Paradise Performing Arts Center presents
THE 4 TROOPS

Friday, September 10 / 7:30 PM

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Former Sgt. Daniel Jens, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was attracted to becoming a musician/singer after seeing Elvis and The Beatles perform and hearing the adoring screams of their female fans. He was inspired to join the Army and serve his country after the events of 9/11. In October of 2007 he deployed to Iraq with the 1st Cavalry Division as a crew member of the Field Artillery Cannon. Jens sang at everything from Prayer Breakfasts to Talent Nights at the U.S. Embassy. Upon his return, Daniel went on to become one of the top twenty acts in season three of America’s Got Talent.

Former Cpt. Meredith Melcher spent four years in the Army as an officer in the Medical Service Corps where she was deployed in support of the first Operation Iraqi Freedom. While on the front lines of Iraq her ambulance platoon successfully evacuated hundreds of injured Americans and Iraqis to higher levels of medical treatment. Upon her return, she was cast in the 2004 U.S. Army Soldier Show and performed for audiences of military personnel and civilians worldwide.

Staff Sgt. (Ret.) Ron Henry retired from the Army after a twenty-year military career; his last seven years were spent traveling unprotected roads in Iraq in the dangerous position of Transporter and Transportation Manager. Influenced by Gospel music, Ron delivered stellar performances in the first season of Military Idol, a show that featured military contestants in the popular American Idol format. He went on to lead the successful Army singing group “Transportation Express,” lifting the morale of those families whose military parents were serving multiple deployments back to back.

Former Sgt. David Clemo – who was in Basic Training, getting his first ID on 9/11 – initially deployed to Afghanistan where he provided communications support for major logistics and fire bases. His second deployment, from November 2004, was as a team chief for communications and fiber optic cable installations in Iraq. Following that, David spent a number of fulfilling years as Assistant Director of the U.S. Army Soldier Show, touring and entertaining his fellow soldiers and their families

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO: THE 4 TROOPS SING "FOR FREEDOM"

Stuart Mayo presents
Stuart Mayo in Concert

Thursday, September 23 / 7:00 PM

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Come join the ridge's own concert pianist, Stuart Mayo, and his special guests, violinist,Trent Smith; soloist, Sandy Miller; and some friends from the Paradise Dancers, for an evening of original compositions, exciting classics, and humorous ditties! Stuart is preparing to go on a church mission, and this will be a fund-raiser for his service. This is your last chance to hear his awesome piano music for quite some time.

Stuart has loved music since he was a young boy. In the 12 years since he entered the world of piano, Stuart has performed in all types of venues and for all kinds of audiences. He also teaches piano to budding young musicians. Stuart has produced several shows to give others the opportunity to share their talents as well. In his later teenage years, he achieved the seventh level in the MTAC’s Certificate of Merit (CM) program, which helps musicians under the age of eighteen focus and excel in all aspects of their musical skill.

This show is a family event and will appeal to lovers of all kinds of music!

CLICK HERE FOR STUART'S WEBSITE: STUART MAYO

Paradise Performing Arts Center presents
Carlos Reyes & Gordy Ohliger

Saturday, September 25 / 7:30 PM

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Carlos Reyes recording artist, producer, engineer, harpist and violinist-- has been breaking musical barriers since his first public performance at the age of five. Born in Paraguay South America, he began his musical education at the age of three and a half on the violin. A few years later, his father, a musical and national hero in Paraguay, dared young Carlos to learn the complicated 36 string native Paraguayan harp. Being called a child prodigy at an early age he took his father's challenge seriously, Carlos purchased his first harp for $50.00 when he was just ten years old. Two weeks later, he earned a double encore and $250.00 at his first professional harp concert. Since then he has taken the Harp and its music to new and groundbreaking levels.

Continuing his musical education, at an early age Carlos eventually learned to play many different instruments including Guitar, Bass, Mandolin, Keyboards, as well as mastering the use of a variety of electronic devices and special effects.

He made his debut on harp with the Oakland Symphony and his debut on the violin with the Oakland Youth Symphony at just fourteen years of age. He has worked in the professional recording industry for commercials as a solo artist, and creating instrumental background music for the acclaimed children’s shows "Sesame Street" and "Villa Alegre" when he was still in his teens. He has backed such artist as Chuck Mangione, Bill Evans, Clark Terry, Pat Travers, and MC Hammer. He has shared the concert stage with such great artist as Norton Buffalo, Craig Chaquico, The Crusaders, The Rippingtons, Roy Rogers, Charlie Daniels, Wynona Judd, Clint Black, Willie Nelson, John Handy, The Doobie Brothers, Rocker Steve Miller.
CLICK HERE TO HEAR CARLOS PLAY: Carlos Reyes

Gordy Ohlinger, also known as The Banjo-ologist, will perform his extraordinary talent on the Banjo.

Paradise Performing Arts Center presents
Lydia Pense & Cold Blood AND Big Mo & The Full Moon Band

Saturday, October 2 / 7:30 PM

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Two great acts for one incredible ticket price! Lydia Pense & Cold Blood and Big Mo & The Full Mood Band.

Lydia Pense is an American rock-soul jazz singer who has performed with the band Cold Blood since the late 60’s. Her style has been compared to powerful singers such as Janis Joplin (who recommended the band to Bill Graham for their first audition), Aretha Franklin and Teena Marie. Lydia, later joined Cold Blood and the band debuted when the Fillmore was at its peak as one of the nation’s musical Mecca’s. Along with other bands of that time, such as Tower of Power, they forged their own specific brand of funk/soul and R&B, which came to be known as East Bay Grease. That music still holds up today, proving that great music is timeless and continues to inspire generations to come. Pense can still shout like a 60’s soul diva and purr a slow blues tune with spine-tingling subtlety. Cold Blood, as a whole, features a stellar group of musicians who have been playing together for nearly 20 years. The band members are all veteran Bay Area musicians who have played with many great artists including Elvin Bishop, The Starship, Boz Skaggs, and more. Together she and the band continue to twist together R&B, into something that doesn’t have a label. On any given night, Lydia Pense and Cold Blood power through their historic essentials, along with a whole new lineup of future clasics in their repertoire. Lydia and the band blast out a set that covers 40 years of thumping, throbbing, East Bay funk.

Click here: Lydia Pense & Cold Blood, I want to make love to you

Big Mo & The Full Moon Band is a foot stomping, electric blues band. The bands sound is very soulful and powerful. Big Mo's voice draws from a deep vast pool of unmistaken blues feel. Big Mo's original tunes vary from straight blues to a Big Band Blues to Southern Rock and Country. A great variety of tunes that all have one common denominator "Feel from the stomach" as Mo calls it. Music from the stomach and the heart for all ages.

Paradise Performing Arts Center presents
Mike Albert Ultimate Tribute to Elvis

Saturday, October 16 / 7:00 PM

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Mike Albert's "Ultimate Tribute" show has become known worldwide for the respectful portrayal of the late Elvis Presley. The show had its beginnings with Mike using sing-a-long tapes of Elvis' hits. Mike won several major world "Elvis" contests, and demand for his shows resulted in putting together a seven piece Big "E" Band, to emulate the sound Elvis' band had in the Vegas shows and on tour. An appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show and being featured in six music videos on the national show "A Current Affair", with Maury Povich, further exposed audiences to Mike's talent.

The actual vocal groups that backed Elvis (the legendary Jordanaires and J.D. Sumner and the Stamps quartet) have toured across the U.S., Europe and as far as Australia and New Zealand with Mike's show at many large conventions and theaters. Mike's style and charisma and his ability to get the audience involved in the show have proved to be quite the crowd pleaser. Fairs, festivals, dinner shows and large car cruises have established a long-term relationship with Mike and his band that draws sold-out crowds year after year. Highlighting Mike's career was an invitation to do the Miss Tennessee beauty pageant, with a full orchestra and choreographed dance routines, and a repeat invitation three years later.
Mike's powerful voice lends itself well to every type of Elvis' music - 50's, 60's and 70's rock and roll and love songs, as well as a very successful gospel/Christmas show. Since Elvis had so many hits, Mike makes it a point to keep the show fresh with an ever-changing song line-up! Special requests are often delivered to audiences who are "All Shook Up"!

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