Palm Beach Pops 2009

Twenty years of guardianship of The Great American Songbook have been recognized by the mayors of four cities - Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Palm Beach Gardens. Each respective mayor has issued an official proclamation designating the opening concert day in each venue as The Official Bob Lappin & The Palm Beach Pops 20th Anniversary Day. The first proclamation, presented by Palm Beach Councilman Richard Kleid, was given during the opening night concert at the Kravis Performing Arts Center in West Palm Beach onFriday, November 4, 2011. The audience, many of them subscribers for more than a decade (and even up to 20 years), cheered as Bob Lappin was recognized for his two decade-long stewardship of one of the nation's top orchestras. Upon receiving the Proclamation, Maestro Bob Lappin thanked the audience members and the orchestra for creating and maintaining what has become recognized as South Florida's premier pops orchestra.

Bob Lappin & The Palm Beach Pops planned to open the 20th Anniversary Season on November 4, 2011 at the Kravis Center with veteran actor and singer Tom Wopat. As a result of his continued successful career, Wopat canceled his run with The Pops due to landing a role in an upcoming feature film. In his place, The Palm Beach Pops have secured another popular singer, Tony Desare. Singer, pianist and songwriter, DeSare – whose third CD Radio Show was released earlier this year – was named a “Rising Star” Male Vocalist in the 2009 Downbeat Critics Poll. He has won critical and popular acclaim for his concert performances throughout the United States as well as in Australia, Japan and Hong Kong. What sets Desare apart is his ability to also write original material that sounds fresh and blends seamlessly with the Great American Songbook, which is why Maestro Bob Lappin chose him to perform in the opening series, The American Songbook Spectacular, alongside legendary Lynn Roberts.