LAKEPORT >> On Friday, April 27 from 7 to 10 p.m., the Spring Sulphur Fire Benefit will be held at the Soper Reese Theatre at 275 S. Main Street in Lakeport. This is the 10th benefit concert for Lake County fire survivors produced by Spotlight On Productions in partnership with The Time Bank of Thrive Lake County and other community volunteers.
The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra will bring their nine-piece soul revue to the stage with a three-piece brass section including Charles McNeal on sax, Derek James on trombone, and newest member Bill Ortiz on trumpet. Ortiz is recently off a 17-year stint with Carlos Santana and played with Toni, Tone, Tony for 10 years. Their drummer D’Mar is one of California’s most coveted drummers due to his excellent chops and exciting, athletic leaps. Bass player Paul Olguin and Tony “Macaroni” Lufrano on keyboards have many years experience mastering the funk with Bay Area bands.
Band leader Paule is a blues guitarist who has toured and recorded with Charlie Musselwhite, Boz Scaggs, Maria Muldaur, Norton Buffalo, John Nemeth, Roy Rogers and Lake County favorite Nancy Wright. Paule played the first benefit concert by Lake County Fire Recovery Benefits at the Twin Pine Casino in November 2015, along with members of Elvin Bishop’s back up band and Alvon Johnson.
This soul orchestra backs traveling vocalists Frank Bey and Wee Willie Walker, with whom they have been nominated for Blues Music Awards for several years. The band is up for five nominations this year and will once again play the awards ceremony in Memphis in May. Over the past four summers, they have played to huge audience acclaim at the Poretta Soul Festival in Italy and the Maspalomas Soul Festival in the Canary Islands where they have become the backing band for many well-known soul legends. Their recent performances in Northern California have been selling out, so advance tickets are encouraged for the April 27 concert.
For the Spring Sulphur Fire Benefit, two compelling vocalists have been invited to bring gal power to the Soper Reese: Terrie Odabi and Loralee Christensen. Odabi has been gaining increased visibility in the Bay Area soul and blues scene in recent years. Her powerful, impassioned vocal delivery and vibrant command of the stage brings to mind another Bay Area songstress, Etta James. The relatable lyrics of her original songs earned her two Blues Music Awards nominations in 2017. Christensen’s three-octave range has kept her in demand at live events, in recording studios and as a commercial voice-over artist since the 1980’s. Her big voice and huge heart have won her rave reviews throughout her tours with the band. Lake County fans should be excited to see her on the Soper Reese stage, after her performance at last year’s Halloween Spirits Benefit had to be canceled due to the fires.
The following Sponsors deserve our appreciation for their support of Lake County Fire Recovery Benefits: The Blue Wing Saloon/Tallman Hotel, Brad White Blues Productions, Lake County Contractors, Iris Angeleri of Country Air Properties, Totorica Tile and A Positive Light Center in Kelseyville. Also, thanks are due to KPFZ 88.1 FM producers for interviews & promotions, Bicoastal Media KNTI 99.5 FM for airtime, Rodeway Inn / Skylark Shores Resort for band rooms, and the new organic Indian restaurant in the Riviera, Arti Cafe, for donating a meal to the band.
Proceeds from ticket sales, raffle, and the silent auction will be directed to the NCO Sulphur Fire Fund. Proceeds from wine, beer, soda and water sales will help Hope City purchase supplies to rebuild homes lost in the 2015-7 Lake County fires. Members of the Big Valley Hall will sell homemade desserts to help improve the hall for future benefits. Please bring cash for the raffle, silent auction and refreshments.
All seats will be reserved, and the dance floor will be open. Table seats cost: $25, center loge: $20, side loge: $15. Tickets can be purchased online: www.soperreesetheatre.com, in person at the Soper Reese Theatre box office before events or M-F at The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main St, Lakeport, or by phone at 707-263-3095.
If interested in supporting this, or a future fire benefit, as a sponsor or donor to the silent auction, email SpotlightOn999@gmail.com or leave a message at 707-278-7126. Event updates are on Facebook at Lake County Fire Recovery Benefits.
