Country club gala
When the Country Club of Florida held a gala dinner dance to celebrate the club's 50th anniversary, they called on Ted Knight for the music.
Planners considered Ted's eighteen-piece big band but chose his eleven-piece orchestra instead.
The black-tie affair turned out to be the biggest event in the club's history, with more than 350 members in attendance.
The
band, the sound
The band included trumpet, trombone, and two saxes. The rhythm lineup consisted of keyboard, bass, guitar and drums, with added vibes and percussion. A six-piece jazz group played for cocktails on the patio.
Knight Music also provided stage lighting and a lighting
technician.
The mix started with jazz and swing. Songs included Glenn Miller's String of Pearls, Duke Ellington's Things Ain't What They Used to Be, and Bobby Darin's swing version of More. Click images to enlarge.
The band moved quickly to modern dance styles. Disco Inferno, We Are Family, Old Time Rock and Roll and Jailhouse Rock packed the dance floor.
Past,
present and future
Club president Ernie Mahler presented a "50th birthday gift," a big box wrapped in gold. When servers entered with a sparkler-lit parade of desserts, the band played Happy Birthday to You followed by the Beatles' Birthday. Ted planned the one-two punch as a way to connect the old and the new.
The weekend also included an outdoor
presentation by a local historian, with images from the club's past 50
years. Ted wondered if the club's sound system would be strong enough,
and volunteered his backup system.
Sure enough, more than 300 people turned out, far more than expected. Club manager John Collier (left) said that Ted's sound system saved the day.
For
the dinner dance, the capacity crowd meant seating in three side rooms
as well as the main dining room.
Click the image at right to see wireless mics on the side speakers that Ted to get sound to the the side rooms.
A
lot of fun
At the end of the evening, couples swayed together under the twinkling disco ball as Ted sang What a Wonderful World.
It was a lot of fun, which is what makes all the planning worthwhile. Afterward, the manager, the president, and event chairs Karl and Carol Scott were in complete agreement on the music: "Perfect."