Alderson Riverside Concert Series Presents “A Tribute to Bricktop”
Alderson Riverside Summer Events will present "A Tribute to Bricktop" featuring The Robinson-Kenga Trio on Sunday, August 28 from 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Bring your chair and come out to hear Bricktop's music and times brought to life at this special musical event. "An Alderson Original, Ada Beatrice Queen Victoria Louise Virginia Smith, a.k.a. "BRICKTOP" Smith was a 1920-50's singer, dancer and Paris Club owner. She was called Bricktop because of her auburn hair and a face full of freckles. After the death of her father, the family moved to Chicago where Ada discovered her talent for entertaining and hosting. When she moved to Paris in the early 1920s, she decided to open her own club called Chez Bricktop. Cole Porter was a fan and after hearing Bricktop talk about a lynching, wrote a song for her based on a comment she made (this song will be performed by Suzanna Robinson-Kenga). Ada used to say that the success of a night at her club was based on the number of Kings in attendance. The most was 5.....not counting the Prince of Wales. Bricktop was always proud of her West Virginia heritage. She would tell interviewers that she was born in "West, by God, Virginia". Her very interesting life has been depicted on stage and in books. A food vendor will be on hand selling drinks and snacks.