Bread & Roses hosted a sold-out and spectacularly successful 40th Anniversary fundraising event on Saturday March 1, 2014 at the Marin Center and Showcase Theatre. Transformed with twinkling lights and a stunning red and black décor, The Exhibit Hall was a fitting venue for the 280 guests who came to celebrate our legacy of four decades of live music for our neighbors in need who are isolated in the Bay Area.
Elegant bouquets of white flowers with tall calalilies adorned the small stage with the rose backdrop, while images flashed on two large screens showing forty years of Bread & Roses institutional shows and benefit concerts.
It was a night when it seemed that all of our friends and supporters, past and present, were there. Skip Henderson, cousin of our founder the late Mimi Fariña, captured this sentiment perfectly when he sent a note afterwards that said “Dear Mimi, Many thanks are due for Saturday’s great celebration. Glad you were there!”
Ambassadors at Large Michael Pritchard and Tom Johnston (of the Doobie Brothers) attended along with other performer friends in the audience including Tom’s daughter Lara Johnston, Nicolas Bearde, Noah Griffin, Mark Hummel, Rita Moreno, Roy Rogers, Linda Tillery, Wavy Gravy and Deborah Winters.
As Master of Ceremonies, Michael set the tone in a heart-felt and humorous way, invoking the enduring spirit of our mission to provide hope and healing through live music. Dazzling instrumental jazz by John Hoy on guitar and Dick Bright on violin was enjoyed by all during a delicious dinner by Stacy Scott Catering topped by chocolate mousse with a fragrant rose petal.
The generosity of those who bought live auction packages and donated to the fund-a need was essential to meeting our fundraising goals for the event.
After dinner, everyone went to the adjacent Showcase Theatre for a spirited opening set by the imaginative a capella ensemble SoVoSó. Each song they played featured a different soloist; Vernon Bush in "Climbin’ Up," Sunshine Becker in "Wanting Memories," Ashling Cole in "For I am the Moon," Vernon Bush in "Precious," Zoe Ellis in "Say A Prayer" and David Worm in "Be of Love" joined also by Bryan Dyer.
Headliner Bobby McFerrin joined SoVoSó on stage before sitting in on joyous harmonies with his daughter, talented vocalist Madison McFerrin, and son Taylor McFerrin, a spirited beat boxer and keyboard player. Ten-time Grammy winner and legendary vocal innovator Bobby McFerrin was joined by fellow collaborators in the virtuoso band The Yellowjackets featuring Russell Ferrante on keyboard, William Kennedy on drums and Felix Pastourius on bass.
Bobby’s parting words “Pray, Sing, Dance, Eat, Love, Enjoy” were a gift to take away as we soared into the night on the wings of song.
Words cannot express our gratitude to our hardworking event committee -- Suzanne Badenhoop, Darlene Bearde, Mary Doan, Diane Hong, Guy Lampard, Stacy Nelson and Tucky Pogue.
Special thanks are also due to the sponsors and contributors who made the evening a great success: Bank of the West, Marin Community Foundation, Suzanne Badenhoop & Guy Lampard, Susan & Dennis Gilardi, Gilardi & Co., Palo Alto University; Danny, Jordan & Corey Scher; Marin General Hospital, Nelson Jobs, Sudha Pennathur L.P., The Colin Family, Randi & Bob Fisher, Bank of Marin, Bill Graham Memorial Foundation, Jane & Doug Ferguson, Diane Hong & Michael Joaquin, Pamela & Marty Krasney, Matt & Tami Stolte and Corte Madera Town Center.
Post by Marian Hubler
Photos by Ken Friedman; Slide show by Lauren Arrow
Video by Nick Sklias and Lauren Arrow, Courtesy of the Community Media Center of Marin