Jazz, funk and soul: Darby-Duffin to perform in Superior

"Do you know how to tell the difference between an extraordinary singer and one who is mediocre? The “ugly” face. You know, the kind that Patti (LaBelle) and Aretha (Franklin) make when nothing matters in the world except the love affair between the artist and the song. That is Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin."

That is what the magazine Front Row Review glowed about when commenting on the performance that the Mineral County Performing Arts Council is bringing to Superior, Wednesday, March 23.

“Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin is originally from Baltimore, but lives in Salt Lake City. Her band is driving up from there”,, explained Jim Goss, Treasurer of MCPAC.

This performance is largely supported by a TourWest grant from the Western Arts Federation (WESTAF) and includes an assembly in the Superior High School Gym from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on the performance date. She was originally scheduled to perform last year but the pandemic knocked this out just like it did with so many other events.

“We are excited to return to some sense of normalcy with the return of live music!,” smiled Goss. Headed by Dee-Dee’s commanding sound and stage presence the audience will be transfixed by her jazz, funk, and soul stylings. And as an interpreter of Billie Holiday’s music and life, people will come to understand Lady Day’s struggled with racism and inner demons. The doors at the LDS Church at 12 Moats Lane will open at 6:30 p.m. for the Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin Quintet performance at 7. Masks are encouraged and a free-will offering will be taken.

The next event, although not officially a MCPAC engagement, is fully supported by the organization. The Mineral County Historical Society presents noted former UM Professor and Historian Hal Stearns for an encyclopedic talk of Montana history at 10 a.m. on April 2 at the Superior High School Multipurpose Room. He’s an exciting speaker and you will come back the better for it. Professor Stearns comes to you through Humanities Montana’s Montana Conversations Program.

Third on the MCPAC’s docket is the return of their Spring Gala, after the last two were cancelled due to COVID. The Empire Trio (formerly O Sole Trio) return from New York City with an all-new program of song favorites entitled “Hooray for Hollywood”, Tuesday, April 12 at the Elementary School Gymnasium.

Food begins at 6:00 p.m. and the show will start near 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 and will be available soon.