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”
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…
Harriet Rust, a Polk County native, founded the Davenport Historical Society with then-Mayor Peter Rust (her late husband). The DHS founded the Quilts and Tea Festival that brought together the Davenport School of the Arts, many sewing organizations,…
Jazz icon, Nat Adderley made Lakeland his home in the eighties and is credited with being a founding member of Florida Southern College’s Child of the Sun Jazz Festival, eventually serving as Artist-In-Residence for the school. Adderley, who…
Polk Arts Alliance executive director Meri Mass retired on January 31, 2022, closing out a 12-year tenure as the organization’s leader. Meri was a fervent advocate for the arts and played an instrumental role in the establishment of…
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…