Boogie men

Benjamin Hall, Summer Solstice Jazz Festival coordinator, was a key player in bringing this evening to life. Baldori initially reached out to the Michigan State University College of Music, and Hall helped coordinate the kick-off event.

“It had mostly to do with interest from Boogie Bob,” said Hall. “He approached our artistic director about the idea and we made it happen.”

Baldori has been a blues, boogiewoogie and rock ‘n’ roll advocate in the Midwest for over 40 years. His career took off in the late ‘60s with East Lansing-based band the Woolies. The group scored a national hit with its cover of Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love?” He has since toured and performed with such American music icons as Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Del Shannon, John Hammond and Bo Diddley, and he has helped produce and engineer over 200 albums. Baldori is also an entertainment law attorney, and his practice includes musical clients such as Chuck Berry and Hubert Sumlin.

“Boogie Bob, if people have not heard of him before, he’s definitely an area legend,” Hall said. “If you haven’t heard him, you should get out there and hear him since he’s a person to be appreciated in the area.”

Migliazza is an award-winning blues and boogie-woogie pianist who began play professionally at the age of 13. He has been inducted into the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame, was a finalist at the 2010 and 2014 International Blues Challenge in Memphis and also received the 2014 Best of Blues Award for Best Keyboardist in Washington state. His album, “Laying It Down,” reached the number one spot on the Roots Music Report charts for Washington state for the summer of 2014 and claimed no. 20 on its national chart.

Baldori and Migliazza share an interest in boogie-woogie and American roots piano music. Their fundraiser performance will highlight 100 years of American piano music, including blues, jazz, boogie-woogie, swing, stride, ragtime, R&B and rock ‘n’ roll.

There is limited seating in the Cook Recital Hall — only about 130 spaces available — so those planning to attend may want to buy tickets early. Remaining tickets will be sold at the door.

Check eljazzfest.com for the complete Summer Solstice Jazz Festival schedule and updates.

—MICHELAI A. GRAHAM

American Piano Music

Festival kick-off fundraising event with “Boogie” Bob Baldori and Arthur Migliazza 7- 9 p.m., Thursday, June 18 $30/$50 preferred seating/$100 VIP Cook Recital Hall, Music Building 333 West Circle Drive, East Lansing music.msu.edu/eventlisting/season (517) 353-5340

THURSDAY, JUNE 11 >> CONCERTS IN THE COURTYARD

Sit back and listen to acoustic music in the beautiful, flower-lined courtyard of the Old Town General Store as it kicks off its summer music series this week. The first installment features Hiroya Tsukamoto, a composer, guitarist and singer/ songwriter from Kyoto, Japan. A portion of the evening’s proceeds go to benefit music programs in local schools and communities administered by Music is the Foundation. Snacks and non-alcoholic drinks will be available to purchase. 7:30 p.m. $15. Old Town General Store, 408 E. Grand River, Old Town, Lansing. (517) 896- 4025, oldtown-generalstore.com/concerts-in-the-courtyard.

FRIDAY, JUNE 12-13 >> ADOPT-A-FEST

If you’re looking for a four-legged housemate, Ingham County Animal Control is hosting a 30-hour marathon pet adoption for homeless cats and dogs. All animals are spayed, neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. Adoption fees start at $30 for dogs and $10 for cats. The event also features a bounce house for kids on Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and a low-cost vaccination clinic on Friday from noon- 4 p.m. with free rabies shots, $5 distemper shots and $10 microchips for all Ingham County animals. 1 p.m. Friday-7 p.m. Saturday. Potter Park, 1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing. (517) 242-7440, ac.ingham.org.

FRIDAY, JUNE 12-13 >> EAST LANSING SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

Bring a lawn chair or blanket and grab a bite to eat in downtown East Lansing during the popular Summer Concert Series, featuring six weekends of live music. The series kicks off this weekend with folk artists Gifts or Creatures and Sam Corbin Friday and oldies cover band the Sea Cruisers Saturday. 7 p.m. FREE. Ann Street Plaza, corner of Albert and M.A.C. Avenues, Lansing. (517) 319-6888, bit.ly/1KdchsL.

SATURDAY, JUNE 13 >> KATHLEEN FLINN BOOK SIGNING

The Library of Michigan hosts a talk and book signing with 2015 Michigan Notable Book author Kathleen Flinn. An award-winning author and journalist, Flinn is best known for her The New York Times best-selling memoir, “The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry.” Flinn will be joined by Lansing’s very own Filomena (Mena) Castriciano, owner and operator of the long established Roma Bakery and Deli. Light refreshments will be served. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. FREE. The Library of Michigan, 702 W. Kalamazoo St. Lansing. (517) 373-1300, 1.usa.gov/1Qaiyu2.

SATURDAY, JUNE 13 >> EVERYBODY WRITES WRITING MARATHON

Authors of all experience levels are invited to the inaugural Everybody Writes writing marathon Saturday at Everybody Reads. Activities include a meet and greet, a writing session and an open mic to share your literary creation. Local authors will be available to share their tips and sign books. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. FREE. Everybody Reads Books and Stuff, 2019 E. Michigan Ave. (517) 346-9900, on.fb.me/1Qamv1T.

SATURDAY JUNE 13 >> PAINT RAVE PIZZA PARTY

Celebrate the end of the school year with a half pizza party, half paint rave celebration. Hosted by Peppino’s Pizza in Dewitt, the festivities include free pizza and soft drinks, as well as performances by EDM artists Landis, Dani Deahl and Jason Klees. Those adventurous enough to revel near the front of the stage will be intermittently sprayed with washable, fluorescent, glow-in-the-dark paint. 6 p.m.- midnight. $25/$20 students. Peppino’s Pizza, 13177 Schavey Road. (517) 668-6181, facebook.com/dewittpeppinos

MONDAY, JUNE 15-16 >> ‘SESAME STREET’ COMES TO CADL

Roscoe Orman, better known as Gordon to “Sesame Street” fans, will appear at several Lansing-area CADL and MSUFCU locations next week as part of the libraries’ summer reading program. The actor, along with a troupe of storytellers, musicians and puppeteers, will teach children about responsibility and the value of money through music, stories and fun activities. The tour will make stops at downtown Lansing, Holt-Delhi and Aurelius CADL branches Monday and Williamston and Okemos branches Tuesday, with a final stop planned at MSUFCU’s Mason branch. See website for event times. FREE. (517) 367-6355, cadl.org.

SATURDAY, JUNE 13 >> DIERKS BENTLEY AT COOLEY LAW SCHOOL STADIUM

Are you hungry for some country tunes? Lansing country music station WITL 100.7 presents the inaugural Taste of Country Music Festival Saturday featuring Dierks Bentley and Joe Nichols. You can enjoy the show from either the field, the stands or even a special semi-private dining area, the Pepsi Porch, complete with a BBQ dinner and a cash bar. Fellow country artists Craig Campbell, Canaan Smith and A Thousand Horses round out this country party line up. 5 p.m. Tickets starting at $59 (VIP tickets sold out). Cooley Law School Stadium, 505 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. (517) 485-4500, witl.com/toc-lansing.