Eight-time Grammy Winner Natalie Cole will lend her soul-filled
voice to the stellar lineup of musicians at Hawaii’s Return to
Romance Music Festival, March 1-11. Cole will perform during the
“Rhythm of Romance from Motown to Nashville to Hollywood to Oahu”
night at the Blaisdell Arena on March 11th as the grand finale of
the festival.
The Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii created and will host the
festival, which seeks to establish a new tradition of annually
celebrating the greatest love songs in one of the most romantic
locations on earth. These musical pieces will be performed in
several venues on Oahu, including the historic Iolani Palace,
Hawaii Theatre, Waikiki Shell and the Neal Blaisdell Arena, among
others.
"Natalie is one of my all time favorite singers," said Matt
Catingub, founder of the festival. "I remember falling in love with
her voice and the range of music she was able to sing, from pop to
jazz to soul. It gives me chicken skin just thinking about playing
for her. It will be one of the guaranteed highlights for me and the
festival."
The Matt Catingub Orchestra is a 40-piece ensemble composed
entirely of local musicians, and the brain-child of Honolulu
Symphony Pops Conductor, Matt Catingub. Its purpose is to add a new
element to the Hawaiian music scene by presenting statewide
festivals, releasing CDs annually and providing a platform for
those resident musicians of the island state who deserve more
international recognition. Catingub and founding partner, producer
Allen Sviridoff, are both Grammy winners for their work on the
romantic soundtrack to the Oscar-nominated film, Good Night and
Good Luck.
Top music industry professionals have been invited to partake in
the inaugural festival, in an effort to draw international
attention to Hawaii’s talents. Each night will showcase a different
romantic theme, celebrity hosts, such as Nick and Nina Clooney, who
will host three nights of the festival, and special guests from
both Hawaii and the mainland. With headliners such as Natalie Cole,
as well as popular artists such as Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald,
American Idol winner Ruben Stoddard and American Idol finalist
Jordan Segundo, drawing a crowd should be easy.
808-545-7664
www.mattcatinguborchestra.com
