Women of Song Benefit Concert March 18, 2011

On March 18th, the women of Be a Dear and Donate a Brassiere, an organization dedicated to collecting undergarments for disadvantaged women, will be celebrating International Women’s Month (IWM) with a benefit concert at Red Rock in Mountain View at 8PM. The concert features The Women of Song, a group of four very talented Bay Area singer/songwriters.
The ladies--Cathi Walkup, Jennifer Lee, Leanne Weatherly and Melissa Dinwiddie--will take the stage for an evening of original music ranging from comical swing to beautiful, touching ballads. Their show was so popular, it completely sold out when they performed in Santa Clara last summer.
Jennifer Lee is a vocalist/pianist/guitarist with a warm, lovely voice, extraordinary musicality, and hip sense of time. Whether on guitar or piano, Jennifer accompanies herself with a simple elegance and sweetness, while maintaining a deep and thrilling in-the-pocket groove. Jennifer’s newest recording, “Quiet Joy” is an exciting mix of originals, standards, and Brazilian songs.
Jazz singer/songwriter Melissa Dinwiddie does more than just sing; she tells stories in song. Whether she's crooning jazz standards or modern original compositions (“Online Dating Blues” and “He's Just Not That Into You” are audience favorites), she delights listeners with her velvety voice and engaging delivery. She's sexy and sassy, presenting modern jazz and blues with a sardonic twist.
Vocalist/lyricist/composer Cathi Walkup has been called "the thinking person's jazz singer" for her choice of lyric driven songs, "a natural comedian" for her wit and ease on-stage, and "an important bop oriented singer, who is also an excellent lyricist" by jazz writer Scott Yanow in his new book "The Jazz Singers, The Ultimate Guide"
"Leanne Weatherly is the next major voice to watch out for- she's got clarity, passion, and fun arrangements that anyone would enjoy, all wrapped up in a very bright future," says Concord Music Group Artist Taylor Eigsti. As a result, Leanne has had the pleasure of singing with such jazz greats as Benny Green and has opened shows for legendary drummer, Louie Bellson, who stated, "She has a definite and appealing sound that will produce many fans for her.”
“It’s perfect that our organization can use the International Women’s Month to help women. We hope this benefit will remind everyone how far women have come, but also that many women are still struggling with inequalities and need help all year round,” said Lisa Collins, one of the co-founders of Be a Dear. The event is sponsored by Red Rock Coffee and benefits the Community Services Agency in Mountain View, a 50-year old organization, which has successfully served its community by providing a safety net so independence and self-sufficiency can be restored and maintained for all clients regardless of age or circumstance.
All bras collected will be donated to the Shelter Network .The Shelter Network is committed to providing housing and support services that create opportunities for homeless families and individuals to re-establish self-sufficiency and to return to permanent homes of their own.