While in Los Angeles, Derf’s musical endeavors continued to soar. He performed throughout Europe with jazz musician Eddie Harris. He toured around Canada with rock musician Burton Cummings. His command of his craft took him to South Africa’s Joy of Jazz Festival playing alongside jazz singer Dwight Trible.
In celebration of Black History Month, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas presented a scroll to the Reverend Dr. Alexander Hamilton, who arranged the late Aretha Franklin’s Grammy-Award winning gospel album Amazing Grace, among many other stellar musical achievements.
The Cerritos Center of the Performing Arts (CCPA) welcomes back the spirited COLORS OF CHRISTMAScelebration with a medley of seasonal and Pop tunes. This annual celebration features two-time Grammy winner Peabo Bryson headlining a talented lineup, which includes Taylor Dane, Jon Secada, and Deniece Williams. They deliver greatest hits and yuletide songs individually and collectively in this CCPA audience favorite. The performance takes place at 8:00 PM on Saturday, December 8. Tickets, starting at $55, are available at the CCPA Ticket Office, at cerritoscenter.com, by calling (562) 916-8500.
Natalie Maria Cole was laid to rest on Monday, January 11, 2016. Cole was celebrated by some of the biggest names in the music industry and hundreds of family, friends, and fans paid tribute to the singer during a three-hour service at the West Angeles Church of God.
Natalie Cole was an accomplished product of her deep-rooted musical heritage. A chart topping R&B crooner in the 70s, Cole went on to even greater popularity and accolade with her smooth transition to jazz and pop music standards-successfully reinterpreting American classics and singing the tunes that once made her father an international recording star.
She was born Stephanie Natalie Maria Cole on February 6, 1950. Perhaps best known as the daughter of the legendary crooner Nat King Cole and his wife Maria Ellington Cole, and vocalist with the great bandleader Duke Ellington, Cole died at Cedars Sinai Hospital on Thursday, December 31 from ongoing health issues.
She was 65 years old.