Mainstay Hosts Jazz Vocalist Lynn Roberts March 8

Jazz vocalist Lynn Roberts comes to the Mainstay in Rock Hal, MDl on Thursday March 8 at 7:30 p.m. Appearing with Roberts will be pianist Robert Redd, Chuck Redd on vibes and drums and James King on bass. Admission is $15. For information and reservations

Jazz vocalist Lynn Roberts performs March 8 at The Mainstay

call 410-639-9133. Information is also available at the Mainstay’s website.

Lynn Roberts has the distinction of being the only female vocalist to have been a regular with many of the major big bands: Charlie Spivak (one year), Vincent Lopez (one year), Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey (five years), Benny Goodman (ten years) and Harry James (four years). She shared the spotlight with Sammy Kaye for a year and a half on the ABC-TV show “Music from Manhattan” and in recent years has sung with Doc Severinsen in his symphony orchestra appearances. Perhaps because she is younger than some of the best-known big band era singers like Peggy Lee she is less of a household name having sung with the big bands a bit after their heyday but she is vocalist equal to most of the more well-known greats of the big band era.

Peter Nero says “Lynn Roberts [is] the quintessential big band singer. She’s still the best. She…. just sings, no vocal mannerisms, no choreography, no histrionics, just gets out there and sings like an angel!”

Dan Nathan, in a review on Allaboutjazz.com said, “There’s that personal feel for the lyrics of songs she knows so well and the ability to use her fellow instrumentalists to her advantage.”

Born Leonore Theresa Raisig in Brooklyn, New York in 1935, Ms. Roberts was raised in Queens and began performing in vaudeville at age eight. She started her career as a singer with Charlie Spivak at the age of 15, beating out six other candidates for the job. She then spent a year with Vincent Lopez before starting work with Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey at age 17. In her long career she worked for 10 years with Benny Goodman, and four years with Harry James. She also sang with the Pied Pipers for many years.

In 1978 she was featured as Marlene, the girl singer, in the Broadway production of “Ballroom”. In recent years, Roberts has performed with more than 40 orchestras throughout the U.S. and Canada, in addition to making symphonic appearances with Doc Severinsen. In 2010 she appeared in the Peter Nero and the Philly Pops tribute to the music of World War II, “Stage Door Canteen” and in 2011 with the Palm Beach Pops in “American Songbook Spectacular.”
The Mainstay (Home of Musical Magic) is the friendly informal storefront performing arts center on Rock Hall’s old time Main Street. It is a 501(c)(3), non profit dedicated to the arts, serving Rock Hal, MD and the surrounding region and committed to presenting local, regional and national level talent, at a reasonable price, in an almost perfect acoustic setting. Wine, beer, sodas and snacks are available at the bar. The Mainstay is supported by ticket sales, fundraising including donations from friends and audience members and an operating grant from the Maryland State Arts Council. . For information and reservations call the Mainstay at 410-639-9133. More information is also available at the Mainstay’s website .

Upcoming Mainstay performances include:
March 10 Quiet Storm
March 17 Warner Williams and Jay Summerour
March 24 Dick Morgan Trio
April 1 Kevin Clark Quartet
April 13 John Jorgenson Quintet
April 15 Alturas Duo
April 21 Tempest