Ticket proceeds will benefit the cure-focused work of the DRI
(June 19, 2014) – A singer, actress, dancer, and all-around entertainer, Bonnie Sher does it all – and all while living with type 1 diabetes, a chronic and devastating disease that affects approximately 1.5 million adults and children in the U.S. It’s a number that is quickly growing and one she hopes to erase using her sultry singing voice – a skill which she fostered under the wings of one of the masters of song and her mentor for more than 20 years, the late Sammy Davis, Jr.
“I cannot go into a lab and effect a cure,” said Sher. “However, if I can do something to raise money for those who are actually in the labs working toward one, that’s what I want to do.”
And that’s why on Thursday, July 17 at 8:30 p.m. at the Catalina Club, she’s putting on a special, one-night only performance of “That’s What Miracles are All About, a tribute to Lena Horne.” Proceeds from ticket sales, priced at $25, will benefit the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) at the University of Miami, a world leader in research focused on curing diabetes. Sher wants this show to be the first in a series of performances throughout the U.S. to raise funds for the DRI.
“I find there are many similarities between us,” said Sher, when explaining why she picked Lena Horne’s hits for this special performance. “I like the messages in her music. They are very positive.”
She is bringing that same optimism to her show next month, which will be the first time she’ll be performing in L.A. since Davis’ passing in May of 1989, and where she hopes to raise funds for a cause that is near and dear to her heart.
“Bonnie is a great talent and a giving person, who, together with her family, has supported the DRI for many years,” said DRI Foundation President and CEO Joshua Rednick. “We are inspired by her strength and commitment to a cure, and are honored that she is dedicating the proceeds from her performance to further the life-saving work of the Diabetes Research Institute
Sher’s band is comprised of some of the finest jazz players from coast to coast, including Musical Director Mario Sprouse on piano, Tim Emmons on bass, Jon Stuart on drums and Grammy Award-winner Wayne Cobham on trumpet. Tickets can be purchased online via www.ticketweb.com or by phone 323.466.2210.
About Bonnie Sher
Bonnie Sher is no stranger to the stage, starting her career as a child touring in The Sound of Music with Theodore Bikel and Florence Henderson. The old Cotton Club was the venue for High Tea, an acclaimed Off-Broadway musical in which she starred opposite legendary Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Famer, LaVern Baker. Bonnie made her television debut as a teen on “The Barbara McNair Show” and continued to work on several TV shows including a role opposite Billy Crystal on “Soap,” while training with comedy legend Phil Foster.
Bonnie began her recording career under the wings of songwriting pair, the late Jack Keller (“Venus in Blue Jeans,” “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool”) and the late Bob Russell (“Crazy He Calls Me,” “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore”) who wrote two songs for her, “Facade” and “It’ll Break Your Heart.” Both songs were recorded and featured in motion pictures. She also starred in Arch Obolers recently re-released 3-D cult film, Domo Arigato.
In addition to her work as a singer, actress and recording artist, Bonnie has always found time to work for the JDRF as a spokesperson and has served on the Board of Directors of Calvary Hospital Golf & Tennis Classic Benefit for their cancer hospice. She was also the Program Director for Hearts & Voices, a volunteer organization that provided musical entertainment for AIDS patients in seven New York City hospitals.
About the Diabetes Research Institute
The mission of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation is to provide the Diabetes Research Institute with the funding necessary to cure diabetes now. The Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine leads the world in cure-focused research. As the largest and most comprehensive research center dedicated to curing diabetes, the DRI is aggressively working to develop a biological cure by restoring natural insulin production and normalizing blood sugar levels without imposing other risks. Researchers have already shown that diabetes can be reversed through islet transplantation, with some study patients living without the need for insulin injections for more than a decade. The Institute is now building upon these promising outcomes by developing the DRI BioHub, an integrated “mini organ” that mimics the native pancreas, containing thousands of insulin-producing cells that sense blood sugar levels and produce the precise amount of insulin needed in real time. The Diabetes Research Institute and Foundation were created for one reason – to cure diabetes – which is and will continue to be its singular focus until that goal is reached. For the millions of children and adults affected by diabetes, the Diabetes Research Institute is the best hope for a cure. For more information, please visit DiabetesResearch.org or call 800-321-3437.
Media Contact:
Joelle Parra
954.964.4040