A Claus for celebration! Our first Holly Jolly American Traditions Christmas Special featuring Kim Michael Polote, 2001 Gold Medal winner in The American Traditions Competition with a guest appearance by Mr. Jim Wann, Broadway lyricist, composer, performer, and judge for the American Traditions competition. www.americantraditionscompetition.com
Kim Michael Polote
A native of Savannah, Georgia, Kim Michael Polote is a professional singer, a Nashville recording artist, motivational speaker, actress, preservationist and entertainer. Her live performances have been nationally aired on the Travel Channel’s Emmy-award winning Great Hotels and the Food Network’s Emmy award-winning Paula Deen’s Cooking. From opening for Al Green to performing for President Jimmy Carter at his church in Plains Georgia, Kim has been the entertainer of choice for a multitude of dignitaries. She has sung with Harry Connick, Jr. and his orchestra, the Savannah Symphony Orchestra, and on many occasions with jazz legend Ben Tucker. In May of this year, Ms. Polote performed here at the Mars Theatre with the Springfield Baptist Praise Band successfully helping to raise money for their summer mission trips. Venues and events from the Morris Museum of Arts, The Lucas Theatre, The Johnny Mercer Theatre, The Savannah Civic Center, Georgia World Congress Center, MCI and PGA golf tournaments, the Savannah Music Festival, the Historic Grayson Stadium and the Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival have all celebrated the charm and talent of this songbird. Upon request of the United States Embassy of Moscow, in February of 2015 Kim was chosen to represent Georgia as a music ambassador traveling abroad to Russia on a four city tour facilitating workshops and performing. This songbird along with a team of eight, comprised of dancers and two male vocalist generously shared not only their talents but their hearts with the people of Russia embracing our universal oneness through a shared love of the arts. Kim is a recipient of the prestigious first place gold medal award of the American Traditions Competition, the first Savannian to win this coveted honor. In the documentary “Savannah in the Civil War” (released in 2012) Kim portrays Susie King Taylor, the only African-American woman to publish a memoir of her Civil War experiences.
Kim Michael Polote feels very passionate about teaching children about music and believes the classroom can be an effective resource. As a result of her work in schools, she was invited by the Savannah Music Festival and Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute’s “Musical Explorers” which brings music to thousands of children in the classroom, to be instrumental in launching their pilot program last fall engaging 9000 children in one week at the Lucas theatre in Savannah. She continues to receive stellar reviews for her on-going performances which pay tribute to Johnny Mercer’s music from the Road Scholar organization which promotes educational travel internationally. She has been featured in The South Magazine as well as on the cover of Savannah Magazine and Pooler magazine and other numerous media outlets.
Kim Michael Polote’s recordings include a salute to Johnny Mercer entitled “I Thought About You”, which includes the ever-popular “Moon River.” and a Christmas cd entitled ‘Season of Love’. These CDs are available at Barnes and Noble, E Shaver Bookseller in historic downtown Savannah and Paula Deen’s restaurant The Lady and Sons.
Kim Michael Polote’s new CD, entitled Kimspiration, was recorded in Nashville and offers a collection of well-known inspirational songs. The launch of this latest project is scheduled for January 2016.