Brad Colerick, David Plenn, Special Guest Jerry Riopelle at MIM 3/27

By Mariah Fleming

David Plenn, well known to Valley fans for his work with Jerry Riopelle, will be appearing with Los Angeles musician Brad Colerick and special guest Jerry Riopelle at the Musical Instrument Museum Friday March 27 at 7:30. Tickets are $19.50 to $24.50. David's son Taylor Plenn will be performing on saxophone. It promises to be a unique evening of original music penned by outstanding songwriters you won't want to miss.

David Plenn

Plenn and Colerick have worked together in the past. Plenn's song "Tucson" was recorded by Colerick and is the title song of Colerick's fourth album, released in 2014. "Brad heard the song and fell in love with it," explained Plenn. "I've backed him up a lot. Brad's a great singer, a 'no bullshit' singer. His voice is authentic. It's real. Brad has that kind of plain speak, Nebraska (Colerick's home town) voice." Billboard magazine called Colerick "one of a baker's dozen of acts to watch in the folk community around the world."

As for Plenn, fans who know him only as the guitarist in Riopelle's band are in for a big treat. Along with Colerick, they'll hear Plenn perform his own original material. "I've never sung my songs outside of Los Angeles," he told me. "It'll be the first time I've done that. It's exciting and slightly frightening." Plenn says he's wanted to perform at MIM since he first visited the Musical Instrument Museum. "I've never seen music there" he said, "and I was just blown away by their theatre. It's a dream come true for me." One of the songs Plenn wrote is a spellbinding piece called "Follow Your Dreams." In addition to several other songs, Jerry Riopelle will be performing "Follow Your Dreams" at the show. Riopelle has called the song "the most beautiful song I've ever heard."

Plenn began performing, recording and producing albums with Jerry Riopelle in the late 1960's, and was signed to A&M records while he was still in high school. Plenn is a remarkable songwriter. A song he co-wrote with Riopelle landed on Kenny Loggins multi platinum album "Nightwatch" and the lead track on Robert Cray's "Midnite Stroll" called "The Forecast (Calls for Pain)" was co written by Plenn for Robert Cray. "Think how lucky I am!" Plenn told me. "My songs have been recorded by Jerry Riopelle, Kenny Loggins and Robert Cray!" When you see David Plenn perform his songs at MIM, you'll know why. Get tickets at MIM.org or 480.478.6000

March 22, 2015

Contact the author of this article at Editor@MusicAndMoreAZ.com.