Club Dinner: Pianist Frank Owens Celebrates Eubie and Ellington
February 10, 2012 at 6:30PM
Monroe House
Pianist Frank Owens is a master of style whose playing swings both sweet and hot. He pays tribute to two other keyboard kings, Eubie Blake and Duke Ellington, in a program that travels from Cotton Club floor shows to Broadway stages to Hollywood sound stages. Owens calls on his gift for storytelling and his amazing career in music to add insights into the work of these iconic composer-performers.
Frank Owens is a musician, composer, actor, and musical director whose career spans the stage, recordings, television, and film. He spent seven years as music director for NBC’s Showtime at the Apollo; was resident pianist at Mortimer’s in New York City for more than six years; and was a regular performer at the Bemelmans Bar at the Hotel Carlyle.
Owens served as accompanist, conductor, or musical director for performers including Johnny Mathis, Lena Horne, Melba More, Connie Francis, John Denver, and Aretha Franklin. He was dance music arranger for the film The Wiz, and contributed to many top-ten recordings and albums.
6:30 pm Cocktails
7:30 pm Program
8:30 pm Dinner
Dress Business
Cost $40 plus $10 program fee