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‘Singing Postman’ to entertain at the Hope Art Center

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Staff Report 3:18 PM Thursday, November 12, 2009

DAYTON — The Hope Art Center will host its premiere program celebrating jazz singer Rick Evans’ lifetime career from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14.

Evans was born in Harlem, N.Y., in 1933, where he began his singing career in church, school plays and musicals. He grew up a couple of blocks from the Cotton Club.

His uncle owned a popular eatery close by, and Evans would hang around and listen to the likes of Billie Holiday, Joe Williams, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Eckstein and many other performers jamming after performing at the club.

He would then go home and entertain his aunt and other family members with the music he had heard.

At age 17, Evans enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Stationed in Korea, he performed with the USO companies and the base entertainment groups.

While in Korea, he performed with the Benny Goodman Orchestra, the Bob Hope Troupe and in many USO shows.

After the military, Evans retired to the Dayton area. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service for almost 20 years. He was given the nickname “The Singing Postman.”

Currently, he sings at many nursing homes, retirement homes and senior centers.

“When you see a toe tapping or get a big smile from a lonely or neglected senior who responds to little else, the rewards are much greater than any amount of money,” Evans said.

He continues to perform with the big bands and has his own trio and quartet ensembles. Presently, he is collaborating on a downsized band project, called the James E. Smith Big Enough Band, and is currently working on two new albums with the Masters of Jazz.

The Hope Art Center is located at Hope Lutheran Church, 500 Hickory St.

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