The Andrews Sisters: Music and Memories

Big Band Swing

Spend Memorial weekend listening to the WWll classics of the Andrews Sisters come to life! Under the musical direction of pianist Raymond Berg and backed by a swinging six-piece band, Lisa Pallen, Kathy Mueller, and Aimée Lee will take you on a high-energy, nostalgic trip down memory lane! Enjoy favorites like “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”, “Bei Mir Bist Du Schon”, “Apple Blossom Time”, “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree” and so many more. Audiences of all ages will enjoy the chemistry of the musicians and the brilliant arrangements of these patriotic classics, thoughtfully strung together with stories and anecdotes by emcee and host, Bill Arnold.

Raymond Berg – musical director, piano

Bill Arnold – host / emcee

Lisa Pallen – vocals

Kathy Mueller – vocals

Aimée Lee – vocals

Dave Stanoch – drums

Greg Hippen – bass

Dave Graf – trombone

Clay Pufahl – alto sax/clarinet

Riley Helgeson – trumpet

Raymond Berg is a prolific composer and has served as musical director for large productions at many top-notch theaters including multiple productions at The History Theater and the Ordway Theater in St. Paul. Raymond has musically directed shows for the likes of Mickey Rooney, Debbie Reynolds, Jay Leno and Dana Carvey. Raymond is also a highly respected arranger and his arrangements have been published by both MTI International and the Rogers and Hart Library.

Comedian, writer, and actor Bill Arnold is the co-author of the long-running hit show, Triple Espresso – A Highly Caffeinated Comedy in which he performed in the role of Buzz Maxwell over 3,000 times from Minneapolis to London. He performs regularly at comedy and magic clubs, as well as entertaining at corporate events and hosting fundraisers all across the country.

Lisa Pallen has enjoyed a successful career singing, dancing, acting, and recording in the Twin Cities and across the country for over 30 years. She has since been a headliner in such well-known bands as The Rupert’s Orchestra, R-Factor, Temporary Heroes Orchestra, Belladiva, Divas Through the Decades, Blue Water Kings, and Moore by Four. Theatrical credits include starring roles in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Smokey Joe’s Café, 8 Track – The Sounds of the 70’s, and My Way – A Tribute to Frank Sinatra.

Kathy Mueller is a classically-trained pianist, flutist, songwriter, instrumental arranger and musical director with more than 35 years of stage experience. As a founding member of the ground-breaking, Twin Cities-based group Women Who Cook, Kathy had the opportunity to tour throughout Europe, Japan, Russia, and the Black Sea. She has shared the stage with the likes of David Byrne and David Bromberg, and appeared as a regular guest on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion radio show, also appearing in the feature film.

Growing up listening to the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, Aimée Lee developed a love of big band jazz at an early age. A veteran performer from the Twin Cities, she cut her musical teeth performing with big bands in the U.S. and throughout western Europe. Aimée is an in-demand session singer and voice over talent with countless commercials and voice-overs to her credit. She has written both corporate scripts and songs and performed them internationally for a “who’s who” list of clients. She enjoys singing in pet projects Two Girls and a Boyd with Richard Kriehn, and The Aimée Lee Band.

“Aimee, Kathy and Lisa have captured the Andrews’ blend in an amazingly authentic way, retaining the warmth and inner pulse of the original trio in a way that I have never heard done before.” — Arne Fogel