SOPRANO SOLOIST JOINS PANAMA CITY POPS TO WEAVE “POPS MAGIC”
Margaret Carlson’s voice has been compared to those of Julie Andrews and Maureen McGovern. Her musical program is described as great old standards with a fresh attitude. Her on-stage personality has been called effervescent.
On Saturday, March 26, The Panama City POPS welcomes Ms. Carlson to the stage for the third concert of the season, “POPS Magic.”
Grammy nominee, orchestra darling and cabaret favorite, Carlson is so easy on stage, her mere presence makes audiences fall in love with her. She will accompany the POPS orchestra for the entire second half of the concert, performing pieces that range from mellow jazz to sultry sambas, high-flying scat to pure romance, all the way to deep-down blues.
“The POPS loves to inject a few surprises and keep every concert fun,” stated Artistic Director and Maestro Eddie Rackley. “Margaret Carlson has a superb, flexible voice, a great sense of rhythm, and she sings in tune. Her songlist is versatile, and she will be an immediate hit with the audience.”
In her early career, the native Minnesotan toured the United States singing in resorts and clubs, and was featured on numerous television and radio commercials. In 1985 she was awarded the prestigious “Outstanding Musicianship” award from the Elmhurst (IL) College Jazz Festival. Soon afterward she decided to leave the music business to raise her two children. She returned to the music business ten years later and recorded her first CD, “Once in a Blue Moon” with pianist/arranger Frank Mantooth. She follow up this recording with a second CD, “This Christmas… my favorite things,” and received a Grammy nomination for it in the “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album” category.
In keeping with The Panama City POPS concert tradition, the first half of the concert will mount a more classical program. Featured selections will include “Hungarian March” by Hector Berlioz; “Kaiser Waltz” by Johann Strauss II; Mussorgsky’s “A Night on Bald Mountain;” and two pieces from “Peer Gynt” by Edward Greig.
Individual tickets are $25 for Adults; $20 for Seniors 65+/Active Military; and $10 for Children under 12 and Students with ID. Individual tickets for all concerts at Arnold High School may be purchased at Cher’s Hallmark, Lynn Haven and Panama City Beach, and Paul Brent Gallery, downtown Panama City. They can also be purchased online.