Music Appreciation and Performance
Rod MacDonald began his career as a singer/songwriter in Greenwich Village, NY in 1973. He has 21 songs in the Smithsonian Folkways collection and has released 12 CDs of his own songs, including 2018’s “Beginning Again” and three CDs with the Palm Beach County band Big Brass Bed. He performs in festivals, clubs and concerts locally and throughout North America and Europe and was named “Best Local Acoustic Performer” in Broward and Palm Beach counties by the New Times and “one of the ten magnificent musicians of Palm Beach County” by the Palm Beach Post. An instructor with Osher LLI at Florida Atlantic University since 2006, his previous series include Music Americana, The Great American Songbook and The Roots of Rock and Roll.
Learn more about Rod at www.rodmacdonald.net.
Music Americana: The Gift Of Popular Music
What makes a song beloved, a performer celebrated?
Though popularity may arrive from childhood or
from long, heartfelt struggle, what artists seek is
the gift of expression, the right song at the right
moment. From the quavery poetry of Neil Young to
Broadway’s soulful Audra McDonald; from the wild
improvisations of Dizzy Gillespie to the sweet blues of
Bonnie Raitt; from the unstoppable force of Jerry Lee
Lewis to the future shock of David Bowie, great
musical artists create, orchestrate, and sing the moods,
the historic times, and the memories of our lives, one
song at a time.
Eight Lectures
- The Rock of Ages - Jerry Lee Lewis, Leon Russell
- The Singers - Marilyn Monroe, Patti Page, Christina Aguilera
- Sound the Trumpets - Dizzy Gillespie, Maynard Ferguson, Chris Botti
- Behind the Curtain - The Wrecking Crew, Muscle Shoals
- The Songwriters - Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young
- In Search of Modern Man - David Bowie, Sting
- New Stars of Broadway - Audra McDonald, Kristen Chenoweth, Kelli O’Hara
- Guitar Gods and Goddesses - Santana, Bonnie Raitt
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| Course # F8T5 — Full 8 Weeks
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| Place: | Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Tuesdays, October 11, 18, 25; November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 2016 |
| Time: | 2:30 - 4:15 PM |
| Fee: | $68 / member; $98 / non-member |
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| Course # F4T6 — Last 4 Weeks
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| Place: | Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Tuesdays, November 8, 15, 22, 29 2016 |
| Time: | 2:30 - 4:15 PM |
| Fee: | $34 / member; $54 / non-member |
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Register Now
The Songs of The Eagles
Blending the sweet harmonies of southern California
with a pioneering “country rock” sound, The Eagles
are the biggest-selling U.S. band in history. From the
innocence of “Take It Easy” through the heartbreak of
“Best of My Love,” from the worldly-wise “Lyin’
Eyes” to the surrealism of ”Hotel California,” their
beautiful and perceptive songs are among the most
beloved music of our time.
Join Rod MacDonald & The Humdingers for a fun and
low-decibel tour through the lives, music and genius
of these unique artists, as told in their songs.
Rod MacDonald & The Humdingers:
- Rod MacDonald, guitar, has 11 CDs of his songs,
including 2014’s “Later That Night,” as heard on
WLRN’s Folk and Acoustic Music. He performs
frequently in South Florida and throughout North
America and Europe, and is a lifelong devotee of
popular song. He has been an instructor with LLS
since 2006.
- Bill Meredith, drums, is the backbone of several
Palm Beach County rock and roll bands, including
Big Brass Bed and Illumination. He has toured
throughout the U.S. and Canada, and appears on
more than a dozen CDs.
- Brad Keller, keyboards, has performed at the
Montreux Jazz Festival and with Maynard Ferguson
and the Ink Spots, is the jazz piano instructor at
Palm Beach State College and has taught music in
Palm Beach County public schools for 20 years. He is
also the co-author of the “Jazz Cats” books used
internationally to introduce young students to jazz.
- Doug Lindsey, bass and vocals, has been playing in
South Florida bands for 30 years.
- John Smotherman, lead guitar, plays with Big Brass Bed, Illumination and several Palm Beach County bands. His exquisite solos caused the Palm Beach Post to label him one of the “Ten Magnificent Musicians of Palm Beach County.”
Register Early! There is a $5 charge for registering on the day of a one-time lecture or event.
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| Course # F1R9 — One Time Event
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| Place: | Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Thursday, December 8 2016 |
| Time: | 7 - 9 PM |
| Fee: | $25 / member; $35 / non-member |
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Register Now
