Songwriters’ Curtain Drops, But Encore Planned

The 13-week Florida Songwriters’ Showcase has concluded with two fantastic shows to wrap things up.

On August 22, the showcase had its biggest crowd, a SRO audience that watched as JRobert’s lineup of all-women artists took the stage.

Cindy Hackney was the headliner on ladies night at the Marco Players Theatre—but she had lots of help. In all, eight ladies took the stage—and they all were crowd favorites.

On August 28, Joerey Ortiz was introduced as the final act of the summer series. But his father, 85-year-old Steve Ortiz, stole the show.

It was obvious where Joerey learned his licks as you watched his father hold the audience spellbound with his storytelling and guitar playing and singing.

“We’re a show business family,” the senior Ortiz told the crowd, as his son showed deference for his father.

The Ortiz family’s show business roots go back four generations. American and Mexican Indians, the Ortiz family’s entertainment history goes back to the 1800s.

JoeRey started things off with a number of his original songs, including one that was played by 1970s teen idol David Cassidy. The elder Ortiz penned a song for the great Eddie Arnold.

JRobert isn’t one to rest on his laurels. He’s following up his Florida Songwriters’ Showcase with a special 9/11 encore performance on September 11.

Read more about the encore performance in this issue of Coastal Breeze News.