Each year, our Music Club selects individuals who have worked tirelessly over the years to bring music – in all its styles and variations – to the Grand. One thing each of our honorees have in common is they knew from a very young age they loved to sing and entertain others. Now, in retirement, they can bring that passion to life.
SHERRY BENNETT Sherry was a co-founder of the recently retired Sonoran Skies Band. Her keyboard play and vocals were essential to the type of music and sound the band wanted to create – a sort of eclectic rock’n roll folk sound.
Sherry has also been involved with the Grand Singers since 2014 as accompanist and then assistant director. In the future, she will continue to perform with them. Their spring concert had to be canceled but a last ‘fun rehearsal’ was held in March which turned out to be a final tribute to Sherry, with each of the singers wearing pink, Sherry’s favorite color.
BOBBY (BJ) DAVIS BJ has been very involved with the Music Club for many years. He was a co-founder of the Sonoran Skies Band and currently performs with the Juke Box Junkies. He became president of the Music Club in 2016 and served for four years on the Board. He sang with the Grand Singers and Chorale for several years. BJ has appeared in many of the popular Celebration of Music shows as a soloist or as part of a group. He is currently co-producer/director of the May 2022 Music Club Showcase, “Out of the Blues”.
At age 12, BJ received a scholarship to sing with the famous Apollo Boys’ Choir. It was a great honor to join this group whose founder sought to create the equivalent of the Vienna Boys’ Choir in the U.S. He toured with them for a year.
PAMELA WEIR Pamela became a member of the Grand Singers in 2013 and then joined the Chorale in 2014. She helped with sectionals in 2015 and 2016. She became the Director of the Grand Singers, with her first concert in December 2016. She still serves in the position of Director. She also served as secretary of the Music Club and was a “coach” of the fun performing group Jazzmatazz.
Among many reasons Pamela was chosen for this Award was her creativity - when she has an idea, it comes to fruition. When COVID struck, Pamela organized Zoom rehearsals, which resulted in a video of the show. She had rehearsals at the amphitheater with participants standing 12’ apart. She made arrangements for the singers to practice and perform at Grace Community Church. Her love for her position as director is evident in her enthusiasm and the product produced.