104 Friday,- October 25,1985 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Like the Hatikvah
and the sweet
table, Eric Rosenow
and his Continentals
have become a
•
fixture at local
Jewish events

BY ANNE Y. MEYERS
Special to The Jewish News

•

If you've been to a wedding, bar cal problems, . the aUdience truly'•
mitzvah or any kind of social event enjoyed the concert. ,
in, the last 30 years, chances are
"His music is very nicer DOra
you've seen Eric Rosenow — ,or. Fink, 87, said at the Ferndale shaw.
rather, heard hint "
"My husband and _I - used to 'go to
Rosenow and his ten-piece band, Oak Park shoWs. The music is won-
the Continentals, have been derful."
entertaining crowds at all types of
Marcia Robinson was impresized
functions, from Israeli Bond dinners with Rosenow's band when thek
to outdoor concerts, since the days of formed at her brother's wedding : four
bobby sox and the first. Eisenhower years ago. "He was able to get , a
Administration. And while hard-core non-dancing crowd up and moving,"
Rosenow fans are usually just the Robinson said
other side.of middle aged, the band's
."The dance flor was always
"melting-pot" repertoire includes full. It was excellent."
enough contemporary standards to
Robinson said that the - band's
keep younger listeners tapping to its selection, froth. lioras to old
beat. , •
standards, was perfect for the occa-
A Rosenow concert is about' as sion, Both Fink and Robinson feel
: close as you can get to a multi- that Rosenow has earned his posi-
national musical experience without tion as a local star. •
leaving your own badkyard. The
As a , young 'man in Germany,
German-born band leader plays the Rosenow attended Berlin's , Stein
maracas while guiding his sidemen Conservatory. He studied 'classic@
through waltzes, polkas, show tunes, music there, and in 1939 escaped
Yiddish nunibeis and Big Band hits from the Naxis to Shanghai, China.
.like Mack The Knife.
It was there the budding musician
"We 'played 'to 1,700 'people in met•his wife-tO-be, Annie They now
Oak Park recently," Rosenow said, live in Oak Park.
-adding "Southfield and Oak Park
"I lived in Shanghai nine years,"
are favorites."
-'Rosenow explained: "TlienI came to
It is hard to tell what kind of America and fiom 1949-1983.' I
turnout there will be at some of played: all kinds:of, clubs in Dettoit
these outdoor shows, according to as singer:and pianist." ,
Rosenow. At a rodent show -in
In 1953
Ferndale there were only aboUt 20 tio
s
i f etd i s 8-.
' ' Ili 4 0 10
R°
f ir o , ? ,8f ' e .M e :l eg: . 41
spectators. The band played -a wide
, variety of songs, and despite techni-; Contiaaed on Page 69'

.

11719 4
HEBREW UNION COLLEGE
LIBRARY -
WALTER ROTHMAN, LbeR
CINCINNATI
OH 45220

.