Murray, an 89-year-old concert violinist from San Francisco, is the dean of the multi-talented performers who entertain at the Monte Rio Variety Show, a benefit put on by the Bohemian Club.
“I love it here,” said Murray, who has performed in nearly 50 of the yearly shows since his first visit in 1960. “People enjoy it. There's a great sense of relaxation.”
Celebrating its 100th anniversary, the show was a sellout for the first time, and organizers hope to break the $45,000 record for proceeds set last year, said Michele McDonell of the organizing committee.
Proceeds are divided equally among three local organizations: St. Catherine Catholic Church, the Monte Rio School Foundation and the Monte Rio Fire Services Foundation.
The show, first staged in 1911, began as an effort by the Bohemians to build a church close to their 2,700-acre enclave along the Russian River in Monte Rio. St. Catherine was built in 1912 after the first two fund-raisers, McDonell said.
“We thank the creator God for this beautiful evening,” Rev. Ray Rioux, the church pastor, said in an invocation early in the show. Acknowledging the Bohemians' largesse over the years, Rioux said: “Without further ado, let the good times roll.”
Shortly after Murray drew a standing ovation, Grammy-winning saxophone player Tom Scott joined in the first of several numbers.
Scott, who has performed worldwide and with musical icons like Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra, said the Monte Rio show is special.
“The people are so enthusiastic,” he said. “It's a celebration."
Scott said he joined the Bohemian Club this year and stayed in the Wayside Log Camp along with musician Jimmy Buffett.
The entertainment lineup was eclectic, as usual, including Al Jardine, an original member of the Beach Boys, closing the show with three numbers by the famed 1960s California surf band, to Liam Tiernan, an Irish crooner who owns a restaurant at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, comedian Gary Mule Deer and Las Vegas bandsman Jerry Lopez.
Melinda Conway of Santa Rosa was in the audience, seated in their own folding chairs in the grassy, redwood-ringed amphitheater behind the Monte Rio Fire Department..
“The music, the setting,” Conway said. “I think it's just awesome.”
Conway and her husband Cliff were among the early arrivals for a good seat, coming to Monte Rio at 5:45 a.m. and waiting in line behind about 100 people to get into the amphitheater.
“We've been looking forward to this all year,” Cliff Conway said.
Also making their second visit to the show, Ron and Kathie Cooper of Occidental, arrived after 9 a.m. but lucked into seats in the 10th row from the open-air stage.
“I like the excitement,” Kathie Cooper said. “You don't know who's going to show up.”
With a nod to the nearby encampment of rich and powerful Bohemians, Cooper added: “The real secret is what goes on at the Grove.”
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