Seventy years ago this June, U.S. forces landed in France for D-Day. Hendersonville Community Band will perform on May 11th as a salute to the men and women who served during World War Two.
They will be playing “The Homefront: Musical memories from World War II” which includes the 1940s hits: Thanks for the Memory, Bell Bottom Trousers, The White Cliffs of Dover, Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree with Anyone Else But Me, and Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition.
The HCB will be honoring three of their own World War Two veterans at this concert: Hal Beam, Win McGrath and Ralph Carter. Hal Beam fought in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944. He survived the battle and his time as a POW in Germany. Win McGrath served in the Pacific with the U.S. Navy and participated in the invasion of Okinawa, going ashore with the Marines. He also worked on decommissioning Japanese submarines. Ralph Carter served in the U.S. Navy (stateside) during the war. All three play in the HCB’s trumpet/cornet section. Hal Beam and Win McGrath are charter members of the band.
Other patriotic songs in the program include: Irving Berlin’s “Songs for America” (This is the Army, Mister Jones – Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor – This is a Great Country – God Bless America), “Armed Forces Salute” (Caisson Song – Semper Paratus – The Marines’ Hymn – The U.S. Air Force – Anchors Aweigh) and “God Bless The U.S.A.” by Lee Greenwood.
Anyone who has ever heard Roberto Flores sing will remember his beautiful baritone voice. For this concert he will sing two solos; “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” (from the Wizard of Oz) and “You Raise Me Up” by Brendan Graham and Rolf Lovland. Roberto has performed musical theatre, oratorio and opera throughout the Southeast and Europe. He has been a soloist with the Asheville Symphony, performs regularly with the Asheville Lyric Opera, and is a member of PASTYME, the premiere a capella ensemble of the western Carolinas.
The tuba section will have the chance to strut their stuff in Joe Berke’s “Tiptoe through the Tubas” lightly based on the better-known, “Tiptoe through the Tulips.”
Fans of trumpeter Russ Sena will get to hear his trumpet sing out in “Jamaican Rumba” by Arthur Benjamin and “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor.” Movie lovers will enjoy the “Hollywood Milestones” medley (arranged by John Higgins and includes music from Forrest Gump, Jaws, Beauty and the Beast, Where Do I Begin? Back to the Future and Chariots of Fire) as well as “Soaring with John Williams” which features Superman March, Cadillac of the Skies and Star Wars.
The 80-member Hendersonville Community Band will perform this “Pops and Patriotic” concert under the direction of Winford Franklin on May 11, 2014 at 3pm at the Blue Ridge Community College Conference Hall in Flat Rock, NC.
Tickets are $10 for adults, free admission for students. Tickets are available at the Hendersonville Visitor Center, Laurel Park Wine Market and at the door. For more information call 715-797-2260 or see the band’s website, www.hcbmusic.com.