Darryl Tookes

Darryl Tookes

We are proud to have the legendary Darryl Tookes return to Arts on the Lake.

Darryl Tookes is a singer, pianist, composer and arranger who has worked with many celebrated performers and legendary music figures. This eclectic list reads like a music industry Who’s Who and includes legendary figures such as Quincy Jones, Phil Ramone, Arif Mardin and David Foster, Leonard Bernstein, Roberta Flack, Sting, Paul Simon, Bobby McFerrin, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson, Dave Grusin, George Benson, Rod Stewart, Burt Bacharach, Gerry Mulligan, Carly Simon, Patti Austin, Lesley Gore, Diana Ross, Michel Legrand, Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Aretha Franklin, Laurie Anderson, Todd Rundgren, Blondie, Faith Hill, Cristina Aguilera, Darlene Love and many others.

With his single debut Lifeguard reaching #3 on the Billboard Charts, Darryl Tookes became one of the first African-Americans to chart in the Adult Contemporary category of Billboard magazine and experienced success on his own terms as a songwriter, artist, and producer in his formal introduction to the music industry. He sees being recently named Director of Music Industry Studies at Florida A&M University as a continuation of this legacy. Perhaps the words of legendary music executive and longtime Blue Note Records Chairman Bruce Lundvall say it best, "Darryl Tookes is a signature artist."

Tookes performed at the White House, appeared on many national television shows including Late Night , The Tonight Show and Saturday Night Live. Tookes’ voice has been featured on Coca-Cola, AT&T, American Airlines, US Army commercials, and on Sesame Street.

In addition to his recent appointment to helm the Music Industry Institute at Florida A&M University, Mr. Tookes is a highly sought-after clinician and pedagogue who has taught Voice at New York University in the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music and Tisch School of the Arts. He has been a Lecturer in Music at The State University of New York at Purchase College, on the Voice Faculty of Fairfield University, and was offered a position at Berklee College of Music. He was the founding Musical Director of Black to Broadway, presenting the talents of an array of leading African-American performers, including Tony award winners Melba Moore, Jennifer Holiday, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Billy Porter. A number of today's Broadway stars are former students of Mr. Tookes.

GENERAL CONCERT INFORMATION

Our Summer Concert Series in July concerts are generally offered on a pay-as-you-wish basis and take place on the Boyd Family Concert Lawn aside Lake Carmel.

All concerts in this July series are on Fridays and start at 7 PM. Concerts are rain or shine and may be held indoors if it is severe weather.

Lawn chairs, food and drink are welcome. Limited refreshments will be available on site. Parking is limited so we suggest arriving at least 20 minutes before the concert.

All these events are made possible by the many local business sponsors who support us, so we ask that you support their endeavors.

Email office@artsonthelake.org for any questions or call 845 228 2685.

These concerts are made possible by our supporters and in part through the Putnam Arts Council's Arts Link Grant Program with Public Funds provided from the Putnam Count and through the New York State Council on the Arts with support from the Governor's office and the NY State Legislature.

We are grateful to the staff of the Putnam Arts Council for their excellence in supporting the arts throughout Putnam County.

Most of all we are grateful to the sponsors who make these concerts possible.  Please support their business.

2024 Sponsors

Double Diamond

Boyd Artesian Well Co., Inc.

Diamond

Patterson Crossing Reality CO. LLC. (Camarda Realty Investments )
PCSB Community Foundation
Putnam Septic

Platinum

Burke Energy
Carmel-Kent Chamber of Commerce
Chris' Automotive Center
Holly Real Estate
Kent Countryside Nursery Inc.
Kent Liquors
Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock
Radovich and Dean Music, Inc.
Volz Auto Group - Meadowland of Carmel

Gold

Charles Li - RE/MAX Town & Country
Extreme Designs
George Hartshorn Paving
Kotzur
Sal Tripi CPA
Spotless Cleaning Systems
Tavern on 52
The New 52 Nails and Sap Inc.
Timothy J. Curtiss, Esq.
Twilight Orchestra

Silver

Aaspen HVAC, Inc
Anthony Jewelers
Balsamo Cordovano Funeral Home
Carmel Advertising Specialties Co.
Cassidy Plumbing & Heating Inc.
Cutillos Restaurant
Doyle Dental
Eileen Civitillo Landscape Design Inc.
Friends of Kent Library
Kent Chiropractic - Dr. Louis Sacer
Law Office of Thomas J. Jacobellis
Patterson Auto Body and Service Center
Putnam Wines & Spirits
Tyndall Septic Systems Inc.
Well Pump Pro

Friend

Carmel Nursery School
Drew Nursery School
Katherine's Gift Shop
Metric Motors
Putnam Propane