Richard “Cookie” Thomas, a jazz musician whose voice has been described as “smoother than a triple latte hold the cinnamon”, will perform on behalf of KEYS at its annual benefit. Lissy Newman will serve as Honorary Chair of the November 3rd event. It will be held at the Carriage Barn in Waveny Park in New Canaan at 8 pm and KEYS is requesting a $60 donation to attend the concert. Wine and treats will be served, and the proceeds of the concert will go directly to the music programs KEYS offers inner-city children in Bridgeport, CT.
Cookie’s career was launched in 1960 in Philadelphia. He was fourteen years old at the time, and opened for none other than B.B. King. He has played in countless venues since and has recorded several CD’s, some of which will be available at the concert. He and his band will play jazz favorites, songs that he has a reputation for delivering with style.
KEYS was founded by Rob Silvan in 2004 with four students playing on a keyboard in the hallway at Columbus School. The non-profit now offers one-to-one and group music lessons to over 400 children from 4-18 in twelve of Bridgeport’s public schools. Silvan was inspired by El Sistema, the Venezualan music program. Established in 1974, El Systema has produced many child orchestras and several tremendous musicians, including Gustavo Dudamel, conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
