Marlene VerPlanck, “Doyenne of Cabaret and Jazz Vocals,” To Perform at Avon Library on February 19, 2017

Marlene VerPlanck, “Doyenne of Cabaret and Jazz Vocals,” To Perform at Avon Library, Avon, CT

Sundays at Three, the popular music series presented by the Friends of the Avon Library, will showcase critically acclaimed vocalist Marlene VerPlanck in performance on Sunday, February 19. The international headliner will appear along with pianist Darren Litzie and bassist Jeff Fuller in a program highlighting the music of Irving Berlin.

Millions of people first heard Marlene’s crystal clear voice anonymously, on radio and television, as she
sang the merits of dozens of commercial products. Think “Mm-mm good, mm-mm good, that’s what
Campbell’s Soups are...” But, actually she got her start in the big-band business, as a very young vocalist
with Charlie Spivak and Tex Beneke. In time Marlene became one of the nation’s busiest studio singers,
backing up vocalists ranging from Frank Sinatra to Kiss. During a brief stint with the last Dorsey Brothers
Orchestra, she met her future husband, musician-arranger Billy VerPlanck.

Following appearances on Alec Wilder's historic National Public Radio series, "American Popular
Songs," in the 1970s, Marlene emerged as a leading solo performer. Appearances at Carnegie Hall,
Michael's Pub and the Rainbow Room brought rave notices, and national TV shows, including
"Entertainment Tonight," "The Today Show" and CBS's "Sunday Morning," featured profiles of the
increasingly popular singer.

Today, Marlene performs across North America and much of Western Europe. Less than a week after her
appearance at the Avon Library she’ll be off to the continent for a month-long series of bookings, first to
Holland, then on to the UK for dates in more than a dozen top venues including the world-famous Ronnie
Scott’s in London. The tour has been an annual event for more than 30 years.

By almost any measure Marlene VerPlanck is a virtuoso performer. This from The New York Times:
”She may be the most accomplished interpreter of popular material performing today.” Songwriter Hugh
Martin ("Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," etc.) expressed it well: "We know our songs are safe
in the hands of Marlene VerPlanck, and she will sing them better than anyone else."

The free, one-hour program is made possible by the generosity of the Friends of the Avon Library.

The music starts promptly at 3:00 pm in the Community Room of the Avon Free Public Library, 281
Country Club Road. Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis. Doors open at 2:30. Light refreshments
and an opportunity to meet the artists follow the program.

Contact:

Patrice Celli

Avon Free Public Library
pcelli@avonctlibrary.info

860-673-9712