Michelle Kaplan

IT’S MUSIC TO THE EARS FROM FOLK, BLUEGRASS, COUNTRY AND WESTERN, ROYAL PALM BEACH GUILD IS UP AND ROLLING ALONG

Jill Gilbert was shopping at the Wellington Mall when she sighted a group of musicians. Taking a seat in the audience, she began to sing along. Before she knew it, she was invited up to sing with the group.

Now she’s a member of the Royal Palm Beach Musicians Guild.

“It’s fun for me,” said Gilbert, 39, who lives west of Boca Raton. “I like to sing, it’s fun to be singing along with people, and I like to get other people to sing.”

The guild has been meeting since January on the first Monday of the month in the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. Members said they were having so much fun that they now also play from 6 to 9 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the month at the Wellington Mall.

“I put this rag-tag crew together, just so I could have someone to play with,” said Steve Petrone, the cultural center supervisor.

Royal Palm Beach already sponsors and promotes arts and musical events.

“And since we had one night a month available, we were only too happy to take on another musical endeavor,” Petrone said.

The guild is planning an old-fashioned coffeehouse at the center Saturday night.

“The guys want to get out and perform for the public,” Petrone said.

Members make the bimonthly pilgrimage to Wellington and Royal Palm Beach from as far as Boca Raton and Coral Springs to share music, singing and laughter, as well as some friendly advice from fellow players. Members range in age from 39 to 89.

“It’s a way I get in touch with my feelings,” said Richard Dieker, 69, of Wellington.

“A lot of my songs are about growing older, remembering back. … They’re pictures of my life. … It gives me a reason for being in retirement.”

Guitars aren’t the only acoustical instruments allowed in the troupe.

“We’d like to encourage area musicians to bring their guitars, fiddles, banjos, mandolins and join in the musical fun,” Petrone said.

The guild plays a range of music, including folk, bluegrass and country and western. They have open jam sessions, and members play solos. Some play their own material, songs that they’ve written and test out on each other. They play music spanning generations, artists from Johnny Cash and The Band to Sarah McLachlan.

Dr. Jordan Cherkinsky lives in Coral Springs, but his dental practice is in Wellington, and his heart is in his music.

“I’ve been playing music for 43 years; it’s something I need to do because music is my passion,” he said. “My motto is, it’s all in the music, the promoting of music. It brings people out [socially], when you’re holding a guitar.”

When the group is gathered in the center of the mall, shoppers are welcome to sit a spell or, as some little shoppers do, dance.

That’s how Gilbert got involved.

“I was just sitting in the audience singing along. I didn’t think anyone could hear me. Now I sing with them,” she said.

IF YOU GO

What: “A Good Old Fashioned Coffee House,” featuring Royal Palm Beach Acoustic Musicians Guild

When: 7 p.m. SaturdayWhere: Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center, 151 Civic Center Way, Royal Palm Beach.

Details: Tickets $5 at cultural center. Refreshments served.

What: Royal Palm Beach Acoustic Musicians Guild meetings and jam sessions

When/where: 7-10 p.m. first Monday of the month, Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center, 151 Civic Center Way, Royal Palm Beach; 6-9 p.m. fourth Monday of the month, Wellington Mall, 12794 W. Forest Hills Blvd., Wellington.

Information: Call Steve Petrone at 561-790-5149.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.
Abstract (Document Summary)

PHOTO; HOEDOWN: [Richard Dieker] of Wellington performs alongside David “A1A” Frye of West Palm Beach and [Steve Petrone], obscured right, of Royal Palm Beach during a meeting of the Royal Palm Beach Musicians Guild at the Cultural Center in Royal Palm Beach. Staff photo/John L. White
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.

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[Boynton Beach Edition]
South Florida Sun - Sentinel - Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Author:     Michelle Kaplan Special Correspondent
Date:     Sep 29, 2006
Start Page:     1
Section:     COMMUNITY NEWS
Text Word Count:     646