PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Distribution

January 8, 2008

Fort Bend Performing Arts Series
Presents
The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra with The Pied Pipers
 

The Fort Bend Performing Arts Series is pleased to present The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra with The Pied Pipers on Saturday, Marcy 29, 2008.  The concert will begin at 7:00 pm and tickets may be purchased by calling 281-275-6527 or online at www.fbpas.org.  The venue for The Fort Bend Performing Arts Series is The Performing Arts Center at Williams Trace Baptist Church located at 16755 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land Texas 77479.

Jimmy Dorsey’s musical training began when he was a young boy in Pennsylvania.  Along with his brother Tommy, the talented young musicians joined Paul Whiteman’s Orchestra and at the same time were recording many records under the billing “The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra.” Their band continued through the early thirties until a dispute over the tempo of a song separated the brothers for decades.

Jimmy found himself an instant leader of the band that became the birth of the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. His records sold well in the late thirties, but as the forties got under way it was apparent that his momentum was increasing. With hits like Amapola and Green Eyes featuring Helen O'Connell, the band jumped to the top of the charts making Jimmy the biggest success story of the year. Other hit selling records and a series of motion pictures followed, establishing him firmly on top.

The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra has continued successfully for decades and is still in great demand all over the world. The past success of the Orchestra was due to the leadership of Lee Castle and more recently from 1990 through the new millennium, Jim Miller. The leadership has now passed to Bill Tole who will continue to bring joy to young and the "young at heart" as they enjoy the sounds of American Music - our history.

The Pied Pipers joined Dorsey in January 1940, just before Frank Sinatra, who was the new boy singer with the band.  Both Sinatra and the Pied Pipers made their recording debut with The Dorsey Orchestra on February 1, 1940.  Much of the success of the Pied Pipers was due to their distinctive harmony and phrasing.  Frank Sinatra and the Pied Pipers struck gold with their song, I’ll Never Smile Again.  It was a hit for 15 weeks and remained on the charts for an additional 25 weeks.  Many more hits followed such as This Love Of Mine, Stardust and Put Your Dreams Away For Another Day.

The Pied Pipers are American icons in the world of music and were voted the number one vocal group of all time for six consecutive years in Billboard Magazine. More recently the current Pied Pipers were presented a Harmony Award and were honored as the 2001 inductees into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.  The Pied Pipers still carry on the tradition of vocal expertise with television appearances and national theatre tours throughout the country. The Pied Pipers have come full circle from the Dorsey/Sinatra Era to today under the skilled management of Nancy Knorr.

The reviewer for the Star Ledger of Newark, NJ says “...the Pied Pipers...provided us with a memorable return down memory lane to the era when the great music of the big bands reigned supreme. Attending the show was the highlight of the season for us and obviously to those in attendance, and we left the center in a state of euphoria from which we hope we never recover.”

The Fort Bend Performing Arts Series is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of Fort Bend County residents with performing arts events that express the depths of faith and provide a cultural bridge between people in the community. The Fort Bend Performing Arts Series is a mix of artists with all performances geared to enhancing the understanding and enjoyment of life through the creation and presentation of the performing arts.

Tickets are $45 and discounts are available for groups of 20 or more.  For more information about our performing arts schedule or to purchase tickets, please visit our web site at www.fbpas.org or contact

Suzan Dortch
281-275-6527
sdortch@fbpas.org