November 3rd--Save the date!
ne...@mlmkc.org
The 2007 Power of Each One Event will be Saturday, Nov. 3 at the
Kansas City Starlight Theatre.
The event will begin at 5 p.m. with a welcome reception followed by a
6 p.m. buffet dinner and 8 p.m. entertainment.
Entertainment will be provided by the incredible McFadden Brothers,
who's multi-instrumental, singing and tap-dancing talents have won
applause from Las Vegas to New York.
Based in Kansas City, Lonnie and Ronald McFadden have been
entertaining since they were in elementary school, learning tap licks,
and intricate rhythms from their father, Kansas City hoofer and all
around entertainer Smilin' Jimmy McFadden. Their Dad, danced with the
likes of "The Count Basie Orchestra," "Blanche Calloway's Harlem
Review," "Jay McShann," and many more of the top name entertainers and
orchestra's of the 30's and 40's.
The elder McFadden began teaching his sons tap dancing at the ages of
3 and 4. He made sure both Lonnie and Ronald took piano lessons at the
Conservatory of Music as he taught comedy, tap routines and songs.
At ages 6 and 7, Lonnie and Ronald gave their first recital. In junior
high school, they concentrated more on playing the trumpet (Lonnie)
and the alto saxophone (Ronald).
As a teenager, Lonnie traveled with a regional band before starting
his own band, "Lonnie and The Band" that included Ronald on the alto
sax. It was during this time that Lonnie became a song writer and
arranger. Not long after, The McFadden Brothers were born.
By the 1980s The McFadden Brothers paralleled their father's career by
performing with "The Count Basie Orchestra". They played major jazz
festivals in Europe and Japan, appearing on the same bill with such
jazz greats as Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis.
Lonnie and Ronald have made many local and national television
appearances including "Incredible Sunday's" the result of a
recommendation from Ben Vareen. The McFadden Brothers have also
performed with some of the biggest names in show business, like Sammy
Davis Jr., Tony Orlando and were the featured act with Wayne Newton
for nearly three years. (Just to Mention a Few)
Lonnie and Ronald's families still reside in the Kansas City area
where they can be found performing at the major music venues in the
area, as well as Lonnie is teaching the art of "Tap Dancing".
With support from 47 area Lutheran churches and another 167
congregations representing 18 denominations, Metro Lutheran Ministry
of Kansas City serves homeless youth and adults, senior citizens and
families throughout the metropolitan area. For more information, call
(816) 931-0027 or visit www.mlmkc.org on the Internet.