Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your loved ones, and support the Families loved ones that we serve at GEM.

GEM is a community based 501 (c) (3) non-profit serving Outer Banks Families experiencing dementia for over 20 years. We provide three art and music dementia capable programs each month at no cost to our families, but there is a cost to GEM help us continue our art classes and Harmony Cafes.

The Riff Tides

Bring a very special brand of music to the Outer Banks. The band features music of the early days of Rock and Roll
through the 60’s. Their play list is like taking a tour of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Starting with the early classics of Bill Haley, Elvis, The Platters, Fats Domino and traveling up to the Drifters and even a few early Beatle
tunes…their performances even provide a chance to dance a Lindy to Glen Miller’s “In The Mood.”

How about some pop vocalists tunes from the mid-50’s? Want to dance the ever-popular cha-cha, or a shag tune? The Riff Tides have them all. Whether it be a concert, dance, outdoor event or festival, The Riff Tides take
pride in bringing their brand of music to the Outer Banks community as they support local charities, churches. and
community/civic groups. Recent appearances include fund raisers for GEM (Dementia and Alzheimer’s Care and Awareness), Interfaith Community Outreach (Children’s Cancer Benefit), NEST (The Network for Endangered Sea Turtles), and various area churches. They also have appeared at various outdoor venues including Manteo First Fridays and The
Pirates Cove Billfish Tournament.

Keeping this music alive are six very talented vocalist/musicians. The group features three lead vocalists: Kent Zimmerman (baritone), Dana Walker (soprano) and Angelo Sonnesso (tenor and keyboard). Other members are Andrew Darling (bass and guitar), Ken Daidone (drums), and Paul Lesiewicz (sax). Their personal resumés range from college professors, medical, and engineer to extensive musical experience with New York area wedding and society orchestras.

The Riff Tides are available for all types of events, private parties, festivals and also for “lease breaking.” Check out their web page (therifftides.com) and Facebook page. For further information, please contact Gail Sonnesso at
(252) 480-3354. Now sit back and enjoy The Riff Tides. Rock and Roll is here to stay!