By Larry Claflin Jr.
Staff writer
May 15, 2008 12:36 am Music lovers who lived on the North Shore in the 1970s and '80s may remember A Patch of Blue, a jazz and blues band that played music venues and private parties around the region. The band disbanded in 1989, but reunited last year for the annual Keeping the Earth SAFE and SOUND benefit at the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem. A Patch of Blue will return to the Hawthorne tomorrow night for the 2008 SAFE and SOUND benefit. The performance is billed as Blues Goes Green, and the concert and fundraiser will support Salem Sound Coastwatch and Salem Alliance for the Environment, two local environmental groups. "People had such a good time last year, we just had to do it again," Barbara Warren, executive director of Salem Sound Coastwatch, said about booking A Patch of Blue. The event takes place from 7:30 p.m. to midnight, and will include dancing, a silent auction, cash bar and hors d'oeuvres. Admission is $15 per person (tax deductible) or 10 tickets for $125. Ticket holders receive 10 percent discounts in the hotel's restaurant and lounge. According to Carl Zukroff, pianist for A Patch of Blue, the band will play background jazz music for the first two hours, before the dance floor is cleared at 9:30 p.m. That's when Zukroff and Co. will bust out old rock 'n' roll dance tunes. "We've all been doing it for a long time; we have an unlimited repertoire (of songs)," Zuckroff said. Other than Lorinda Parks of Gloucester, A Patch of Blue's original singer who died from breast cancer a few years ago, the band's original line-up will be on stage — Zukroff of Boston, Norm Parker of Amesbury on percussion, Jim Kelly of Manchester, N.H., on bass and Mike Jacobs of Groton on woodwinds. They will be joined by singer Mimi McCaffrey of Boston, Ben Ferrini of Gloucester on bass and Don Laurila of Winchester on guitar and vocals. The band is a draw but the real message will be about the environment. "This event is a great opportunity to meet new people, find out about environmental activities here in Salem and support two organizations that are dedicated to making our local environment better — Salem Sound Coastwatch and Salem Alliance for the Environment," said Cindy Keegan, of SAFE. For more information or for tickets, call 978-741-7900 or go to www.salemsound.org.
Features editor Larry Claflin Jr. writes his "Get Outside" column weekly. He can be reached at lclaflin@salemnews.com.
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