Travel Back to the Swing Era of Big Band with The Radio King Orchestra

Enjoy an evening of big band and swing with Washington's Radio King Orchestra, performing at the amphitheater tonight as part of the Spotlight by Starlight summer concert series. RKO has performed at the Kennedy Center’s New Year's Eve gala, the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Millennium Stage and Carter Barron Amphitheatre. Most recently, RKO has appeared on an episode of NBC's The West Wing.

Learn more about the orchestra's upcoming performance in this Q&A with RKO president Robin Gordon.

What songs will RKO perform tonight?

This is probably the hardest concert of the year because we only have an hour to perform yet we have such an extensive repertoire. We'll try to squeeze in as much as possible which may include a little Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, Benny Goodman and what's become quite a crowd pleaser: our "Fabulous Pincurl Girls" which is our updated and blood-related "Andrew Sisters-like" trio of Femme Fatales. But be forewarned, we have a special young artist (+1) as well that will knock you clear out of your boots!

Your versatile repertoire ranges from cha-cha and mambo to swing and waltz. Did you decide on an eclectic mix of musical styles for your Spotlight by Starlight concert or will you focus on one style in particular?

We always try to mix it up a bit unless specifically asked not to. So, for public concerts such as this, we'll do a nice variety within our repertoire but at the same time highlight our Fabulous Pincurl Girls. The girls (+1) add a fun and entertaining dimension to our show and have become quite popular with our diverse clientele and fans attracting the kids – to the more “mature kids!” And we've learned that valuable lesson through performance and feedback as we cannot tell you how many young kids, teenagers and young adults have expressed to us how “awesome” and '”fun” this music is!

How long have you been the president of RKO? Do you also perform in the orchestra?

Radio King Orchestra is a woman owned business started in February of 1998 but operated by Robin (vocals) and Rick (trumpet) Gordon. We were both working day jobs and moonlighting in separate and totally different bands until one day we found ourselves having moved on from each of our musical endeavors. We then decided that we had gotten married to be together and music is what brought us together - so what better way to spend more time as a couple than to work together – and we’ve never looked back!

One of our favorite truths is "love isn't looking into each other's eyes, it's looking in the same direction." We're living our dream together and making a decent living as performance musicians because we chose and continue to choose to develop both our musical and our business skills.

What is your favorite RKO memory?

Whether it's playing on the Kennedy Center Concert Hall stage, building RKO up to a 30-piece orchestra to accompany a star, being part of the influence in a child's musical development or seeing the expressions of happiness on the faces of The Greatest Generation when they hear their music...they're all great memories for us that keep us doing what we're doing. And there are lots more to come!

Click here for more information on the Radio King Orchestra.

For last minute performance cancellations due to inclement weather, call 703-324-SHOW (7469) one hour prior to the program start time.

Sunday, Aug. 7, 7:30 p.m.; Free
6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA; (703) 324-SHOW