CCPA Pays Tribute to the Count Basie and Duke Ellington Orchestras on Sun., April 28, 3:00 PM
CERRITOS, CA – It's an afternoon dedicated to two of the very best Big Band orchestras in one show when the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA) pays TRIBUTE TO THE COUNT BASIE AND DUKE ELLINGTON ORCHESTRAS on Sunday, April 28, 3:00 PM. Tickets start at $40.
The all-star cast includes The Mills Brothers, Gina Eckstine, Mary Lou Metzger, Sebastian Anzaldo as Frank Sinatra. The show features special guest Eddie Wakes and The Don Clarke Orchestra. Eckstine, Metzger, and Anzaldo will perform in the first part of the show.
The Hall of Fame group THE MILLS BROTHERS will sing the hits Paper Doll, Up a Lazy River, and more. As youngsters, The Mills Brothers performed on street corners, imitating instruments with kazoos. When the teens forgot their kazoos once, they improvised the sounds of musical instruments with their voices while cupping their hands over their mouths, which became their musical breakthrough. The group lit up the airwaves and charts with 71 singles, including Tiger Rag; Nobody’s Sweetheart; Dinah; Chinatown, My Chinatown; Sweet Sue; Paper Doll; and You Always Hurt the One You Love.
GINA ECKSTINE traveled the world, sharing the stage with her father, the late Jazz legend Billy Eckstine; Count Basie; and Sammy Davis Jr. She is often the opening act for major performers in Las Vegas, including comedian-actor Brad Garrett, at The Mirage Hotel. She has also performed on The Tonight Show. Her album Everything I Have Is Yours honors her father.
During her 12 years on the show, singer-dancer MARY LOU METZGER became best known as the one who danced with Lawrence Welk at the end of each show. She appeared in Garry Marshall’s 1999 film The Other Sister. She also co-founded the Actors’ Conservatory Ensemble theater group in 1990.
An Omaha, Nebraska native, SEBASTIAN ANZALDO started playing drums and singing at age 11. Gigs in New York and Los Angeles eventually led him to Las Vegas, where he discovered his knack for impersonating Sinatra. He has toured as Ol’ Blue Eyes throughout the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, London, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and the Bahamas.
For tickets or more information on the performance, call (562) 916-8500 or go to cerritoscenter.com.