The Polk Arts Alliance honors Polk County Commissioner, Melony Bell for her commitment, advocacy and tireless work as County Commissioner to support the cultural arts sector in Polk County. On July 24, 2012 after several years of advocacy, under the leadership…
Posts tagged as “Musician”
John DeYoung is from Pentwater Michigan where he was one of the founding members of the Pentwater Civic Band in 1947 that still performs today. After graduating Pentwater High School in 1945, John served in the US Army…
On Thursday April 28, 2016 World Renown Concert Pianist Robert MacDonald was honored, receiving the Polk Arts Alliance 3rd Annual Artist Hall of Fame Award, In Memoriam, at Florida Southern College’s Symphonic Celebrations at Branscomb Auditorium. The award was presented…
Myrtice Young grew up in Lake Wales after her family moved to Florida and has been a Polk County resident for 74 years. She has served as the Preservation Manager at the Polk History Center for nearly 14…
Jim Stafford was born in Winter Haven in 1944. As a teenager, he played in a band with future legendary musicians Bobby Braddock, Kent LaVoie, and Gram Parsons. Stafford wrote and recorded his first chart-making song, The Swamp…
Dr. Jessie Owens is a Winter Haven native and life-long music educator. She received her music education degree from Florida A&M University, her master’s degree from NYU, and her doctorate in organizational leadership from NOVA Southeastern University. She…
Frank Howes grew up in Live Oak, FL and became the Band Director at Southwest Jr. High in Lakeland, Florida in 1971 after graduating from the University of Florida. During Howes’ tenure, the Southwest band performed at clinics…
Canter Brown Jr. is an historian, professor and author. He was born in Fort Meade, Florida, and earned his degrees at Florida State University. He taught at Florida A&M University and has worked at Fort Valley State University…
Bobby Braddock, who left Auburndale for Nashville as a young adult, gained notoriety for writing such country music classics as “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” performed by Tammy Wynette and the song, “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” popularized by George Jones. Additionally,…
Rick Olivo, who moved to Polk County from New York and passed away in 2022, has long been recognized as one of Lakeland’s art icons. He founded Pied Pipers Children’s Theater (Lakeland Community Theatre) and was also one…