Enjoy the sounds of the '70s and benefit early education at the same time.

Quint and Rishy Studer are hosting an evening with iconic 1970s band Pablo Cruise on Sunday March 17, at the Rex Theatre on Palafox Street.

The concert not only will feature the band behind the hits “What’cha Gonna Do?” and “Love Will Find a Way,” it also will serve as a benefit event for Studer Community Institute’s early learning projects.

“Pablo Cruise is an iconic band of the rock era. Rishy and I are so happy to be able to bring them to Pensacola for the community to enjoy,” said Quint Studer, who founded the Studer Community Institute. “We want people to come and have a wonderful time. We also want to give our guests the option to donate to support the early learning work that SCI is doing in our community to help make Pensacola a better place for all of our children.”

In 1975 Pablo Cruise released its first A&M album, “Pablo Cruise.” Instantly, mystique surrounded the band’s name and the well-rehearsed answer went something like this: “Pablo”, represents an honest, real, down to earth individual, and “Cruise” depicts his fun loving, easy going attitude towards life: In essence that’s what Pablo Cruise music is all about. Honest, real down to earth vocals, accompanied by fun yet elegant, infectious grooves. 

From 1975 to 1985 the band toured the United States, Canada and Japan extensively, welcoming fans to “Climb Aboard The Good Ship Pablo Cruise.” In 2005 a reunited Pablo Cruise picked up where they left off and today the band performs all over the U.S. and Canada and they’re enjoying it more than ever.

Tickets to the show are free. Attendees, however,have the option to offer a suggested donation of $25 — which buys one Brain Bag for a family. A donation of $50 per ticket includes preferred seating at the REX Theater. 

Brain Bags are SCI’s early literacy toolkit, given to each of the estimated 5,000 mothers who give birth each year in Escambia County. This bag includes tools and advice to help parents use the power of talking, reading, singing and playing from the very first days of life to build a child’s brain. Healthy early brain development is critical in the first three years of life – when 85 percent of the human brain develops. A healthy brain is the foundation for a child’s readiness for school — and helps puts that child on a path for success in school and life.

Since the project began in spring of 2017, more than 9,200 of these toolkits have been given to parents to help them understand the power they have through their time and attention from the first days of a child’s life to support the healthy brain development of their child. Parent you complete the survey connected to the toolkit say their knowledge about this important topic goes from a 7 before the lesson to a 9.6 afterward.

“Our philosophy is that parents who know better, do better,” said Shannon Nickinson, director of early learning for SCI. “We think these survey results are so encouraging because they tell us parents feel empowered by the lesson of the Brain Bag. We are proud to continue to bring the message that early talk and interaction fuels healthy brain development and school readiness to every family in Escambia County. Because every family benefits from the message that talking, reading, singing and playing with a child will help build a brain and build a life.”

Doors for the concert open at 6 p.m. and the good times start at 7 p.m. Note that seating is limited, it is at a first-come, first-served basis. Get your tickets here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-bodacious-evening-with-pablo-cruise-registration-57747596616