Palm Beach Insider: Great American Songbook accelerates efforts to save soundtracks of our lives

Three generations of musical talent were honored at an evening to raise funds to preserve America's musical heritage.

The event, the 2022 Benefactors Gala, took place April 29 at the home of Ann and Charlie Johnson and benefited the Society for the Preservation of the Great American Songbook.

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Bob Merrill was chairman for the evening, which began on the terrace with cocktails and music from members of a jazz quintet who looked like a bunch of teenagers. Turns out they were exactly that. It was Annie Matot — one of the night's three honorees — and her jazz quintet, all of whom are high school students.

After cocktails the 150-plus guests moved inside for remarks from the chairman, dinner and some ''Sunnyside Swing'' entertainment by Merrill, Rob Russell and Alex Donner, with an assist from former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who offered up a few tunes in his quite serviceable Irish tenor.

"I've always wanted to be a saloon singer," he told the crowd. "Maybe it's time for a second career." To which his wife, Mila, smiled and said "I'm sure your new wife will like that."

OK, not really. But you just know she was thinking it.

Highlight of the evening was the recognition of honorees Steve Tyrell, Canadian singer/trumpeter Bria Skonberg and Matot.

Tyrell, a regular at The Colony's Royal Room cabaret, received the Lifetime Achievement Award in absentia. The Grammy Award-winning producer and vocalist has helped preserve the Great American Songbook by reinventing and re-popularizing pop standards for a modern-day audience.

Skonberg, described by the New York Times as "the shining hope of hot jazz," received the Artist of the Year Award for her inventive arrangements of traditional jazz pieces and clever reinterpretations of contemporary classics.

Matot, a senior at The King’s Academy, received the Young Artist Award. She has already been invited to perform at the Kravis Center and with Michael Feinstein in NYC’s 54 Below jazz club.

Proceeds from the event assist The Society for the Preservation of the Great American Songbook in its mission to preserve and perpetuate the music, character, and history of the Great American Songbook.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Generation-crossing gala evening lauds Steve Tyrell's lifetime achievements