WMVY Valentine’s Party Rocks Tennis Hall of Fame

Valentine's Day Eve was a chilly, jazzy, rocking night at Newport's Tennis Hall of Fame. Hanging lights and echoing music energized the dark, snowy courtyard entrance as guests passed through the upstairs museum and into the 2nd annual WMVY Radio Valentine’s Party, an event hosted to benefit the non-profit arm of the station, “Friends of WMVY,” an adult progressive rock station based on Martha’s Vineyard.

The major WMVY DJ’s and personalities were in attendance, including P.J. Finn and Barbara Dacey.

Rick Hall, Ray Whitaker (host of "Just Four Guys"), Laurel Redington (DJ), Marianna Cibulasova, Greg Martino (DJ)

The night started out with a silent auction, open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres, and food stations offering clam chowder, shrimp scampi, pork tenderloin, and a sumptuous mousse dessert station. Many of the auction items were very unique and exciting, such as a “Happy Birthday” singing phone call from Carly Simon, a chance to be a DJ-for-an-hour at the radio station, Cape Cod & Martha’s Vineyard weekend getaways, and tickets to local concerts and events.

Jason Spooner, lead singer

The highlight of the event had to be the two musical acts booked by WMVY: Catherine Russell, and the Jason Spooner Band. Russell took the stage at 8 p.m. and wowed the audience with her sultry, complex vocals and story-telling style. The venue was intimate and atmospheric, with a small stage and draped, candlelit tables to help set the Valentine’s mood. Jason Spooner and his three band members (normally two) followed Russell’s set with their blend of soulful vocals, nimble lyrics, and up-tempo rock beats that had partygoers on their feet and dancing well into the night. A groovy cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Miss You” generated enough boogieing to perhaps affirm Spooner’s praise of the song as the “greatest disco song ever.”

It was an invigorating yet refreshingly low-key night, made exceptional by great artists, creatively cool auction items, delicious appetizers, and some really vivid personalities.
--Amanda Grosvenor