Ragtime, boogie-woogie pianist Bob Milne set to perform in Blaine

By Stefanie Donahue

Acclaimed pianist Bob Milne has entertained presidents, generals and dignitaries in the US and abroad and next month, he’ll play in Blaine for the third year in a row to raise money for the local public library.

Milne will return to perform ragtime, boogie-woogie piano tunes at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 16 at the Performing Arts Center, 975 H Street. The event is a benefit for the Friends of the Blaine Library.

Milne, 76, took up playing the piano in the mid-1960s and never looked back. Learning to play piano came naturally to him and he learned solely by ear. To this day, he never practices before a performance. In 2004, he was declared a National Treasure by the Library of Congress. He also served as a music ambassador for the US Department of State.

Debby Farmer, an ex–officio member Friends of the Blaine Library, said Milne’s performances always raise a significant amount of money for Friends of the Blaine Library, which is raising money to expand or rebuild Blaine’s 30-year-old library building. Last year, the event raised about $3,000 for the nonprofit, she said. “The guy is phenomenal,” Farmer said. “He’s worth seeing repeatedly.”

Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for students. To purchase them online, visit bit.ly/2odM6NO.