By Andrea Martone
Music Icon Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Piano Man”
Sixty-nine-year-old Eddie Tobin has travelled the world with British pop singer Engelbert Humperdinck, known for his romantic ballads and smooth vocal style.
A professional pianist with over 30 years of experience in the music industry. Eddie is known for his diverse repertoire that includes jazz, blues, standards, ragtime, classical, and pop music. Now retired from playing to audiences globally, Eddie settled in Sarasota with his wife and couldn’t keep his fingers off keyboard, so he started playing gigs at area restaurants and private events. You can hear him sing and play the keyboard at Sarasota’s Amore Italian & Portuguese Restaurant in Sarasota on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. He wows the senior crowds each Saturday at Sarasota’s Plymouth Harbor. And his private bookings keep him busy well throughout the year.
Eddie says he “never wanted to be a musician,” but the Universe had other plans for him. In high school as a baseball player, he was nicknamed “The Musician Jock” because he used to play the accordion on the bus for long drives to competitions. In the lunchroom at his high school, he’d entertain his classmates playing the baritone ukulele, while they munched on cafeteria food.
Fast forward in life and he was approached by a friend who said Engelbert was looking for a music director, conductor, pianist and arranger. Eddie was hired to work with the star in 1997-2004. Originally from Fort Pierce, Florida, (Nashville prior to that), he came to Sarasota in 2002 and targeted the Gulf Coast to retire and play at leisure. He still texts with his boss, Engelbert, who at 88 still performs worldwide.
If you are interested in booking Eddie for a private event, visit him at eddietobinmd@gmail.com or call 941-737-1577.
Eddie Tobin plays at Amore Restaurant in Sarasota Wednesdays, Fridays and Sunday.
Latin Pop Influences his Art
John Gascot, Latin Pop Genre
John Gascot, hailing from the Caribbean, traces his childhood roots to Puerto Rico, an origin that fuels his passion for vibrant hues. While he delves into diverse artistic styles such as Painterly and Geometric
Abstractions, his hallmark remains the Latin Pop genre. Coined affectionately after years of honing his craft, “Latin Pop” merges Pop art, Cubism, and Folk art, resulting in a distinct visual dialect. These artworks serve as modern narratives, blending global influences to challenge cultural barriers.
In John’s Latin Pop creations, cultural boundaries blur as diverse influences intertwine in contemporary tales. The figures depicted often possess grand, voluptuous forms, symbolizing not just size but strength and presence. His aim is to craft art that is both inclusive and thought-provoking, questioning social and gender norms dictated by various societies.
Beyond his artistic endeavors, John holds roles as co-owner and Studio Coordinator at Studios @ 5663. He is the driving force behind Diversity Arts 501c3, an organization dedicated to empowering underrepresented youth through free, safe spaces, art supplies, and mentorship for self-expression. Additionally, he stands as a founding member of the Pinellas Arts Village.
John Gascot, Artist/Curator, Studios @ 5663
Founder/President, Diversity Arts Inc.
www.gascot.com
www.diversityartsinc.com
His work is in the Smithsonian Institute
Terri Scopelliti
A resident of St. Petersburg for six years now, Terry moved from Atlanta, Ga., and loved the “people and the art scene. It reminds of what Atlanta was in the mid 80s.”
A photographer, Terry says “depending on the series I am working on my work is dark and sensual or humorous. People inspire my portraits and figure works. I believe every person is special and I strive to bring that out in my work.”
His photography has received multiple awards and has been exhibited in galleries across the world, including – but not limited to: American Art Awards winner, The Exposure Award (exhibited at La Louve in Paris), and The Photography Gala Awards.Most noteworthy is that Terry has three works held in the national archives of the Smithsonian Institution.
Image “Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow” inspired by a Paula Abdul song
Scopelliti Photography
www.scopellitiphotography.com
Email: terryscopelliti@yahoo.com
Terry is one of the resident Artists at The Studios @ 5663 in Pinellas Park.