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George Winston, one of the country's most celebrated pianists and piano recording artists, is coming to Sanders County to perform a benefit concert on Monday, May 21, at Paradise Center in Paradise.

Winston is best known for his folk music style that crosses all boundaries into R&B, soul, Americana, country, and show tunes. He has recorded 14 solo albums in his career, several of them spotlighting the four seasons so revered in Montana, where he grew up.

Currently Winston is touring the country performing benefit concerts for local food banks, disaster relief, and other causes close to his heart. His show in Paradise will benefit three local performing-arts interests: Sanders County Arts Council (SCAC), Paradise Center, and the Rex Theater in Thompson Falls. It was SCAC that decided to split the proceeds three ways to include the Rex Theater.

"We all want to support what Doug and Karen Grimm do for our area with the Rex," says Karen Thorson, spokesperson for SCAC. "It's such a wonderful venue for many of our Arts Council programs."

In fact, Winston was originally scheduled to play at the Rex, but plans changed when promoters realized they couldn't get the required grand piano in through the existing Rex doors. Hence, Paradise Center was chosen as an alternate. The refurbished old school on the hill offers a large performance room that will seat an audience of 150. Acoustical upgrades have been installed to make it desirable for artists and audience alike. The building is also air-conditioned. The grand piano, an old Henry Miller, is already there. George Winston himself is a Steinway artist, but plays whatever is available as long all the keys are functioning and it's properly tuned.

The coveted job of tuning Winston's piano will go to David Larsen, who grew up in Plains and now works out of Missoula.

"I find it a great honor and privilege to tune and service the piano for such a well-known and talented musician," said Larsen, who is already familiar with Henry Miller piano since he initially tuned it when Paradise Center supporters acquired it a few years ago. Although Winston's show is only one night, Larsen will be kept busy for two days performing multiple tunings on the piano, as required in Winston's performance contract.

This will be George Winston's first performance in Paradise. Tickets for the event are $40 and are available online at http://www.sanderscountyarts.org, as well as at D&D Liquor in Thompson Falls.