Black Tie

Devan Smith has fun on the set of the morning news show Fox News Rising with Anna Kooiman and Mark Mathis. Smith, a native of Charlotte who works in L.A., was invited to talk about the "hype man" (the person who gets the audience warmed up before a show) work he does for awards shows. He's scheduled to make an appearance at the BET Awards as a correspondent for the awards show at the Shrine Auditorium in Hollywood airing June 28. (Photo courtesy of Mark Pendergrass)

Gaynor Russell with Lance and Hope Drummond at the Jamaican American Cultural Association of Charlotte's annual gala June 6 at the Hilton Charlotte Center City. It raises scholarship funds for students in Jamaica and Charlotte. (Photo by Markus Perry - Special to the Observer)

Guests at the Jamaican American Cultural Association of Charlotte's annual gala at the Hilton Charlotte Center City. It raises scholarship funds for students in Jamaica and Charlotte. (Photo by Markus Perry - Special to the Observer)

Scholarship winner Nardia McEwan and board member Yvonne Ferguson at the Jamaican American Cultural Association of Charlotte's annual gala at the Hilton Charlotte Center City. It raises scholarship funds for students in Jamaica and Charlotte. (Photo by Markus Perry - Special to the Observer)

Scholarship winners Nardia McEwan and Mykeela Downer at the Jamaican American Cultural Association of Charlotte's annual gala at the Hilton Charlotte Center City. It raises scholarship funds for students in Jamaica and Charlotte. (Photo by Markus Perry - Special to the Observer)

Andrea Dahm and Adrienne Volin of Luquire George Andrews in front of the logo they designed for Charlotte Concerts. (Photo by Olivia Fortson - ofortson@charlotteobserver.com)

McKay Belk of Porcupine Provisions Catering offers hors d'oeuvres to Gail Brinn Wilkins and Sandy Hamilton and as Diane Peery looks on during a cocktail party at Wilkins' home to announce the newly named arts group Charlotte Concerts, formerly known as Carolinas Concert Association. (Photo by Olivia Fortson - ofortson@charlotteobserver.com)

Parrish McCormick, Marty Viser and Scott Bauer from CPCC's music department were among the guests at a cocktail party to announce the new Charlotte Concerts series, which kicks off in October at Halton Theater on the main campus of CPCC. (Photo by Olivia Fortson - ofortson@charlotteobserver.com)

Diane Peery with Nick Prato (left) and Glenn Phillips at the cocktail party to announce the newly named Charlotte Concerts series. (Photo by Olivia Fortson - ofortson@charlotteobserver.com)

Guests react to the exciting news about the newly formed arts group, Charlotte Concerts, formerly known as Carolinas Concert Association. (Photo by Olivia Fortson - ofortson@charlotteobserver.com)

Gail Brinn Wilkins and Parrish McCormick at the Charlotte Concerts party. (Photo by Olivia Fortson - ofortson@charlotteobserver.com)

Guests gather to hear the exciting news about the newly named arts group Charlotte Concerts, formerly known as Carolinas Concert Association. The series begins Oct. 16 at its new home - Halton Theater on the main campus of Central Piedmont Community College - with a performance by the Perlman/Schmidt/Bailey Trio. Tickets: 704-330-6534; 704-527-6680. (Photo by Olivia Fortson - ofortson@charlotteobserver.com)

Gail Brinn Wilkins with Barry and Pat Smith at the Charlotte Concerts party. (Photo by Olivia Fortson - ofortson@charlotteobserver.com)

Priscilla Dabney, Jennifer Roberts and Fred Dabney at a Salon Party benefit for Charlotte Chamber Music. (Photo by Daniel Coston - Special to the Observer)

Larry Tilson, Ben Roe and Elaine Spallone at a Salon Party benefit for Charlotte Chamber Music. (Photo by Daniel Coston - Special to the Observer)

Joanna Enten with entertainer Hardin Minor at a Salon Party benefit for Charlotte Chamber Music. (Photo by Daniel Coston - Special to the Observer)

Ben Thorman, Sandi Thorman, Mary Bryan Smith and Van Smith gather on the balcony of a penthouse at Morrison for a Salon Party featuring musical performances to benefit Charlotte Chamber Music. (Photo by Daniel Coston - Special to the Observer)

Atmosphere at a Salon Party benefit for Charlotte Chamber Music. (Photo by Daniel Coston - Special to the Observer)

Atmosphere at a Salon Party benefit for Charlotte Chamber Music. (Photo by Daniel Coston - Special to the Observer)

Past Charlotte Chamber Music board chair Sandy Welton with incoming board chair Larry Tilson at a Salon Party benefit for Charlotte Chamber Music. (Photo by Daniel Coston - Special to the Observer)

James and Leslie Ford at a Salon Party benefit for Charlotte Chamber Music. (Photo by Daniel Coston - Special to the Observer)

Guests at a Salon Party benefit for Charlotte Chamber Music. (Photo by Daniel Coston - Special to the Observer)

Guests gather on the balcony of a penthouse at Morrison for a Salon Party featuring musical performances to benefit Charlotte Chamber Music. (Photo by Daniel Coston - Special to the Observer)

Atmosphere at a Salon Party benefit for Charlotte Chamber Music. (Photo by Daniel Coston - Special to the Observer)

Cellist Bjorn Ranheim performs at a Salon Party benefit for Charlotte Chamber Music. (Photo by Daniel Coston - Special to the Observer)

George and Kathleen Mundle at a Salon Party benefit for Charlotte Chamber Music. (Photo by Daniel Coston - Special to the Observer)

Anke Mermans, Lynn Lewis, Casey Mermans and Frank Bragg at a Salon Party benefit for Charlotte Chamber Music. (Photo by Daniel Coston - Special to the Observer)

Larry Tilson, David Tang and Ben Roe at a Salon Party benefit for Charlotte Chamber Music. (Photo by Daniel Coston - Special to the Observer)

Hardin Minor entertains guests at a Salon Party benefit for Charlotte Chamber Music. (Photo by Daniel Coston - Special to the Observer)

A musician performs at a Salon Party benefit for Charlotte Chamber Music. (Photo by Daniel Coston - Special to the Observer)

Lisa Stimmer and Paul Homoly at a Salon Party benefit for Charlotte Chamber Music. (Photo by Daniel Coston - Special to the Observer)

Charlotte Chamber Music's executive director Elaine Spallone addresses guests at a Salon Party benefit for Charlotte Chamber Music. (Photo by Daniel Coston - Special to the Observer)