Florida Theatre posts 2020 annual report

The Florida Theatre has released its annual report for the fiscal year that ended on September 30, 2020. The report is a digital publication that was emailed to the theatre’s supporters on February 3, 2021, and is available to the general public on the theatre’s web site, floridatheatre.com.

The Florida Theatre Performing Arts Center, Inc. is the nonprofit corporation that has managed and programmed the historic Florida Theatre in downtown Jacksonville since 1987 in a public/private partnership with the City of Jacksonville, which owns the building.

Says Florida Theatre President Numa Saisselin, “As a nonprofit corporation, we exist to serve the public, not a private investor or owner, and we believe in transparency. Even though private contributions are just 13% of our operating income, and government support is less than 5%, we still want our donors and supporters to know exactly how we are doing, so they have confidence in our ability to deliver the community service they expect.”

Among the highlights of this year’s 20-page report:

·         51% of ticket buyers reside in Duval County, and 49% of ticket buyers came from outside Duval County, choosing the Florida Theatre and downtown Jacksonville as the place to spend their entertainment dollars.

·         The Theatre’s activity resulted in an economic impact of $8.5 million, supporting the full time equivalent of 261 jobs, $6.4 million of household income, $450,000 of state government tax and fee income, and $371,000 of local government tax and fee income.

·         Even though the theatre was closed for more than half the year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, its artist selections were still strong enough to earn it recognition as one of the most attended theatre venues in the country by two industry publications, Pollstar (Top 10 up to 2,000 seats) and VenuesNow (Top 5 up to 2,000 seats).

·         Even though not having a show after March 12 caused the organization to lose over 95% of its income, the organization still managed to be financially viable in part because 100% of its Corporate Partners renewed their annual memberships, and the number of individual people making a membership contribution fell by just 5%.

Says Saisselin, “That is a strong statement about the importance of the Florida Theatre in our communal lives.”

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit Union. For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the Theatre's official website.

About Florida Theatre: From ballet and opera to contemporary pop, jazz, rock, country and blues the nonprofit Florida Theatre offers 175 cultural and entertainment events annually for every taste and age. More than just an entertainment center, Florida Theatre is also home to graduations, awards ceremonies, lectures, business meetings and charity events that support the community's schools, churches, hospitals and civic groups. As an anchor to downtown development along the beautiful St. Johns River, Florida Theatre draws 175,000 people to Jacksonville's center each year. The magnificently restored Florida Theatre is recognized as one of the finest concert venues in the Southeast. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Florida Theatre holds special memories for four generations. From the Vaudeville acts and silent films of its earliest days to today's blend of performances of all kinds, the Florida Theatre has served as Jacksonville's premier entertainment center since 1927.

Julian Marley brings ‘The Wailers' to JAX

The Florida Theatre is pleased to welcome reggae legends The Wailers featuring Julian Marley at the Florida Theatre on Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 8 p.m.

Not many bands can claim genuine legend status. The Wailers, however, can comfortably claim their place in essential music history as the band that backed the incomparable Bob Marley. Culture defining; rebel hearts with brave souls embodying the spirit of 1970’s era-defining reggae.

In this show, the offspring of legends Bob Marley and Aston Barrett, these two princely inheritors of reggae - power duo Julian Marley and Aston Barrett Jr. - join forces to return reggae to its acoustic roots.  The sound is a culmination of a life-long friendship and musical collaboration between the two.

Aston Barrett Jr. started working with the renowned Julian at the age of 14 while still in the eighth grade. Seeing an emerging talent, Julian quickly took him under his wing, inviting him to his house and exposing him to the many seminal guitar books, and to the family’s rich collection of early-reggae 1960’s recordings of his father.

Julian Marley, son of the iconic Bob Marley and twice Grammy-nominated musician and producer is a true and authentic representation of Rasta.  A world-renowned artist and devoted Rastafarian, Julian conveys his message of legalization, freedom, and love through his humanitarian efforts, music and JuJu Royal brand.

An idea born out of a phone call from friend and fellow musician Jaime Hinckson, this rare collaboration of three of reggae’s most prominent artists is a richly layered tapestry of both the genre’s early rhythmic wisdom and the newer cadences of a younger generation taking reggae’s divine message out to the world.

This will be a socially-distanced event with health and safety protocols in place. Patrons can visit floridatheatre.com/home/breaking-news for the most up to date information on The Florida Theatre’s safety protocols and general updates. Additionally, ticket purchasers will be notified by email of specific safety requirements prior to the event.

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit Union. For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the Theatre’s official website, floridatheatre.com.

  “The Wailers
featuring Julian Marley”
DATE: Sat. Feb.20, 2021
TIME:8 p.m.
TICKETS:  $39.50 - $49.50

LOCATION: The Florida Theatre
      128 East Forsyth Street.
      Jacksonville, FL 32202
      (904) 355-2787

‘Rodney Carrington’ is coming to JAX as promised

The Florida Theatre is pleased to announce that comedian, actor and writer “Rodney Carrington” will perform on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Rodney is a multi-talented comedian, actor, singer and writer playing sold-out shows around the world as one of the top 10 highest-grossing touring comedians for the past two decades.

A platinum-recording artist, Rodney's recorded eight major record label comedy albums, followed by three albums on his own record label, Laughter's Good Records. His last album Here Comes the Truth (released 2017) climbed to number 3 on the comedy charts, accruing tens of millions of streams on Spotify and even spawned a Netflix special.

Rodney broke through with his major label comedy CD debut Hangin' With Rodney in 1998. The next few years saw nine more Top 10 comedy albums: Live, Morning Wood, Nutsack, Greatest Hits, King of the Mountains, El Nino Loco, C'mon Laugh You Bastards, Laughter's Good and The Hits, all of which continue to receive radio airplay and regularly place on the national comedy charts. Hangin' With Rodney and Morning Wood earned RIAA gold record certification, and his Greatest Hits (a double CD) album reached platinum status. Rodney also released Make it Christmas which features his original song “Camouflage and Christmas Lights," a tribute to our military.

Rodney also added "author" to his list of accomplishments with the release of his book Rodney Carrington, Coming Clean published by Hatchette Books.

Over the years, he's starred in his own TV sitcom, Rodney, which ran for two seasons on ABC, co-wrote and co-starred with Toby Keith in the feature film, Beer for My Horses, which won the Tex Ritter Award from the ACM, and starred in his own Netflix special Here Comes The Truth. Rodney's also appeared on countless other TV shows, including the ACA (American Country Awards), hosting the American Country New Year's Eve Live show on FOX, and won "Supporting Character of the Year” from the CMT Music Video Awards for his appearance on the Trace Adkins' music video “I Got My Game On."

Rodney is fresh off the release of his latest album, Get Em Out, which hit #1 on iTunes, and is gearing up for a year of touring in 2020.

Rodney’s live show is recommended for mature audiences only.

This will be a socially-distanced event with health and safety protocols in place. Patrons can visit floridatheatre.com/home/breaking-news for the most up to date information on The Florida Theatre’s safety protocols and general updates. Additionally, ticket purchasers will be notified by email of specific safety requirements prior to the event.

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit Union. For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the Theatre’s official website, floridatheatre.com.

“Rodney Carrington”
DATE: Sat. Feb. 6, 2021
TIME: 6:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
TICKETS:  $49.50 - $59.50

LOCATION: The Florida Theatre
      128 East Forsyth Street.
      Jacksonville, FL 32202
      (904) 355-2787

WJCT hosts virtual conversation “The Black Church”

WJCT Public Media today announced it will host a community conversation and launch an interactive initiative in connection with “The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song,” the upcoming PBS documentary series by Dr. Henry Louis Gates. The community conversation, titled “Sights, Sounds, and Spirit of the Black Church,” will be held virtually on February 15 at 7 p.m., and is funded by a grant from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting.

Lynn Sherman, Director of Social Responsibility and Community Engagement at Baptist Health, will host the community conversation, which will feature panelists Jeff Boddie, Associate Director of Worship, Downtown, at Shiloh Church, Bishop Charles Bernard Eichelberger Sr., Pastor & Founder at Cathedral of Deliverance, and Ben Frazier, President & Founder of Northside Coalition of Jacksonville. Registration for this free virtual event is open at wjct.org/events/blackchurch.

“Northeast Florida’s diversity is its strength, and WJCT Public Media is proud to host this conversation centered around the connections between faith and community, and between our community’s history and its future,” said David McGowan, President of WJCT Public Media. “We encourage our neighbors to join us in exploring and celebrating the cultural and historical importance of local Black churches and their musical traditions to our region, as part of WJCT Public Media’s celebration of Black History Month.”

Additionally, WJCT Public Media invites members of churches across Northeast Florida to record and share a video that is five minutes or less in length that explains what the black church means to them. The stories will be archived in the Florida Collection at the Jacksonville Public Library through February 28. Videos may be submitted at wjct.org/blackchurch.

“The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song” is a four-hour documentary series tracing the 400-year history of the Black church in America, produced by McGee Media, Inkwell Media and WETA Washington, D.C., in association with Get Lifted. The series features interviews with John Legend, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Hudson, Bishop Michael Curry, Cornel West, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Rev. Al Sharpton, Yolanda Adams, Rev. William Barber II, BeBe Winans, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie and more. It premieres at 9 p.m. on February 16 and 17 on WJCT-TV, and PBS stations nationwide, as well as streaming on the PBS app, PBS Passport and PBS.org.

“‘The Black Church’ is a landmark documentary that beautifully illustrates the preeminent role church, faith and spirituality have played in shaping the Black American experience,” said Pat Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. “Through these grants, we are helping public media stations -- public radio as well as public television -- leverage the documentary series to bring together new partners and explore how the role of the Black church has evolved in their communities and impacted our nation.”

“Our series is a riveting and systematic exploration of the myriad ways in which African Americans have worshipped God in their own images, and continue to do so today, from the plantation and prayer houses, to camp meetings and store-front structures, to mosques and mega-churches," said Gates, the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University and director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research. "This is the story and song our ancestors bequeathed to us, and it comes at a time in our country when the very things they struggled and died for — faith and freedom, justice and equality, democracy and grace — all are on the line. No social institution in the Black community is more central and important than the Black church.”

Major corporate support for “The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song” is provided by Johnson & Johnson. Major support is also provided by the Lilly Endowment Inc., Ford Foundation, and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS and public television viewers. Public radio station engagement grants are funded by CPB and administered by the VuHaus Group, a public media music organization of stations. 

“The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song” is presented as part of WJCT Public Media’s celebration of Black History Month. For a full list of programming, visit wjct.org/blackhistory.

Mackey’s Munchies open in Orange Park

Want some good Louisiana cooking? You need to come to Mackey’s Munchies and celebrate Mardi Gras with some good food. When you come to Mackey’s Munchies there is a reading area where children can exchange books to increase their knowledge and vocabulary. This being Black History Month, is an opportunity to fill your minds, bellies and souls. Need a ‘King Cake’ order one today.

Their vision statement reads: “Come in as customer – leave as a friend!” We use recipes and ingredients to enhance people's lives. Great food is one of the few things that bring many people together. It's a universal language for Love. We do our best to serve Love every time we serve our customers, so they become our friends—and even friends with each other. Our business is unique because “there is no place like home.” We are home when you need a place to go. We cook our food the way we like to eat it and we will share it with the ones we love! We are a conversation between friends!” LOVE – The MACKEY'S

Come celebrate either dine-in or take-out during Fat Tuesday, February 16, 2021, from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. & order “A Taste of Gumbo” on the same day from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.

LOCATION: Mackey’s Munchies Restaurant
      (closed on Mondays)
      868 Blanding Blvd.
       (near Ollie’s dept. store)
      Orange Park, FL 32065
      (904) 458-4246

Invitation from the Cummer Museum for Feb. 2021

When was the last time that you safely went out? Have you been to the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens lately? It’s a safe and fun place to be even during a pandemic. Make plans to give them a call and visit safely this weekend or next week.

The Museum, in partnership with The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, is curating a retrospective exhibition to celebrate the “30th Anniversary of the Art Ventures Fund”. Thirty artists have been selected to include one work — one for each year of Art Ventures grantmaking. Art Ventures is an endowed fund at The Community Foundation, launched in 1990 through a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts that was matched by generous local donors. The fund makes grants annually to individual artists and small arts organizations so recipients can explore or refine the next level of their craft, with more than $1.4 million invested since its inception.

February Events & Programs:

Artistic Expressions: Drawing and painting, ages 6-12, Multi-week, virtual class Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27 from 10:30 a.m. to Noon. Members $100 & Non-Members $120. Registration required.

Art Immersion: Photography, ages 9-12 Multi-week, virtual class Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Members $100 & Non-Members $120. Registration required.

Illustration Intensive: Drawing, ages 13-17 Multi-week, virtual class Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Members $150 7 Non-Members $180. Registration required.

Slow Art Wednesdays: Take a fun and mindful break Wednesday, Feb. 10 & Wednesday, Feb. 24 from 12 to 12:30 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Family Experience: Interactive Virtual Tour Friday, Feb. 19 from 6 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Studio on the Go: Drop-in Art Making Sunday, Feb. 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. Free with admission.

Teachers' Virtual Lounge: Connect with Educators
Tuesday, Feb. 23
5 p.m.
Free | Registration required.

Events & Programs:
Art Ventures Programming:
In partnership with The Community Foundation of Northeast Florida, the Museum is hosting special programming with Art Ventures grant recipients on select Free Friday nights. Visitors will enjoy poetry readings, spoken word, musical performances, and more. 
Friday, Feb. 5; Arvid Smith, sets at 6 and 7 p.m. 
Barbara Colaciello, three acts, 6, 7 and 8 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 19 Ebony Payne English, readings at 7 and 8 p.m.
Rick Colado, 6 to 8 p.m. Free | Museum admission registration required.

Black History Month Programming: Come take a moment as the Cummer celebrates Black History Month and the significant contributions and creativity of their Black community. Whether you join the museum in-person or from the comfort of home, they have opportunities throughout the month for you to enjoy, including live music, art talks, art-making, and more. Check their website in February for details.

LiterARTure Virtual Series: The upcoming LiterARTure Series is both a book and art club, and explores coping with the pandemic. Cindy Edelman and Stacey Goldring offer prescriptive solace and refuge within the pages of books and painted artworks. Visit the Museum Shop to purchase your books in advance of the lectures. Attend one lecture or all four! Free | Registration required | 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24 | Running for Cover: Running for cover, finding context for our shambolic times, understanding nightmares and monsters, and providing a new perspective. Book:  Frankenstein, Mary Percy Shelley, Artwork: The Nightmare, Henry Fuseli.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

Women’s Golf Championship coming later in 2021

First Professional Women's Tournament in Jacksonville Market since 1976 will Support and Celebrate Women in Golf. ORCA Golf Bags Women’s Match Play Championship has just announced PXG (Parsons Xtreme Golf) – an innovative golf company dedicated to developing high-performance equipment and apparel – as presenting sponsor for its inaugural tournament. The unique, two-week tournament series for women professional players will take place at World Golf Village in October 2021. As part of its sponsorship, PXG will be featured in the official tournament logo.

The ORCA Golf Bags Women’s Match Play Championship presented by PXG will feature 64 women professionals pursuing their dream of playing on the LPGA Tour, battling over two weeks in two separate, but connected, tournaments. The first week will feature a 54-hole Stroke-Play tournament on the King & Bear course, which will also seed the second week’s event, a 64-woman Match-Play championship at Slammer & Squire. There will be no cut in the Stroke-Play event and all players will advance to Match-Play.

Since the company’s inception, PXG has taken a strong stance in its support of women in golf. The company lists a dozen exceptionally talented women on the LPGA Tour on its official pro roster and provides equipment to many other top-ranking female professionals.

PXG’s clubs are built to spec for each individual golfer and the company will be providing onsite Swing Sessions for interested attendees to get a club in hand experience. There will also be opportunities to test PXG’s extensive line of putters on the World Golf Village 18-hole putting course.

In addition to the golf competition – and of equal importance – the tournament will celebrate women’s initiatives by providing programming such as leadership forums, executive networking, and education. The programming will be developed and provided by Generation W, a national nonprofit based in Jacksonville Beach (FL) founded and run by Donna Orender, whose mission embraces the guiding tenets of education, inspiration, and connection and the power of women’s leadership.

“The Generation W programming is a critical aspect of this event,” said Erica Bennett. “There are myriad career opportunities outside the ropes for women in the golf business and in the manufacturing business, and we want to promote that aspect of our industry as well.”

Each tournament will have its own prize purse, a guarantee of $50,000 shared between the two events. The winner of the Match-Play event will be The ORCA Champion, and in addition to cash prize money will also receive a $2,500 Gift Card from PXG, as well as a commemorative golf bag designed by Erica Bennett of ORCA Golf Bags. The tournament series will feature a pro-am event, junior clinics, and local community-based activities and fundraising opportunities.

Produced as a collaboration among MediaShare Consulting Group, On the Green Consulting and the WAPT, The ORCA Golf Bags Women’s Match Play Championship presented by PXG represents two of the 14 official events on the Women’s All Pro Tour (WAPT) in 2021. The WAPT was established in 2019 in partnership with the LPGA’s Symetra Tour. The WAPT is the Official Qualifying Tour for the LPGA’s Symetra Tour, providing more opportunities for women to play professional golf and to advance their careers to the next level. “We are very excited to bring the WAPT to the Jacksonville area and, in particular, the World Golf Village”, says Gary DeSerrano, WAPT president. “We are certain the next stars of women’s professional golf will look forward to this new and exciting event.”

Information on elevated hospitality opportunities, Pro-Am spots, tickets, key sponsorships, and volunteering is available on the tournament website, and by calling MediaShare Consulting Group at (904) 838–4962. You may reach the office by email.

Monster Jam® returns safely to JAX amid COVID-19

This. Is. Monster Jam^®! The most action-packed motorsports experience for families in the world today returns after a pandemic pause, roaring into Jacksonville for a high-octane weekend at TIAA Bank Field on March 6-7. Monster Jam^®, one of the first family events to open its doors to fans since the global pandemic began in 2020, features the ultimate mix of high-flying action and four-wheel excitement. Tickets start at $20 and Monster Jam Preferred Customers can purchase advance tickets starting, January 27th, to get the best seats available before tickets go on-sale to the general public on February 2nd. Fans can still sign up for free to become a Monster Jam Preferred Customer and get exclusive access to the pre-sale offer code. Enhanced Health and Safety Measures Implemented for Fan Wellness.

Monster Jam is enthusiastic that fans are eager to attend a live event with family and friends and feel confident about their safety and well-being, as shown in multiple surveys. In order to meet and exceed those expectations, Monster Jam has implemented enhanced health measures to help ensure the highest standards of wellness when it comes to today’s live experience. Seating capacity will be reduced at TIAA Bank Field to a Pod Seating structure, which will allow family and friends to safely enjoy all the action while social distancing from other groups in attendance. More information about TIAA Bank Field’s safety policy can be found here. As an additional precaution for fans, face coverings are required for those age 2 and older, unless otherwise exempted by law. More information about Monster Jam’s Ultimate Lineup for Fan Wellness can be found here.

Monster Jam has reimagined the live event guest experience and created contactless shopping for fans to order merchandise in advance or onsite from the comfort of their seat. Once ordered, guests can pick up their items at a convenient, contactless pickup station during the live event.  Additional information can be found here.

The Monster Jam Pit Party makes its return to Jacksonville on Saturday, March 6 with limited capacity and enhanced safety measures implemented. At the Monster Jam Pit Party, you can see the massive trucks up close, watch live pre-race interviews and participate in Q&A’s with the drivers, get pre-signed autograph cards, take pictures, and enjoy other family-friendly fun. Face covering, social distancing, entry screening and other rules apply.  Capacity and activities are limited based on event, venue and local authorities’ guidelines, which are subject to change at any time.

Jacksonville fans will witness a fierce battle for the event championship with each skilled Monster Jam athlete tearing up the dirt with gravity-defying feats in 12,000-pound Monster Jam trucks going head-to-head for points in Freestyle, the Skills Challenge and Racing competitions.  Plus, fans can become part of the action by voting for the winner in the Skills Challenge and Freestyle competitions via real-time, in-stadium fan voting on their smartphones.

The all-star truck lineup marks the first time in regular competition that the three Anderson siblings will battle against each other in the same Monster Jam event: the legendary Grave Digger^® will be driven by Krysten; fan-favorite Adam trades his black and green wrecking machine for Megalodon^®, the truck that redefined the phrase “jumping the shark” and set the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD™ title for the most monster trucks jumped by a monster truck; and in a limited-time, special appearance, Ryan gets behind the wheel of Bakugan Dragonoid™.

12-time Monster Jam World Finals^® champion Tom Meents will be competing in Max-D™ Fire, while Todd LeDuc aims to crush the competition in Monster Energy^®.  Reigning Monster Jam World Finals Freestyle champion Linsey Read will compete in Scooby Doo^™.  Rounding out this world-class roster are GUINNESS WORLD RECORD title holders Bryce Kenny in Great Clips Mohawk Warrior^® and Bari Musawwir in Zombie™, both featured in the August Discovery Channel TV special Monster Jam: Breaking World Records. Cory Rummell vies for the championship in Rage, while Jim Koehler returns in Avenger and Jamey Garner competes in Over Board, respectively. Black Pearl, driven by Cole Venard, claims the last spot in the epic 12-truck lineup.

Monster Jam drivers are trained, world-class male and female athletes who have mastered not only the physical strength and mental stamina needed to compete, but the vital dexterity to control 12,000-pound machines capable of doing backflips, vertical two-wheel skills and racing at speeds up to 70 miles-per-hour to produce jaw-dropping, live motorsports action seen around the world.

WHEN:
Sat, March 6, 2021 7 p.m. | Pit Party 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Sun., March 7, 2021 1 p.m.

WHERE: 1 TIAA Bank Field Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32202

TRUCK LINEUP: Megalodon^® driven by Adam Anderson; Grave Digger^® driven by Krysten Anderson; Monster Energy^® driven by Todd LeDuc; Great Clips Mohawk Warrior^® driven by Bryce Kenny; Max-D™ driven by Tom Meents; Bakugan Dragonoid™ driven by Ryan Anderson; Zombie™ driven by Bari Musawwir; Scooby-Doo™ driven by Linsey Read; Avenger driven by Jim Koehler; Rage driven by Cory Rummell; Over Bored driven by Jamey Garner and Black Pearl driven by Cole Venard.  **Truck and driver line-up subject to change

TICKETS: Event Tickets start at $20 each*
Pit Party Passes start at $15 each*
Tickets will be available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com
 *Ticket prices subject to change – venue/ticketing fees may apply.

Rock Duo ‘Air Supply’ comes to the Florida Theatre

The Florida Theatre is thrilled to announce that world-renowned rock duo "Air Supply" will perform at the Florida Theatre on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at 8:00 p.m. Patrons attending this event will become a part of Air Supply and Florida Theatre history, as the show will be filmed and eventually broadcast worldwide this February for the band’s Valentine’s Day livestream.

Air Supply is the Australian soft rock duo of Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock. The duo formed in 1975 after meeting during the first day of rehearsals for Jesus Christ Superstar in Sydney, Australia; they became instant friends with their common love for The Beatles and, of course, singing.

American music industry executive Clive Davis heard their first record, Life Support, and immediately signed Air Supply to Arista Records in 1980. "Lost in Love" became the fastest selling single in the world, leaping to the top of all of the charts. The second single was "All Out of Love," and that went up the charts even quicker.

Seven top-five singles later, Air Supply at that time had equaled The Beatles' run of consecutive top five singles. The albums Lost in Love, The One That You Love, Now & Forever, and The Greatest Hits sold in excess of 20 million copies. “Lost in Love” was named Song of the Year in 1980, and, with the other singles, sold more than 10 million copies.

The trademark sound of Russell Hitchcock's soaring tenor voice and Graham Russell's simple yet majestic songs created a unique sound that would forever be known as Air Supply. "Lost in Love," "All Out of Love," "The One That You Love,” "Sweet Dreams," and "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" have each achieved multi-million plays on the radio.

In 2013, the duo was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association’s Hall of Fame. Air Supply celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2015 and continue to delight audiences all over the world.

This will be a socially-distanced event with health and safety protocols in place. Patrons can visit floridatheatre.com/home/breaking-news for the most up to date information on The Florida Theatre’s safety protocols and general updates. Additionally, ticket purchasers will be notified by email of specific safety requirements prior to the event.

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit Union. For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the Theatre’s official website.

“Air Supply”
DATE: Sat., Jan. 30, 2021
TIME: 8 p.m.
TICKETS: $69.50 – $89.50

LOCATION: The Florida Theatre
      128 East Forsyth Street.
      Jacksonville, FL 32202
      (904) 355-2787

Neighboring and learning during COVID-19

This morning I asked my neighbor, who is a Fire/Rescue person, if it would be alright to record their Granddaughters releasing some energy between their homeschool classes. It was interesting that he had recently put up a trampoline to give the girls a little recess, and I had an opportunity to catch up on him, his family and his work.

I’ve known my neighbor to work long hours and he’s a devout Christian who serves as a firefighter. I learned that he and his wife contacted COVID last year (yes, all this pandemic started last year), but they did not need to be hospitalized. This disease is affecting numerous people, yet it is NOT to be feared, but respected (wearing masks, keeping as much distance as they can, and keeping hands as sanitary as possible). It’s up to every individual to do their part for the betterment of all.

Upon asking about his work, he let me know that fire stations have been doing double & triple duty transporting pandemic patients to the hospital (some who really needed to be ventilated and others who were not in need, but wanted to be checked out). There are numerous patients who need to be seen due to heart conditions, accidents, or other emergencies, but they refused to go to the hospital because of unknown COVID fear. People cannot be forced to go to the hospital and all that can be done is pray for them and get refusal to be treated forms signed.

During these times of uncertainty, keep in touch with others, stay safe and trust in God. This too shall pass. #TBR