Seventy years ago, this June, US forces landed in France for D-Day. As a salute to the men and women who served in the military during World War Two, the Hendersonville Community Band (HCB) will be playing "The Homefront: Musical Memories from World War II", which includes the 1940s hits: "Thanks for the Memory", "White Cliffs of Dover", "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree", 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 fought in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944. He survived the battle and his time as a POW in Germany. Win served in the Pacific with the US Navy and participated in the invasion of Okinawa, going ashore with the Marines. He also worked on decommissioning Japanese submarines. Ralph served in the US Navy (stateside) during the war. All three play in the trumpet section. Hal and Win are charter members of the HCB.
Other patriotic songs in the program include:
"Irving Berlin's Songs for America" ("This is the Army, Mr. Jones", "Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor", "This is a Great Country" and "God Bless America").
"Armed Forces Salute" ("Caisson Song", "Semper Paratus", "The Marines' Hymn", "US Air Force", "Anchors Aweigh").
"God Bless the USA", 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 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 Russ Sena will get to hear his trumpet 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, (including music from "Forrest Gump", "Jaws", "Beauty and the Beast", "Love Story", "Back to the Future" and "Chariots of Fire"), as well as "Soaring With John Williams" ("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 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.