POOLER
musicians: Where are they now?
Kim polote Singer, Speaker - Now Actress
Kim Michael Polote can be contacted at: 224-7464 or singingmomthree@yahoo.com Her CDs: “I Thought About You - a tribute to Johnny Mercer” and “Season of Love” a Christmas CD, can be purchased at E Shaver’s Book Store, Paula Dean’s Store, Savannah Tea Room on Broughton Street and at Barnes and Nobel. 30 July/August 2013 | Pooler Magazine
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im Michael Polote has been called “Savannah’s Own Fabulous Vocalist” and that’s an accurate description. She was born and raised in Savannah, and has been recognized here for her singing talent since the age of seven. She is the only Savannah native to be the Gold Medal Winner of the coveted American Traditions Competition, and her life is spent entertaining Savannah’s locals and tourists with her beautiful voice, her lively personality, and of course - her genuine smile. The Kim Polote Trio performs at Ruth’s Chris Steak House every Friday night from 8-11pm. Kim, David and Alisha Duckworth have been a part of the Ruth Chris entertainment for going on 5 years. David Armstrong’s Road Scholar / Elderhostel department are the host to travelers from all over the world. Part of their itinerary is a two hour Johnny Mercer music Lecture series which features the Kim Polote Trio. Their lively “Jumpin With Johnny” show celebratong Johnny Mercer,has been a huge success for the last 8 years. The trio performs from 30 to 40 of these Mercer shows every year for this eager group of travelers. Polote, aka Paula Deen’s wedding singer, also makes regular guest appearances at The Lady and Sons restaurant bursting into song throughout the restaurant and gift shop. She and Paula have known one another for 16 years. Recently she respectfully fulfilled the wishes of a dear friend of both she and Paula, Nancy Mercer Gerard, Johnny Mercer’s niece, by singing at her funeral. “Nancy was my friend, and she told me many years ago that she wanted me to sing “Skylark” at her gravesite when she went on to Glory. It was a special honor followed by Stratton and Mary Leopold serving Tutti Frutti ice cream right there in Bonaventure cemetery! Polote also provides music for private events and her live performances have been nationally aired on the Food Network’s “Great Hotels” show of the Travel Channel, and the Emmy-Winning “Paula Dean’s Cooking” of the Food Network. She has sung with Harry Connick Jr. and his orchestra. The list goes on, but Polote’s beautiful voice, vivacious personality and positive attitude are used for more than just entertaining - she’s a motivational speaker - inspiring and impacting others through song and speaking. In spite of a busy schedule, recently Kim has added a new dimension to her talent - she is a Civil War reenactor. When Savannah’s Michael Jordan asked her to portray one of the characters in “Savannah and the Civil War,” a documentary that he wrote and created, she stepped out of her comfort zone and into a new dimension of her life. In the DVD, Kim portrays Susie King Taylor, the first African American nurse Susie King Taylor was the only black woman to have had a book published of her Civil War memories. In the documentary, Ms. Polote is fully dressed in a replica civil war costume comparable to that which Susie King Taylor wore. As Polote prepared for her portrayal, she became immersed in the lives of the different historical characters prompting a desire to learn more about life in Savannah during the Civil War. The DVD was released in 2012 and is available at Mrs. Wilkes Restaurant on Jones Street in downtown Savannah. Be on the lookout for this singing historian’s next venture into Savannah’s rich and significant past inspired by a significant book written about the history of the civil war in Georgia entitled “Freedom” by Michael L.Thurmond. Ironically, Susie King Taylor is on the cover. Great personal sacrifices were made in the name of ‘freedom.’ “Freedom is not free,” says Polote. Savannah is fortunate to have Kim Michael Polote. It’s evident in her singing, motvational talks, and historical reenactments. Kim celebrates living a life of joy, hope and divine inspiration.