The Heights Foundation will host The Heights Party Band concert on Thursday, November 14, at 6:30 p.m. at The Heights Center, 15570 Hagie Drive in Fort Myers. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. This high-energy evening will feature familiar and forgotten favorites spanning classic rock, country, and a bit of spontaneous fun.
The party band is a group of rotating high-quality local musicians who call The Heights Center home for several concerts each year. Admission is $20 per person, including light snacks and a cash bar. Randy Mercer, CRE Consultants, sponsors the event.
Randy Thomas (formerly with Shania Twain, ALLIES, and Sweet Comfort Band) leads the party band. He will head up a professional veteran rock, pop, and country jam. Thomas is best known as the GRAMMY award-winning songwriter of the crossover hit “Butterfly Kisses.”
The concert features well-known local musicians, Kevin Kenworthy (formerly with Loretta Lynn) on vocals, keyboards, and guitars and Rob Robinson (producer for Lynyrd Skynyrd) will contribute vocals, keys, and guitar work. Joining the band from Nashville are Matthew Chapman (Allies) on bass, and Steve Latanation (Clash Of Symbols) on drums.
Lori Thomas will also join on vocals. Randy and Lori Thomas perform the Naples and Fort Myers country club circuit. “This is a unique opportunity for everyone to join in on the fun,” said Lori Thomas. “While we usually perform at private events, The Heights Party Band gives us a chance to share a great mix of singalongs with our community.”
This band is unlike any other. Our ability to pivot musically is what makes it special. We improvise most of the setlist, with any member jumping in to start a song, and the rest follow. That element of surprise keeps it fun for both us and the audience.”
For tickets, visit www.heightsfoundation.org/heightspartyband. Tickets will also be available at the door. The Heights Center is at 15570 Hagie Drive, Fort Myers, 33908. For more information, call (239) 482-7706
About the Heights Foundation and the Heights Center
The Heights Foundation works to build strong, self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood. Our mission is to support education and wellness, promote family and community development, and provide the benefits of enrichment and the arts. The Heights Center, supported by The Heights Foundation, is a place for Education, Opportunity, and Enrichment.
Heights Early Learning serves more than 85 babies through 4 years old. The Heights Center serves 170 children in AfterSchool and 153 children in SummerCamp. The Harlem Heights Community Charter School serves 210 children from kindergarten through fifth grade.
Harlem Heights was originally settled as a rural agricultural community. Approximately 780 children live in a mixture of single-family homes and multi-family apartments. Demographically, the population is approximately 70% Hispanic, 20% African-American, and 8% Caucasian. The poverty rate for children in Harlem Heights is more than twice the county average, with family income 40% below the county average. As a result, families cannot easily access family support services in downtown Fort Myers and benefit greatly from programs within the neighborhood.
