“FROM FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE TO LONDON TO JANIS JOPLIN, ELVIS PRESLEY, ELTON JOHN & MICK JAGGER”: AN EVENING OF SONGS, STORIES & “UP CLOSE” ROCK & ROLL PHOTOGRAPHS
It’s been nearly 60 years since Rick Norcross first stepped foot on the campus of Florida Southern College as a freshman from East Hardwick, Vermont. It’s been a wild ride ever since. Within weeks after coming to FSC, Norcross won the “Hootenanny Contest” at the Polk Theater in Downtown Lakeland and within another year, he opened a Greenwich Village-style coffeehouse (The Other Room) just off the Florida Southern campus. After playing the folk clubs of England in 1965, Norcross returned to Florida to study journalism at the University of South Florida and was soon covering the music scene for The Tampa Times during Tampa’s Golden Age of Music (1969 to 1974). Norcross interviewed and photographed such stars as Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Johnny Cash, the Byrds, Leon Russell, Merle Haggard, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, and hundreds of others. In 1974, he left the area to resume playing music full time. Today, Norcross works out of Burlington, Vermont, where he fronts his award winning sevenpiece western swing band, Rick & The All-Star Ramblers. He has been a touring musician for 58 years, has recorded 12 albums, and has won many awards. Norcross’ long career and multitude of experiences make for an exciting and entertaining night of music and stories.
Location: Branscomb Auditorium
This event is open to the public.
February 16 @ 7:00 PM EST
https://www.flsouthern.edu/academic-life/centers-institutes/center-for-florida-history/home.aspx
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