DEBBIE TAYLOR AND ‘TOP OF THE WORLD’ BAND KEEPS MEMORY OF CARPENTERS MUSIC ALIVE WITH TRIBUTE CONCERT ON SATURDAY OCT. 25 AT AVENTURA ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER

Since performing the music of The Carpenters with her seven member “Top of the World” band in 2017, singer Debbie Taylor of Coral Springs has been so popular that she sold out each of her annual Aventura Arts and Cultural Center shows over the years and has toured across the United States as often as 40 weeks annually.

Taylor and “Top of the World” will again perform a tribute to the music of The Carpenters next Saturday October 25 at Aventura Center before another anticipated sold out concert.

“It has always been a dream of mine to sing and tour with a band and it never ever gets old. You feel the enthusiasm of the fans on stage and the reaction of the audience just makes me want to continue singing the music of The Carpenters for as many years as possible,” said the 62-year-old Taylor.

Taylor discovered many years ago that she sang in the same contralto range as The Carpenters lead singer Karen Carpenter.  Her ability to sing the famed Carpenters songs as Karen would led Taylor and her musical director Paul Stewart create the “Top of the World” band. 

However, it is not only Taylor’s singing and phrasing that has generated so much success for the “Top of the World” band… Each of the seven musicians who perform with Taylor have recreated the intricate musical arrangements of Karen’s brother Richard Carpenter, whose lush arrangements of songs and harmonies are as well-known and beloved to fans of The Carpenters as Karen Carpenter’s voice.

“The success of ‘Top of the World’ is due to the many talented musicians who I have worked with over the years. Together, we are dedicated to preserving the music of The Carpenters as their fans remember them,” said Taylor

The musicians who team with Taylor to form “Top of the World” are drummer Jack Ciano, pianist Felix Gomez, trumpet player and backup vocalist Diana Hernandez, backup vocalist Alvaro Rosario, music director, guitarist and keyboard player Paul Stewart, bass player Raphael Valencia and Ismael Vergara, the band’s specialist on clarinet, flute, oboe, piccolo and saxophone. Original “Top of the World” band member Ross Goldman will substitute for Vergara in the Aventura Center concert.

Highlights of the concert will be “Top of the World” performing The Carpenters well-known hit songs such as “Close To You”, “Goodbye To Love”, “For All We Know”, “Rainy Days and Mondays” and “Top of the World” among other Carpenters songs.

A portion of the concert will be dedicated to selected Christmas songs performed by The Carpenters from their Christmas television specials, including Richard Carpenter’s original composition (with lyricist Frank Pooler) “Merry Christmas Darling”. 

“The music of The Carpenters provokes so many emotions from our audiences. I continually receive feedback from our fans how so many Carpenters songs have given them so many memories that endured through their lives,” said Taylor.

Karen and Richard Carpenter teamed as “The Carpenters” for a short 14-year career cut short by Karen Carpenter’s death at age 32 in 1983 after suffering for many years with anorexia.

From 1969-83, The Carpenters became one of the best loved musical groups in the world, with hit songs showcasing Karen Carpenter’s mellow contralto voice that sold millions of records.

“Like so many other Carpenters fans, I loved their songs, stirring passionate emotions that tug at the heart. It feels like the love of their music will never die even though Karen has been gone from us for over 40 years,” said Taylor. 

Another highlight of the concert will be Taylor’s unique interpretation of “I Need To Be In Love” that is distinct from Richard Carpenter’s arrangement of the song orchestrated with many instruments and vocal harmonies.

By contrast, Taylor sings the song alone teaming with guitarist Paul Stewart in an acoustic arrangement of the song that adds to the deep emotion felt through Taylor’s heartfelt phrasing of the lyrics.

“The duet with Paul (Stewart) and I really brought the audience to tears in our previous concerts and the song was Karen Carpenter’s favorite song,” said Taylor.

Because many in the Aventura Center audience live in South Florida, many of Taylor’s family, friends and patients will congratulate Taylor personally after the concert.

When she is in South Florida, Taylor has a demanding life, touring up to 40 weeks on the road while also working 25 hours weekly as a dental hygienist and as a pet therapist with her dog Cash at Memorial Hospital in Hollywood.

“The smiles and laughter that I hear from children in the hospital who look forward to seeing Cash and his son are unforgettable,” said Taylor. 

Taylor is the mother of three children and two grandchildren.

Raised in Miami Beach, Taylor as a teen performed in musical theater before working in a South Florida based dance band in which she was the featured singer. Within a short period of time, Taylor became one of the first South Florida women to form her own band, the Debbie Taylor Band for over 20 years, performing popular music at many corporate parties, weddings and bar mitzvahs.

“All those years helped me where I am today. At weddings, I involved the families in selecting the music and besides singing, I went on the floor and danced with the couples. The interaction I had then is so important in recognizing the value of the audience to the shows,” said Taylor.

Singer Debbie Taylor and her “Top of the World” seven-member band perform the music of The Carpenters on Saturday, October 25 at 8 p.m. at Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, 3385 NE 188 Street in Aventura. Tickets are $46.32. For tickets, go to aventuracenter.org or call 305-466-8002.