Sally Bennett Big Band Hall of Fame

A Sentimental Journey:

West Palm Beach, FL - The Sally Bennett Big Band Hall of Fame will soon not only have a new building on the South Florida Fairgrounds, but the anticipated depository will even acquire its very own orchestra led by an animated and established band leader. Former Long Island, New York and current Palm Beach Gardens musical arranger, composer, tenor sax player and recording artist Ben Grisafi, has been appointed Musical Director of the local museum.

Grisafi, whose repertoire includes a blend of original arrangements and standards, expects to recruit an 18 piece local band. The specially invited ensemble will host live concerts and even conduct guided tours at the museum that has broken ground at Yesteryear Village.

"The band will be comprised of the finest musicians in South Florida," Grisafi promised. "Upon its formation, the group will perform in the museum's inauguration as well as its annual gala to coincide with the opening of the South Florida Fair in January. What will be unique about this band is the individual sound unlike any other you might have heard. This is due to the extensive library the musicians have available; all arranged by me."

Before migrating to Palm Beach Gardens last year, Grisafi conducted a big band in Long Island which recorded a handful of CD's. The productions were rated four stars or excellent by AMG (All Music Guide), a well respected vehicle for evaluating thousands of recordings on the Internet. He first picked up a tenor saxophone at the age of 13 and has since penned over 100 big band arrangements. In 1994, her performed the opening song for Jerry Vale at Carnegie Hall.

"The Sally Bennett Big Band Hall of Fame will be an attractive and valid presentation of the great personalities of the Big Band era," said Grisafi. "The purpose is to establish a Museum to commemorate the famous Big Bands, vocalists, composers and their all-American popular music. Beside exhibits and walls of photos, there will be lectures, a souvenir shop and a library of materials, books and memorabilia. Among the artifacts are instruments, band stands and clothing apparel. We wish to continue to promote and feature Big Band music on radio and television stations throughout the United States. We want to get to the high schools and educate. The Sally Bennett Big Band Hall of Fame museum will be an integral commemorative part of the American music culture. I will try to help perpetuate the legacy of Big Bands."

The late Sally Bennett was the founder of the Big Band Hall of Fame that first began in Cleveland, Ohio and was later housed on Fern Street in the historic Palm Beach Community College building. In recent years, the artifacts have taken residence in the Bink Glisson Historical Museum in Yesteryear Village on the South Florida Fairgrounds. This past spring, ground was broken on a 2,500 square foot edifice in Yesteryear Village that is scheduled to be open to the public at the 2005 South Florida Fair in January.

Yesteryear Village is on the South Florida Fairgrounds in suburban West Palm Beach off Southern Boulevard 1.5 miles west of the Florida Turnpike. If you are interested in supporting The Sally Bennett Big Band Hall of Fame, the Fairgrounds is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization and is amenable to tax deductible charitable contributions. For additional information, contact Elizabeth Speigle, Yesteryear Village Curator, at (561) 795-3110 or via email: elizabeth@southfloridafair.com.