Mel & Leah show continues at Pioneer Center

The "hill" is alive with the sound of music. Every Saturday afternoon in April, the doors to the Cathlamet Pioneer Center were open and music fans came to hear Mel & Leah and Friends perform crowd-pleasing favorites; the most recent being the best of the 60s and 70s.

Leah and Mel are a professional music duo. Their sound features the melodies of pianist and vocalist Leah Stonum and bassist, saxophonist, arranger, MC and sometimes joke teller Mel Drybread. They have an extensive repertoire ranging from improvisational jazz standards to pop tunes. Mel shares stories about their early careers and the musicians with whom they played. The impressive list includes Andy Williams, Chuck Berry, Debbie Boone and Petula Clark. They joined creative forces on Mississippi cruise ships before stowing their well-traveled luggage to become house musicians at the Tremont House Hotel Lounge in Galveston, TX. In the Spring of 2020, clubs everywhere went on a pandemic forced hiatus, creating an opportunity for a new chapter in their musical careers. Moving from Texas, they found Cathlamet, bought a house, and now call our little town their home.

Mel & Leah and Friends will continue the musical series "Saturday Music at the Center" through May 31. Sharing the stage with Mel and Leah are local voices collectively referred to as the "Friends," which have included Wren Hendricks of the Skamokawa Swamp Opera, Dawn Rachelle Holman and Gwen Gorley. Most recently, local community choir the CathlametTones performed on April 26. If you like to sing, they are looking for members. The group meets every Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Cathlamet Pioneer Center.

May will kick off with tunes from Motown and the British Invasion. "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" that we can expect Smokey Robinson, The Temptations and Marvin Gaye. "Let it Be" a great afternoon of sing-along songs from The Beatles, Hermans Hermits and more. Every week will bring a new genre of familiar tunes performed by wonderful musicians in the beautiful and historic Cathlamet Pioneer Center.