MEMORIAL CONCERT IN CELEBRATION OF J. BILLY VER PLANCK TO BE HELD AT WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY ON NOVEMBER 9
--Vocalist Marlene VerPlanck and a host of jazz musicians to perform in concert to benefit J. Billy VerPlanck Scholarship Fund at University
A memorial concert celebrating the more than 50-year career of the late big band jazz trombonist, composer, conductor, arranger and producer J. Billy VerPlanck will be held at William Paterson University in Wayne on Monday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. in Shea Center on campus.
His wife, vocalist Marlene VerPlanck, organized the concert, and will perform a selection of Billy’s songs and jazz compositions with a large jazz ensemble. The group will include pianists Tex Arnold, Lenore Raphael, Daryl Sherman and Ronny Whyte, drummers Rich DeRosa and Sherrie Maricle, violinist Aaron Weinstein, trombonists Eddie Bert, Bob Ferrel and Eric Storkman, and bassists Steve LaSpina and Boots Maleson.
Tickets are $20 and include the show and a double CD of VerPlanck’s well-known works. A reception will follow at VerPlanck’s home. All proceeds will benefit the J. Billy VerPlanck Jazz Scholarship Fund at William Paterson University.
Billy VerPlanck began his musical career at age 15 playing trombone with the Jess Stacey Band. He went on to play and write arrangements for all the big bands of his generation, including Charlie Spivak, Claude Thornhill, Jimmy Dorsey, Charlie Barnet and culminating with his idol, Tommy Dorsey. For the next forty years he was one of the busiest studio arrangers and conductors in New York, writing everything from jingles, films, documentaries, record dates, as well as producing 20 CDs and hundreds of arrangements for his wife,
Marlene VerPlanck, and jazz greats including Coleman Hawkins, Phil Woods, Bill Harris, Frank Wess, Frank Foster and Claudio Roditi. Marlene VerPlanck also got her start in the big band business as a very young vocalist with Charlie Spivak and Tex Beneke. During a brief stint with the last Dorsey Brothers Orchestra, she met her future husband, musician-arranger Billy VerPlanck. In time, she became one of the nation's busiest studio singers, backing up vocalists ranging from Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme to Kiss, and singing vocal tracks for well-known radio and television ads. Following appearances on Alec Wilder's historic National Public Radio series, “American Popular Songs,” in the 1970s, VerPlanck emerged as a leading solo performer. She has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Michael's Pub and the Rainbow Room, and on national TV shows, including Entertainment Tonight, The Today Show and CBS Sunday Morning. Today, she performs across North America and much of Western Europe, while a growing roster of solo CDs continues to win critical acclaim.
For additional information, or to purchase tickets, call the Shea Box Office at William Paterson University at 973-720-2371. For further details, visit www.marleneverplanck.com and click on Billy’s Page.
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October 19, 2009
www.wpunj.edu
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