<div dir="ltr"><br><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Hi DHS Band Families,<span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Several people have asked me,

“What is Coconut Grove and why do you call it that”?  Well… here is my answer:<span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">The Coconut Grove

diner and concert is a 25 year tradition with the DHS Bands as the primary fund

raiser.  The concept is similar to the

Madrigal Dinner that has been going on for longer than that.  The DHS Jazz Band has a tradition of being

very good.  In the past the Jazz Band was

regularly invited to perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival as well as other

prestigious events.  So the thought was

to emulate an old time Jazz Night Club and run it as a fundraiser for all of

the DHS Bands.  Back when we were allowed

to keep individual student accounts for fund raisers many students (through

participation credit) were able to fully fund their major trip expenses by

participating in various fundraisers including Coconut Grove.  This participation is: helping with the

event, set-up & take-down, serving, stage management, Master of Ceremonies,

sound, etc.  Since we can no longer keep

student accounts everything is required to go into the general fund.  A portion of the monies made go to subsidize

the total cost of the major trip each year. 

Other parts goes to pay for all of the other band expenses (instrument

repair & acquisition, festival entrance fees, concert recordings, new

music, section coaches, etc.)  <span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">The event itself includes

performances by the Jr. High jazz bands, Celia Cottle jazz bands, as well as

the headliner DHS Jazz Band and Combos. 

There is a catered dinner.  Over

the years it has been catered by many different local restaurants and caterers.   We

have not settled on who will cater this year but we will be continuing with

serving each table “family style” which was started last year.  Since this is held on a school campus we can’t

have actual cocktails, so instead recipes have been refined over the years for

mocktails which are served at the mocktail bar. 

Additionally, there is a silent auction and raffle at the event.<span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span> </span></p>

<p style="margin:6pt 0in;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri,sans-serif">The name Coconut Grove comes from

the “World Famous Coconut Grove”.  There

were actually many Coconut Groves that started in the 1920’s.  At least one of which lasted into the 1980’s.  Coconut Grove was a jazz nightclub similar to

the Cotton Club or the Tropicana.  The

two most famous were in Boston and Los Angeles. 

The Boston club was famous by virtue of being run by a mobster and

burning to the ground killing a lot of people. 

The Los Angeles club was in the Ambassador Hotel and had famous

headliners all the time while the hotel was regularly host to presidents and

dignitaries.  <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37)">The

Ambassador Hotel was frequented by celebrities, some of whom, such as<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pola_Negri" title="Pola Negri"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Pola Negri</span></a>,<sup id="gmail-cite_ref-Alleman2013_1-0" style="unicode-bidi:isolate"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambassador_Hotel_(Los_Angeles)#cite_note-Alleman2013-1"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">[1]</span></a></sup><span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span>resided there. From 1930 to 1943, six<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Awards_ceremonies" title="Academy Awards ceremonies"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Academy Awards ceremonies</span></a><span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span>were performed at the hotel. Perhaps

as many as seven U.S. presidents stayed at the Ambassador, from<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Hoover" title="Herbert Hoover"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Hoover</span></a><span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span>to<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_M._Nixon" title="Richard M. Nixon"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Nixon</span></a>,

along with chiefs of state from around the world. For decades, the hotel's

famed Cocoanut Grove nightclub hosted well-known entertainers, such as<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Sinatra" title="Frank Sinatra"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Frank Sinatra</span></a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbra_Streisand" title="Barbra Streisand"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Barbra Streisand</span></a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Garland" title="Judy Garland"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Judy Garland</span></a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lena_Horne" title="Lena Horne"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Lena Horne</span></a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Wilson_(jazz_singer)" title="Nancy Wilson (jazz singer)"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Nancy Wilson</span></a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bing_Crosby" title="Bing Crosby"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Bing Crosby</span></a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nat_King_Cole" title="Nat King Cole"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Nat King Cole</span></a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liza_Minnelli" title="Liza Minnelli"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Liza Minnelli</span></a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_and_Lewis" title="Martin and Lewis"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Martin and Lewis</span></a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Supremes" title="The Supremes"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">The Supremes</span></a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merv_Griffin" title="Merv Griffin"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Merv Griffin</span></a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Dandridge" title="Dorothy Dandridge"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Dorothy

Dandridge</a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikki_Carr" title="Vikki Carr"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Vikki Carr</a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_Knight" title="Evelyn Knight"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Evelyn Knight</a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivian_Vance" title="Vivian Vance"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Vivian Vance</a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Haymes" title="Dick Haymes"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Dick Haymes</a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergio_Franchi" title="Sergio Franchi"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Sergio Franchi</a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Como" title="Perry Como"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Perry Como</a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dizzy_Gillespie" title="Dizzy Gillespie"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Dizzy Gillespie</a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Goodman" title="Benny Goodman"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Benny Goodman</a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Davis_Jr." title="Sammy Davis Jr."><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Sammy Davis Jr.</a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Richard" title="Little Richard"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Little Richard</a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberace" title="Liberace"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Liberace</a>,<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Cole" title="Natalie Cole"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Natalie Cole</a>,

and<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Pryor" title="Richard Pryor"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Richard Pryor</span></a>.<span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="margin:6pt 0in;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;line-height:inherit"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(37,37,37)">The hotel served alcoholic beverages during the<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition_in_the_United_States" title="Prohibition in the United States"><span style="color:rgb(11,0,128);text-decoration:none">Prohibition</span></a>.<span></span></span></p>

<p style="margin:6pt 0in;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(37,37,37)"><span> </span></span></p>

<p style="margin:6pt 0in;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(37,37,37)">An interesting video of and about the club is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOHF5fAUkN4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOHF5fAUkN4</a>.<span></span></span></p>

<p style="margin:6pt 0in;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(37,37,37)"><span> </span></span></p>

<p style="margin:6pt 0in;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(37,37,37)">I hope this helps everyone understand what the Coconut Grove

fundraiser is all about.<span></span></span></p>

<p style="margin:6pt 0in;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(37,37,37)"><span> </span></span></p>

<p style="margin:6pt 0in;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(37,37,37)">Be sure to get your tickets early before the price

increase!  <a href="http://groups.dcn.org/dhsbandboosters/paypal-page">http://groups.dcn.org/dhsbandboosters/paypal-page</a>

<span></span></span></p>

<p style="margin:6pt 0in;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(37,37,37)"><span> </span></span></p>

<p style="margin:6pt 0in;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(37,37,37)">Sincerely,<span></span></span></p>

<p style="margin:6pt 0in;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(37,37,37)"><span> </span></span></p>

<p style="margin:6pt 0in;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(37,37,37)">Robert Sprague <span></span></span></p><p style="margin:6pt 0in;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(37,37,37)"><br></span></p><p style="margin:6pt 0in;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(37,37,37)"><img src="cid:ii_15906026b0cf3843" alt="Inline image 1" width="429" height="429" style="margin-right: 0px;"><br></span></p></div></div>