05/10/02

Coda Fund taps a vein of loyalty
By Steve Penn, The Kansas City Star

You name it, Marilyn Maye can sing it and sing it well.

Marilyn's musical accomplishments are simply astounding.

Over the years, she has shared the stage with some of the world's most prestigious entertainers. In fact, she holds the distinction of singing on Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" a record 76 times.

Marilyn will use her incredible talent next Friday for a worthy cause: to assist the Coda  Jazz  Fund by performing at the fund's benefit concert at the Gem Theater.

Last week, Marilyn and I spoke about how she wants the public to understand why she was moved to participate.

Marilyn has enjoyed plenty of success, but much of that acclaim wouldn't be possible were it not for the many musicians she's worked with through the years.

"That's why this benefit is so important to me," Marilyn told me. "Musicians have been important to my life and to my career. They really are the most important entity in my life next to my family."

The benefit was so important to Marilyn that she rearranged her busy performance schedule to be there.

Taking care of Kansas City's jazz  family is the reason behind the Coda  Jazz  Fund. The fund will help pay burial or funeral expenses for jazz  musicians if their estates or their families can't afford to.

Marilyn is hoping her performance can assist the fund.

"I love the name, Coda  Fund," she said. "I hope we can go back to the Coda  many, many times."

Marilyn's musical roots were nurtured right here in Kansas City. Her work at the Colony Steak House on Broadway led directly to her rise as one of the world's top jazz , cabaret and concert singers.

"I grew up professionally over those 11 years at the Colony," Marilyn said.

The way the story goes, the late Steve Allen heard a demo tape of Marilyn during the 1950s, then he came to town to hear her. As they say, the rest is history.

Personally, I can't wait to see and hear her next Friday. She's an artist who has never forgotten where she came from.

While Marilyn spreads the message musically, others are staking out their own fund-raising roles.

At a news conference earlier this week, U.S. Rep. Karen McCarthy said she wanted to be an ambassador for the project. McCarthy also donated $500 to the fund before challenging corporations to contribute.

"Our local jazz  musicians are our treasures," McCarthy told me. "They put us on the map around the world. We need to thank them. And we need to make sure their departure is done with dignity."

In other developments, KSHB, Channel 41, and radio station KPRS-FM (103.3) are now sponsors for the Friday concert. Promotional air time is what most media provide to become a sponsor. But KSHB's support for the fund has taken an extra step: It also has contributed $500 to the fund.

In addition, the Kansas City Jazz  Ambassadors have pledged $1,000.

Like McCarthy, Jazz  Ambassadors President John Leisenring also challenged corporations and individuals to match the efforts.

"We recognize Coda  as more than a worthwhile project," Leisenring said. "We have great hopes that our donation will be seed money for numerous other corporations and individuals to open their hearts and their pocketbooks for this most important cause."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

To purchase tickets, call Ticketmaster at (816) 931-3330 or the American Jazz  Museum box office at (816) 474-6262. To donate, make checks payable to the fund and mail to: