Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation to Pay Tribute to the Late Bobby Short at the 2005 Illinois Arts Legend Awards

Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation to Pay Tribute to the Late Bobby Short at the 2005 Illinois Arts Legend Awards

CHICAGO, March 21 /PRNewswire/ -- It is with deep sadness that the Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation learned of the passing of Mr. Bobby Short early this morning. Mr. Short was due to accept the Illinois Arts Legends Award for an Artist at our annual awards ceremony and banquet on April 15, 2005. The Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation will pay tribute to Mr. Short at the event with moving remembrances by some who knew and loved the artist, the man and his music.

The Illinois Arts Legend Awards were created to honor annually one artist and one arts advocate who have made lasting contributions to the cultural life of Illinois.

"Nobody is more deserving of such an honor than Mr. Bobby Short," said Alene Valkanas, Executive Director of the Illinois Arts Alliance. "He brought so much joy to people throughout Illinois, the United States and, indeed, the world, with his talent for interpreting the American popular songbook through his signature piano and vocal styling. There will never be another performer like him. We join the millions of fans the world over who are today mourning this tremendous loss."

Mr. Short was the nation's most celebrated cabaret performer. During his childhood in Danville, which he has written about extensively in his autobiographical works, he taught himself to play and sing by ear. Touring Vaudeville at the age of 12, he was dubbed "the miniature king of swing." He has been nominated for three Grammy Awards and has been honored with an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Bloomfield College in New Jersey and an appointment as Laureate of the Lincoln Academy in Illinois. Mr. Short was a staple at New York's Cafe Carlyle, where he played the last 35 seasons.

The Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation will present the awards at the seventh annual Illinois Arts Legend Awards on Friday, April 15, 2005, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Rooftop Terrace of the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, 205 East Randolph, Chicago. Receiving the Illinois Arts Legend Award for an Advocate will be Richard H. Driehaus, Chairman of the Board, Driehaus Capital Management, Inc., and founder of the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. Bill Zwecker of CBS 2 Chicago and the Chicago Sun-Times will serve as the master of ceremonies. More than 400 civic, business and philanthropic leaders are expected to join heads of Chicago arts and cultural institutions as well as performers and artists from Chicago's theater, dance and visual arts circles.

For further information about the Illinois Arts Legend Awards, please call 312-855-3105. For information about Mr. Short, please contact Debbie Silverman Krolik at (312) 751-0549.

Source: Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation

CONTACT: Melanie Scofield of Scofield Communications, +1-312-280-7702, or Lauren Bergquist of Illinois Arts Alliance, +1-312-855-3105

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