Wounded Warriors bring King’s Singers to Charlotte

King's Singers COURTESY PHOTO Those who have served our country — and those who love them — understand the significance of Veterans Day and the week surrounding it.

For those who have been wounded in action, either physically or emotionally, this is the time for people to take a moment to think — and perhaps salute.

In honor of Veterans Day, several events have been organized to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization formed to provide tangible support for severely wounded service members returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq. Supporters of the project and the Charlotte Committee of the Wounded Warriors have released a schedule of events to benefit the program.

Charlotte County resident Greg Rineer is a relentless advocate for the WWP and has been instrumental in coordinating and executing programs that will benefit those wounded in service. “There are about 20 of us that help out,” Mr. Rineer said of the group. “We’re small and mighty. Hey,” he added, “We’re the only group that has its own chaplain.” (That would be Jim Kress of Englewood.)

From Nov. 8 - 14, Books-A-Million stores along U.S. 41 in Port Charlotte, Venice and Sarasota will donate 5 percent of retail purchases made with the Books-A-Million discount card. Books can also be purchased and donated to Wounded Warriors receiving help in hospitals in Tampa. As for books to purchase, Mr. Rineer highly recommends “The Last Stand of Fox Company: a True Story of U.S. Marines in Combat,” by Tom Drury. Local hero Dick Bonelli is featured in the book.

Mr. Rineer’s wife, Marcia, has taken her talent for creating “Vera Bradleylooking” purses and created a fundraising vehicle for the WWP. Mrs. Rineer’s purses are 100 percent highend cotton. She’s been selling them to friends and family at the VFW, the American Legion and other places, and donating the money to the Wounded Warrior Project. “I can’t take too many orders,” she said, but was willing to entertain some more business to help the cause. To learn more, call 697-4839.

For more information on the program, contact Norman Brock at 629- 0340.

There are more events scheduled into the year to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, but one of the crown jewels of the lineup will be held on Veterans Day itself, Nov. 11. That’s when The King’s Singers from Cambridge, England, will perform at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center in Punta Gorda.

The King’s Singers is a world-famous a capella group considered to be one of the best in the world by some professional critics. (The group won a Grammy Award for Best Crossover Album at the ceremony in 2009.)

The sound of the six-member allmale ensemble was described by Gramaphone magazine as possessing an “impeccably manicured vocal blend, enchanting the ear from first to last note.”

Two countertenors (David Hurley and Timothy Wayne-Wright), two baritones (Philip Lawson and Christoper Gabbitas) are complemented by Stephen Connolly’s bass and Paul Phoenix’ tenor. The group performs more than 120 concerts a year. Before they arrive in Punta Gorda, they’ll have performed in Utah, Idaho, Arkansas, Virginia, Georgia and North and South Carolina before returning to London for a concert on Nov. 18.

The well-traveled vocalists have performed in such noble venues at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Windsor Castle, Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York.

The group formed in 1968 at King’s College in Cambridge, England, and has performed in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Lebanon, Tel Aviv, the Azores and Bermuda. They undertake regular visits to the Far East, singing in Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. In recent seasons, they have been in mainland China, at Beijing’s National Center for the Performing Arts and at the Shanghai Concert Hall.

“And now they’re coming to Punta Gorda,” Mr. Rineer said.

His limitless enthusiasm is shared these days with the upcoming concert and his ongoing work with the Wounded Warrior Project. Afghanistan and Iraq veterans interested in learning more can visit www.woundedwarriorproject. org. “First, you get registered,” Mr. Rineer said. “And then we go to work.” 

if you go

>> What: The King’s Singers benefit for the
Wounded Warrior Project
>> When: 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11
>> Where: Charlotte Performing Arts Center,
701 Carmalita St., Punta Gorda
>> Cost: $40 - $50
>> Tickets: 697-4839