Mercedes & Friends will entertain residents and the public at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Timbers of Shorewood, 1100 N. River Rd., Shorewood.
The group regularly performs at senior centers, churches, and library group. The performers like Broadway, country, and tunes from the Great American Songbook. They also do sing-alongs and banjo solos.
Mercedes Astgren has been singing in the church choir since she was a teenager. She was a music major in college and has a degree in vocal music. She sang in musicals such as “Godspell,” “The Sound of Music,” “1940’s Radio,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and others. She began singing professionally with bands in the early 1990’s.
Lyle Gaaskjolen, who plays piano and banjo, has played in various bands since the early 1960’s. Over the years, he has played in a college jazz band, show groups, dance bands and a Dixieland band.
Married duo Joe and Kathy Williams hold down the rhythm section on double bass and percussion. Joe spent three years with the Fifth Army Band and has continued to play bass and guitar over the years. In addition to Mercedes and Friends, he also plays with a number of other small combos as well as two community bands.
The Timbers of Shorewood is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments as well as a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.
The public is invited, and admission is free. For more information call 815-609-0669.
