Enjoy the music of a bygone era when singer Nancy Celeste Walker, joined by the “Divas,” presents Sentimental Journey: The Songs of WWII, a Tribute to America's Troops at the Performing Arts Center Saturday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m.

    Walker, a noted cabaret singer with a slew of credits that include White House performances, previously presented this show during her outdoor “Concert on the Green” series at the Inn at Fawnskin, as well as at the Redlands Bowl. Both shows were well received and now she takes the program indoors to the PAC stage, with a few new songs added to boot.

    Songs by the Andrews Sisters like “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “Rum and Coca-Cola” will take listeners back to the war years, during a two-hour onslaught of memorable music. Other standards on the play list include tunes like “Saturday Night (is the Loneliest Night of the Week)” made famous by Frank Sinatra, plus favorites like “Sentimental Journey,” “The Last Time I Saw Paris,” “I’ll Be Seeing You,” “Don’t Get Around Much Any More,” “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square,” “The Night We Called it a Day” and more.

    “I grew up with this music, even though it was recorded before I was born, because my parents played it all the time,” Walker said. “You’ll hear all your favorites from that era but also some you probably haven’t heard.

    “In researching the music for this show, I discovered that a lot of this great music came out of the need for people to bond together,” she added. “My parents met while working for Douglas Aircraft during the war, and were married seven days later! People needed each other and they needed music to forget the horrendous war. Songwriters were prolific and they wrote a lot of love and patriotic songs, and also funny songs. One I’m doing is called “They’re Either too Young or too Old” about the lack of available men at home.”

    Walker has become a Big Bear entertainment fixture, performing not just her “Concert on the Green” series for eight years but also in a myriad of productions including Community Arts Theater Society (CATS) shows. Her CATS show list has included roles in Oliver! and Cinderella, while her down the hill theater credits include parts in Annie Get Your Gun and When You Comin' Back Red Rider.

    Typically her roles allow her to display her magnificent voice—appearing as Marie in Saul Ilson’s Senior Class comes to mind—but recently she was Grandma Clara in Maple Youth Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker, an acting-only part.

    It’s as a singer though that Walker especially shines, mesmerizing audiences with her rich vocal prowess. Not the least of whom is former President Bill Clinton and wife Hillary, for whom she entertained during a private holiday tour of the White House. In December 2005, she was asked to sing two songs for the United Nations Ambassador’s Ball during its 60th anniversary celebration in New York City.

    Closer to home, Walker sang for years in the South Bay with jazz trios, Big Bands and piano accompaniment at a number restaurants and hotels, including the celebrity hot spot “W” Hotel, Barnabey’s Hotel, Manhattan Bar & Grill and Pointe 705.

    Walker is also a noted recording artist who released a CD of holiday music, “Love at Christmas” in 1994, with renowned jazz musicians Michael O’Neil, Tony Dumas, David Witham and Ralph Penland, all of whom play for George Benson in his road band. Her latest studio recording “Here’s to Life” is a collection of inspirational tunes, arranged and produced by well-known jazz guitarist Peter Sprague.

    Witham in fact accompanies her on piano in the February show as part of an all-star band in itself. Paul Gormley on bass, Paul Kreibick on drums and sax John Bolivar are scheduled to play as well.

    “Divas” Elena Peavy and Kim Boda are a treat as well. Walker wrote a show called “Divas” that played in 2008 for the pair to showcase their talent. Her tribute programs have showcased the talents of a multitude of stars, from Patsy Cline to Nat King Cole and Bonnie Raitt, and last summer starred in a tribute to the Grand Ole Opry at Discovery Center as part of its “Music in the Mountains” series.

    Peavy meanwhile stole the show as the Wicked Witch in last year’s CATS show Wizard of Oz and she’s performed in productions of Love Letters, On Golden Pond and Cinderella. She’ll be featured as one of the Pigeon Sisters in next months The Odd Couple.

    The show is a benefit for Friends of Fawnskin and tickets are $20. VIP champagne reception before the concert is included for $50 which includes preferred seating in the first eight rows and Friends of Fawnskin T-shirts.

    Call the PAC at (909) 866-4970 or Inn at Fawnskin at (909) 866-3200.