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.
The Songs of Elvis Presley
The most parodied singer in history, Elvis Presley had a
great ear for songs, whether blending Memphis blues
and rockabilly into rock and roll or finding new
standards on Tin Pan Alley. From the raw power of
“Heartbreak Hotel” to the tenderness of “Are You
Lonesome Tonight,” from the longing for “One Night
With You” to the get-down “Jailhouse Rock,” from
“Loving You” and “Suspicious Minds” to a billion
records sold, the songs of Elvis transcend imitation to
stand above the crowd.
Join Rod MacDonald & The Humdingers for a fun and
low-decibel tour through the life, music and genius of
this unique artist, as told in his 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 # WPW3 — One Time Event
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| Place: | Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Wednesday, January 4 2017 |
| Time: | 7 - 9 PM |
| Fee: | $25 / member; $35 / non-member |
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Register Now
Music Americana: In Search Of Greatness, Part Two
From sheer talent, pioneering a new direction or
outselling all their rivals, a few artists are widely
regarded as foremost practitioners of their art. Their
songs are legendary through the years, their styles are
imitated, but never surpassed and their triumphs and
losses are brilliantly conveyed through their music.
From the cool swing of Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King
Cole to the raw emotion of Tina Turner and Adele;
from the modernism of Pierre Boulez to the dramatic
reimagining of Mozart and Alexander Hamilton; from
the searing guitar of Jimi Hendrix to the soaring
harmonies of the Beach Boys; from the hip lyricism of
Johnny Mercer to the social content of Joan Baez and
Bruce Springsteen, great artists inspire us in our time
and set the standard for future generations of musical
performers.
This course will examine the work, biographies and
enduring importance of these musical artists and
attempt to sort myth from reality, using updated
videos and excerpts from feature films, live
performances and a few surprises.
Eight Lectures
- The Legacy - Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole
- The Songwriters - Johnny Mercer, Paul McCartney
- The Legends - Sam Cooke, Jimi Hendrix, Prince
- The New Classical Music - Pierre Boulez, Seiji Ozawa
- Truth To Power - Joan Baez, Cat Stevens, U2
- Women On Top - Tina Turner, Adele
- The Whole Story - Amadeus, Hamilton (The Musical)
- The Survivors - Bruce Springsteen, The Beach Boys
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| Course # W8T5 — Full 8 Weeks
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| Place: | Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Tuesdays, January 10, 17, 24; February 7, 14, 21, 28; March 7 2017 |
| Time: | 3:45 - 5:30 PM |
| Fee: | $80 / member; $110 / non-member |
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Register Now
