Singer/songwriter Bobby Caldwell is scheduled to make his first appearance in the San Joaquin Valley this Saturday.

The artist, whose styles range from R&B to smooth jazz to big band, will perform at the Visalia Fox Theatre on what will be the 10-year anniversary of the venue's reopening as a live theater.

"What better way to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of a world-class performing arts venue than to bring in a world-class singer," said Don Sharp, who booked Caldwell.

Sharp, a Visalia resident, became acquainted with the singer through his late son, John Sharp, who used to do the sound for Caldwell.

"Bobby is one of the most underrated and under-appreciated singers of our time," said Sharp. "He's also extremely personable and down to earth."

Caldwell has had a number of successful solo releases, most notably "What You Won't Do For Love." As a songwriter, he has composed songs for artists such as Chicago, Boz Scaggs, Amy Grant, Neil Diamond and Al Jarreau.

Additionally, Caldwell starred as Frank Sinatra in the Las Vegas theatrical production "The Rat Pack Is Back." His performance drew rave reviews from critics and fans.

Proceeds from Saturday's performance will be used to renovate the Fox.

"There's still a lot of renovation that needs to be done," said Paul Fry, general manager of the theater that first opened its doors in 1930. "But our immediate goal is to expand the upstairs bathrooms and replace the fly-rigging systems from which the sets are hung."

Renovation is nothing new for the theater, which has seen its share of transformation in its almost 80-year history.

It was originally designed as an elaborate movie theater, adorned with carpeted stairways, tapestries, fountains and chandeliers. It cost $225,000 to build.

On opening night, patrons were treated to a western, a newsreel, a Mickey Mouse cartoon and a Laurel and Hardy comedy.

In 1976, with multiplex theaters replacing the big movie houses, the Fox was divided into three theaters.

"It was the most awful mess you've ever seen -- they almost ruined the inside of it," Sharp recalled.

The Fox continued to show first-run movies until the opening of a 12-plex at the Sequoia Mall forced it to close in 1996. Shortly thereafter, Donna Orozco received a phone call.

"It was my good friend, Remi Cherami," Orozco said. "She'd read in the paper that the Fox had closed, and she told me, 'I'm going to save it.'"

Out of that conversation, a group called the Friends of the Fox was formed. The group acquired the building and began restoring it.

"It was really run-down and it smelled like old popcorn," Orozco said.

Some people worked on the renovation, some donated money, others gave materials at cost. After three years of hard work and fund raising, the Fox reopened, beautifully restored as it had looked nearly 70 years before.

"We felt it was something we had to do because it's an icon of the downtown area, and it was so beloved," Orozco said.

“Bobby Caldwell

 Concert"

Saturday, Nov. 21

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main St., Visalia

Information: call 559-625-1369

(Nov. 20, 2009)