The Robert C. Byrd Center Presents
Mountain Stage Pianist

Bob Thompson

West Virginia's very own jazz pianist from NPR's Mountain Stage Radio

for a lawn concert and food truck picnic

at the historic Patterson's Mill at the home of Karen and Bill Rice
in Martinsburg, West Virginia 

  Saturday, June 10th, 2023
6:00 pm - 8:00 PM EST

to benefit the civics education initiatives of
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education


This is a ticketed event:
Tickets are $150.00 per person 
(includes cost of meal and $130 tax deductible donation)
​Event is held outdoors and is planned rain or shine. 
Each ticket covers dinner, admission for the musical performance, and a donation to the civics education initiatives of the Byrd Center.

The event will take place rain or shine, no tickets will be refunded. The gathering area will be covered by tents. 

Our Featured Artist:

Bob Thompson

​Moving to West Virginia in the mid-’60s to attend then West Virginia State College, pianist Bob Thompson is perhaps the state’s best-loved musician and ambassador of jazz. He has touched many people’s lives both as an entertainer and a teacher.

Growing up in NY, he sang in street corner doo-wop bands and originally attended WVSC on a scholarship to study trumpet and music education. After switching to piano, he quickly became a staple on the local scene with bands like the Modern Jazz Interpreters and Joi.

 Two of his albums climbed into the Top 25 in Billboard’s contemporary jazz chart while four of his releases made their way into the Top 10 on the Radio and Records jazz chart.

In the meantime, he performed in Brazil, South Africa and Scandinavia. Appearances on BET, as the house pianist on the NPR show Mountain Stage, and several tours abroad have made Thompson a visible presence in the jazz world for more than 40 years. In addition, for the past decade Thompson’s annual holiday jazz show Joy to the World has become a regular feature of Public Radio International’s holiday programming.

​https://wvmusichalloffame.com/hof_bthompson.html

Our Setting:

Karen and Bill Rice have graciously offered their beautiful home as the setting for our fundraiser. We will enjoy the performances of our musical artists and poet laureate and the barbeque in view of the historic Patterson's Mill, a three-story stone mill along Tuscarora Creek, built in 1765. 

Ample parking is available close to the fundraiser location.

Address and directions will be provided to ticket holders.

Our Sponsors:

The Byrd Center greatly appreciates the generous support of the following sponsors:

Bob & Tia McMillan 

Karen & Bill Rice, Marianne Alexander, Phyllis & Ray Smock
​in Memory of Jack & Martha Young

Joe Stewart

Alan Mollohan

Ray & Mary Alvarez

In honor of Hospice of the Panhandle Staff

The Fatemi Family

Elise & Martin Baach

Home 2 Suites - Martinsburg

Brown's Tire, Towing and Auto Care Center, Inc.

​Become a Sponsor of our Event:

We invite community organizations, individuals, businesses, and anyone interested in supporting our fundraiser for civics education to make a gift of sponsorship. Click here for more information >>>