Friday, May 9, 2014

Helios & Lorri Hafer at the Side Door on June 17!


Helios Jazz Orchestra with Lorri Hafer

The 18-piece Helios Jazz Orchestra, directed by David Manson, backs Lorri Hafer is a special concert of swinging big band music at the Side Door!

Lorri Hafer is the daughter of composer /arranger /Academy Award nominee Al Ham and his wife, Mary Mayo.  They met while they were both performing with the post war Glenn Miller Orchestra under the direction of Tex Beneke.

Lorri started her career at the age of five on the Guy Mitchell record, "If You Ever Go Away” and as lead vocalist with the Hillside Singers.  Lorri along with her mother recorded the ‘Coca Cola Song’ - "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing in Perfect Harmony."  Lorri toured as vocalist with The Glenn Miller Orchestra throughout the US and Japan and was also featured vocalist with Les Brown’s Band of Renown, and special guest vocalist with Buddy Morrow and The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. 

She has shared the stage with Margaret Whiting, Frankie Laine, The Four Lads, Deana Martin, Maria Muldaur, Eric Darling of The Rooftop Singers, Jim Brady of The Sandpipers, and Denny Doherty and Michele Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas and Trini Lopez. Lorri also appeared as the opening act for comedian Bob Newhart.  Most recently, Lorri made her debut at NYC’s famed Metropolitan Room.  Her CD, "The Very Thought of You" has received both national and international airplay in the US, the UK, Italy, the Caribbean, and New Zealand.

Enjoy great big band jazz in the cabaret environment of the Side Door at the Palladium Theater!  This is a benefit for the St. Petersburg Jazz Festival presented by EMIT: www.emitseries.org .  Admission is $15 at the Palladium Theater.  See http://www.mypalladium.org/