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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Marcus Belgrave to Perform as the Saturday Night Headliner Albion, MI - July 14, 2008 The Festival of the Forks is pleased to announce that the Marcus Belgrave Octet with vocalist Joan Bow will be the Saturday night headliner on Saturday, September 20 at 8 p.m. at the Victory Park band shell. Belgrave, trumpeter, composer, arranger, educator, recording artist, and producer was born in Chester, Pennsylvania June 12 1936. He began playing the trumpet at age six and professionally at age twelve. Mr. Belgrave describes himself as "born into bebop." An early inspiration and mentor was Clifford Brown. At age eighteen, Marcus earned his initial reputation joining the Ray Charles Orchestra. His solo on Alexander's Ragtime Band from the album The Genius of Ray Charles put him on the map. He toured for five years and is heard on such Charles hits as Night Time is the Right Time, What’d I Say, You are My Sunshine, Margie, Ruby and Stella by Starlight. In the early 60’s he worked and recorded in the bands of leading innovators of post-bop modern jazz: Max Roach, Charles Mingus and Eric Dolphy. In 1963 Marcus settled in Detroit, becoming one of the prominent studio musicians with Motown Records. He is heard on many Motown hit recordings including Dancing in the Street, The Way You Do the Things You Do, and My Girl. His distinguished career as a player includes performances with legendary stars from both the pop music and jazz world: Ella Fitzgerald, Bud Powell, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Sammy Davis Jr., Wynton Marsalis, Lena Horn, Liza Minnelli, Doc Cheatham, Sarah Vaughn, Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Eckstein, Gene Krupa (with whom he recorded) and many others. As an original member, starting in 1988 he toured with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, appearing on national television and recording for CBS/Sony. Marcus Belgrave’s own recordings began in 1974 with the release of his self-produced album Gemini II, showcasing a collective of Detroit jazz artists, which he led. This record was the first to garner the attention of the international jazz press, about new “cutting edge” jazz activity emanating from that famous music city. Belgrave’s recordings from the 1980’s and ‘90’s include the critically acclaimed Detroit Piano Legacy with Tommy Flanagan and Geri Allen and Working Together, Marcus’ collaboration with composer/drummer Lawrence Williams. Recording more traditional jazz material in this period, Marcus co-led on albums with several of the last surviving “pioneers” of the pre-bebop era including saxophonist Franz Jackson (Live at Windsor Jazz Festival III) and pianist Art Hodes (Hot ‘n Cool Blues). Critical accolades for these releases are cited in The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz, The Rolling Stone Guide to Jazz and Blues on CD, other jazz reference books, and major news publications. Since 2001 Marcus Belgrave has led his Tribute to Louis Armstrong octet, appearing in thirty states, Canada and Puerto Rico and playing Armstrong’s music in pops programs with the Detroit Symphony and other US orchestras. As a soloist, Marcus continues to travel the US for appearances at jazz festivals, night clubs and concert hall performances. In January 2006 he was featured on three concerts at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s presentation Detroit: Motor City Jazz, later broadcast on National Public Radio. Mr. Belgrave is internationally known for his dedication to educational endeavors. He is founder of Detroit’s Jazz Development Workshop and co-founder of the Jazz Studies Program at the Detroit Metro Arts Complex (recognized with grants from federal and state levels). He was also an original faculty member with the Oakland University Jazz Studies Program and in 2003 became the first Chair of Jazz Education and Programming for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Beneficiaries of his musical tutelage include leading names of today’s jazz scene: pianist Geri Allen, bassist Robert Hurst, saxophonist Kenny Garrett, violinist Regina Carter and bassist Rodney Whitaker. The past five years Marcus has served as Professor of Jazz Trumpet at Oberlin University in Ohio. In recognition of his outstanding artistry, vision, and life-long achievement in jazz education, Marcus Belgrave is the recipient of numerous honors including the Arts Midwest Jazz Master Award, the Michigan Governor’s Arts Award, and the Louis Armstrong Award. Mr. Belgrave’s appearance is sponsored by Oaklawn Hospital and funded in part by Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and Michigan Humanities Council. Contact: LEGEND The Band to Kick Off Festival of the Forks Albion, MI - July 17, 2008 Kicking off the 42nd annual Festival of the Forks on Friday, September 19 will be the Reunion Cruise-In featuring lots of gorgeous classic cars and LEGEND The Band performing live 50's, 60's & 70's music in their own exciting style. The band specializes in Oldies rock and roll music. Do-wop harmonies, Motown, hard driving rock and roll and soulful ballads is what the band is all about! While home base is near Detroit, this Oldies cover band performs throughout Michigan, have audiences dancing in Indiana and Ohio and will travel wherever their music takes them. What better way to remember your first kiss in the back seat of a Ford Fairlane? Your cruising days in a '57 Chevy? Your first date at a drive-in movie? Sock hops and TV dance shows? The rock and roll music of the era was many a teenagers' anthem! Join us - fast dance to a solid backbeat or slow dance to terrific ballads while holding your sweetheart close and remember when …
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