hazel Carver. A graduate of WKU, he performed locally with groups, including The Third Time Around, Jerry Kendall’s Blue Haze, and Sgt. Arms. When not performing with The Rewinders, he continues a long association with the Ernie Small Blues Band. Kimmy Stofer Kimmy Stofer, a Bowling Green native, seemed to be at home at the piano from birth—literally. While accompanying a school’s music program at Van Meter auditorium, her mother suddenly went into labor and Kimmy almost made her debut at the show! When she’s not teaching piano, accompanying, leading a sorority Bible study or serving at church, Kimmy, and her husband Benny, enjoy spoiling their first grandchild, Henry. She’s grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Orchestra Kentucky and The Rewinders. Orchestra Kentucky 11 PROGRAM NOTES February 15, 2020 THE MEMPHIS SOUND The Memphis sound, also known as Memphis soul, was the most prominent strain of Southern soul music. It is a shimmering, sultry style produced in the 1960s and 1970s at Stax Records and Hi Records in Memphis, Tennessee, featuring melodic unison horn lines, organ, guitar, bass, and a driving beat on the drums. It is a combination of rockabilly and country, blended with rock and roll. It has sometimes been called a blend of bluegrass with rock and roll. Many of the songs in this style were performed by vocalists backed by the house bands of Stax, and Hi Records. The Memphis soul sound was different from the Detroit Motown sound, which used violins, and other instruments that were not used much in Memphis soul. Of the approximately 800 singles and 300 LP Memphis soul recordings from Stax, there were 166 Top 100 songs in the pop charts and 265 Top 100 hits in the R&B charts, nine of them Grammy winners. The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is dedicated to preserving the Memphis sound. Many of the songs of this era, along with members of the original rhythm section, resurfaced in the movie The Blues Brothers (1980). After the rise of disco in the late 1970s, Memphis Soul declined somewhat in popularity. 12 www.orchestrakentucky.com Orchestra Kentucky 13 RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020 | 7:30PM Orchestra Kentucky Jeffrey Reed, conductor Orchestra Kentucky Chorale Nancy Cron, chorus master Laurie Gayle Stephenson, vocals Steve Amerson, vocals Rodgers & Hammerstein The Carousel Waltz Orchestra Kentucky Rodgers & Hammerstein It’s a Grand Night for Singing Steve Amerson, Laurie Gayle Stephenson and the Orchestra Kentucky Chorale Rodgers & Hammerstein I Have Dreamed Ms.