SOPHISTICATED LADY

Private Peter Martin concert a 'friendraiser' for 2 entities

Kay Kelley Arnold was as surprised as anyone when she won a private concert and party with acclaimed jazz pianist Peter Martin during a fundraiser for Oxford American in October.

With her bent for bringing people together for good causes, she turned the affair into a "friendraiser" for the magazine and Foundation for the Mid South, a Jackson, Miss.-based group that helps create solutions that effectively address the unique needs and challenges of the area.

The party was Monday at South on Main.

"Kay sits on the board of the Foundation for the Mid South and has been looking for a way to get the Oxford American connected with them, and this was a nice primer event to do so," said Ryan Harris executive director of Oxford American. Chad Causey, another board member, was Arnold's co-host.

Guests were greeted with a cocktail created for the event called "Tickling the Ivories."

"It's good to be here with Kay and 80 of her closest friends," Martin said prior to taking a seat behind the piano. During his concert, he dedicated Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady" to Arnold. He played other songs by Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis, as well as his original "Broadmoor."

-- Story and photos by

Cyd King

High Profile on 05/14/2017

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