ABOUT LETTERS FROM HOME
In 2010, Letters From Home was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and the show is now one of the fastest growing musical movements in the United States..
The host of the show, Erinn Diaz, also writes, directs and choreographs all of the Letters From Home performances: "America's Bombshell Patriot", "America's Bombshell Duo", "Voices of Victory", "Unforgettable: A tribute to the Korean War", "The Patriot & Friends", "Step Into Christmas", "Merry Christmas Darling" and "We Gotta Get Out of This Place: A tribute to Vietnam". Letters From Home started at the suggestion of Pat Dearth, Erinn's father, who was a veteran of the United States Coast Guard. With their mission to honor veterans, active military and their families by reviving patriotism for all generations, Letters From Home has toured in over 30 states, and on cruise ships. In 2017, a documentary on Letters From Home, produced by David Hardy for OurState Television won the Emmy Award for Best Magazine Documentary.
The show is performed in theaters, for air shows, cruise ships, schools, patriotic celebrations, schools, military bases, VA hospitals, VFWs, American Legions and many other venues, all under the management of Nelson Diaz. Additionally, Letters From Home produces The American Story Project, a podcast with interviews of veterans and those who have been effected by patriotism.
If you are interested in booking Letters From Home, Click Here
If you are interested in sponsoring Letters From Home, Click Here
In 2010, Letters From Home was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and the show is now one of the fastest growing musical movements in the United States..
The host of the show, Erinn Diaz, also writes, directs and choreographs all of the Letters From Home performances: "America's Bombshell Patriot", "America's Bombshell Duo", "Voices of Victory", "Unforgettable: A tribute to the Korean War", "The Patriot & Friends", "Step Into Christmas", "Merry Christmas Darling" and "We Gotta Get Out of This Place: A tribute to Vietnam". Letters From Home started at the suggestion of Pat Dearth, Erinn's father, who was a veteran of the United States Coast Guard. With their mission to honor veterans, active military and their families by reviving patriotism for all generations, Letters From Home has toured in over 30 states, and on cruise ships. In 2017, a documentary on Letters From Home, produced by David Hardy for OurState Television won the Emmy Award for Best Magazine Documentary.
The show is performed in theaters, for air shows, cruise ships, schools, patriotic celebrations, schools, military bases, VA hospitals, VFWs, American Legions and many other venues, all under the management of Nelson Diaz. Additionally, Letters From Home produces The American Story Project, a podcast with interviews of veterans and those who have been effected by patriotism.
If you are interested in booking Letters From Home, Click Here
If you are interested in sponsoring Letters From Home, Click Here
ERINN DIAZ was born in a car in Aurora, Colorado during a snowstorm, and her life has been a whirlwind since day one! She is the director, creator and choreographer of Letters From Home, and loves every second of touring life! While not working on Letters From Home, Erinn is the Artistic Director for her non-profit organization Spring Theatre, a theatre company in North Carolina that she passionately founded in 2013. Erinn is also the co-founder of First in Flight Entertainment which has offices in North Carolina and Chicago and entertains all throughout the United States of America. She has been working in the entertainment industry since she was barely walking, and has worked on over 250 theatrical productions nationwide, as well as being in several TV shows and movies. Erinn is also a published author, a national tap dance champion, has worked on-board cruise ships and toured with Cirque productions. She is married to the incredible Letters From Home manager Nelson Diaz. www.ErinnDiaz.com
Erinn Says: My dad, Pat Dearth, was a veteran who served in the United States Coast Guard. When he first suggested to me that I produce a 1940's-style show, I just thought it would be a fun way to entertain and an opportunity to perform some great music. I had no idea at the time that this "little show" would have such a significant impact on my life, but more importantly on the lives of others. Since we started this show, we have had the opportunity to perform for literally thousands of heroes, including many World War II veterans. These incredible men and women are the reason we are free today. We have been honored to bring back happy memories and touch lives in a way that words alone can not express. A woman at one of our shows hugged me, sobbing tears of joy, thanking us for making her feel happiness that she hadn't felt in 60 years and never thought she could feel again. A man at a VA hospital stood up to hug us after a show as his nurses rushed to him in shock because he hadn't stood by himself in years. A WWII veteran departing on the Flights of Honor on the way to Washington DC to see his memorial did the jitterbug with me before returning to his wheelchair. I am so proud and humbled to call these brave men and women my friends. I have met true American heroes and truly feel I could never say thank you enough. My performance and this show are dedicated to my daddy, who passed away in 2015. I now proudly carry on his legacy with every performance with Letters From Home.
Erinn Says: My dad, Pat Dearth, was a veteran who served in the United States Coast Guard. When he first suggested to me that I produce a 1940's-style show, I just thought it would be a fun way to entertain and an opportunity to perform some great music. I had no idea at the time that this "little show" would have such a significant impact on my life, but more importantly on the lives of others. Since we started this show, we have had the opportunity to perform for literally thousands of heroes, including many World War II veterans. These incredible men and women are the reason we are free today. We have been honored to bring back happy memories and touch lives in a way that words alone can not express. A woman at one of our shows hugged me, sobbing tears of joy, thanking us for making her feel happiness that she hadn't felt in 60 years and never thought she could feel again. A man at a VA hospital stood up to hug us after a show as his nurses rushed to him in shock because he hadn't stood by himself in years. A WWII veteran departing on the Flights of Honor on the way to Washington DC to see his memorial did the jitterbug with me before returning to his wheelchair. I am so proud and humbled to call these brave men and women my friends. I have met true American heroes and truly feel I could never say thank you enough. My performance and this show are dedicated to my daddy, who passed away in 2015. I now proudly carry on his legacy with every performance with Letters From Home.
NELSON DIAZ (LETTERS FROM HOME MANAGER) has always been a supporter and lover of the arts, and is passionate about providing the community quality entertainment. An official "Half-Back", Nelson grew up in New York, moved to Florida, and then came half-back to settle in North Carolina with his wonderful wife, Erinn Diaz. A graduate of Columbia University now turned entrepreneur. Father to three amazing kids, Max, Diana and Yoko, and "grandpa" to Caleigh. Owner of Shore Club Chicago. When Nelson is not touring with Letters From Home, he is the CEO of First in Flight Entertainment, and is a passionate business and life coach.
Nelson Says: If you haven’t seen the face of a WWII veteran light up when we bring back those powerful and wonderful memories, you haven’t experienced joy. If you haven’t seen a 91 year old grab a hold of one of the performers and do the jitterbug as his caretaker then walks over and says to him, after the dance, “Here is the wheel chair you requested”, then you haven’t experienced gut wrenching laughter. If you haven’t seen caretakers rush to a combat veteran at the VA Hospital who stood up from his wheel chair and walked over to hug one of the girls at the end of the show, but yet no one had ever seen him walk, then you haven’t experienced the awesome magnitude of an emotional miracle. I have seen the faces of the men and women who have sacrificed so much for us. I have thanked them and this is what I hear the most as a reply….”You are worth it.” I tear up every time. It is why I feel so strongly about it and it is why we do this.
Nelson Says: If you haven’t seen the face of a WWII veteran light up when we bring back those powerful and wonderful memories, you haven’t experienced joy. If you haven’t seen a 91 year old grab a hold of one of the performers and do the jitterbug as his caretaker then walks over and says to him, after the dance, “Here is the wheel chair you requested”, then you haven’t experienced gut wrenching laughter. If you haven’t seen caretakers rush to a combat veteran at the VA Hospital who stood up from his wheel chair and walked over to hug one of the girls at the end of the show, but yet no one had ever seen him walk, then you haven’t experienced the awesome magnitude of an emotional miracle. I have seen the faces of the men and women who have sacrificed so much for us. I have thanked them and this is what I hear the most as a reply….”You are worth it.” I tear up every time. It is why I feel so strongly about it and it is why we do this.
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JOHN TROTTA (LFH BAND LEADER) John Trotta’s first “gig” was polyphonic organist at St. Gregory’s Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio at age 16. He went on to gradate from Xavier University in Cincinnati with a BS degree in Philosophy. While at Xavier, he participated in ROTC and in September 1969, he became a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army with a six-year commitment. He fulfilled two years of active duty in Germany and Vietnam. He was honorably discharged at a First Lieutenant in 1975.
Involvement in Community Theater lead to the formation of his first band, “Sounds Unlimited” which was well known in Ohio. After he and his wife, Pat, moved to North Carolina in 1982, he thought he left music behind. It came roaring back a few years later after he joined the “Pardon Me Boys” Dixieland Band and met many musicians in his adopted state. Business commitments and travel for his company HIDEK Supply caused him to retire from music in 1986. He sold his Baby Grand Piano and gave away all his sheet music. While attending a post- 9/11 concert in October 2001, he was chosen from the audience to dance onstage with the singer. This literally pulled him back into the spotlight. The next week, he joined the “Kings of Swing” as their piano player. He formed “The Likewise Jazz Trio” a year later, who has played for swing dances and cabarets for the last 15 years. Currently, he plays piano with the NC Revelers Big Band and the Holzhackern Tyrolean Band during Oktoberfest season. His other activities include conducting, arranging, vocal coaching and jazz concertizing. Joining “Letters from Home” is John’s way of honoring his fellow veterans. |
COURTNEY GROVES (PERFORMER WITH LFH'S AMERICA'S BOMBSHELL DUO SHOW) Courtney Groves was born in Minneapolis Minnesota and had a love for singing even before she was able to talk. Rumor has it that she could sing the entirety of happy birthday in tune before she was even willing to talk a full sentence. It didn't take long after that for her and her family to realize that performing was what she would be doing for the rest of her life. Courtney started competition dance at the early age of three and continued to dance in competitions around the United States until she graduated high school. During her youth she also did many theatrical productions through both school and theatre companies around the twin cities. After high school she knew there was no other choice for her but to learn more about what she loved. Knowing this, she auditioned to enter the BFA program at the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point and was lucky enough to be one of eight people to be accepted into their BFA program. After a tough but rewarding 4 years she graduated with a BFA in Musical theatre and has never looked back. Both during and after college Courtney has been in many theatrical, commercial, and film productions along with doing print work as well. Some of her most recent roles include Christine in Phantom, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Pixie in the film Sad Clown, Rose in the show Savage Sentinels, and you may even have seen her as a Christmas elf in a Grandmas cookies commercial! Courtney is thrilled to get the opportunity to tap dance her way into people's hearts with Letters from Home and cannot imagine a better way to make people happy.
DAN BECKMANN (PERFORMER WITH LFH'S VOICES OF VICTORY SHOW) Dan Beckmann is an actor and singer from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He currently resides in New York City, holds a BFA in acting from the University of Minnesota, Duluth and is a member of Actor’s Equity Association. Addicted to laughter from an early age, Dan has been entertaining since he could first make noise; first appearing in small pop-up venues such as The Living Room and The Bathroom (his original one-man show, Dance Haphazardly while Brushing Teeth, Subsequently Fall Backwards into Bathtub was adored by his mother; and though the holiday extravaganza Boy Who Spits Chewed Ham onto the Ceiling and Ruins Christmas was critically panned, it enjoys a loyal cult following of one to this day), and moving on to irritate collaborate with with Tony-nominated directors and Broadway legends on regional and Off-Broadway productions, concerts, national tours, cruise ships and international venues across the globe. To date, Dan has had the pleasure of performing on 6 out of 7 continents (looking to put a shrimp on the barbie ASAP, mate) and continues to seek constant attention and validation to this day. He owes everything he has to the support of his wonderful family and to ADHD. Dan’s adventures can be followed when he updates his website every three years at www.dan-beckmann.com
LYNN "WIN" ROBERTS (BOB HOPE/ RED SKELTON/ JACK BENNY IMPRESSIONS) Lynn "Win" Roberts has been performing professionally since the age of 14. He majored in music at the University of Nebraska and was a featured vocalist and instrumentalist with many bands including Russ Carlyle, Wayne King, Ted Weems, Guy Lombardo, Jimmy Dorsey, and Peter Palmer. In 1964, Roberts started developing his musical variety act, playing more than a dozen instruments and singing. He began impersonating stars after hearing that he sounded or looked like them. Roberts's favorite impersonations are Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Red Skelton, Jimmy Durante, W.C. Fields and Frank Fontaine as Crazy Guggenheim. He also does impersonations of band leaders with his instruments. Roberts won a Cloney Award for his impersonation and tribute to Bob Hope in 2006, the Bea Foggleman Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009, and the
Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Federation of Musicians in 2012. For the past 16 years,Roberts has been touring the U.S. and
Canada doing his tributes. On Dec 3, 2017 Lynn was presented with a commendation from the State of Michigan for his work entertaining Veterans nationally as a Bob Hope Tribute Artists. Lynn's first performances for the military were in 1966 when he spent 10 weeks in Germany and Italy doing his shows for the German American Agency.
Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Federation of Musicians in 2012. For the past 16 years,Roberts has been touring the U.S. and
Canada doing his tributes. On Dec 3, 2017 Lynn was presented with a commendation from the State of Michigan for his work entertaining Veterans nationally as a Bob Hope Tribute Artists. Lynn's first performances for the military were in 1966 when he spent 10 weeks in Germany and Italy doing his shows for the German American Agency.
GERALD "JERRY" BRYANT (LFH CONCERT PRODUCER) Jerry recently began working with Nelson Diaz and the Letters from Home performers. Jerry was born in Springfield, Vermont in 1946, graduated High School in 1964, and completed a BS Degree in Accounting in 1974 from The Sage Colleges in Troy, NY. In the middle of his college years, he joined the Army Reserves in Schenectady, NY, with the intention of getting a job and continuing to go to Night School. However, this plan was upended when his Reserve Unit was activated and he found himself in the midst of the Viet Nam conflict. He served out his time as a Medical Lab Tech at Kenner Army Hospital at Fort Lee, VA. After separating from the Army, and returning to the Reserves, he returned to his job at General Electric, finished college, and then completed the Financial Management Program at GE. He spent his earlier career as a Cost Accountant, progressing into managerial, and then Controller positions. In 2013 he transitioned from the corporate life to becoming a Business Manager at his local Catholic church. He met the performers of Letters from Home at a church event. At this time it was Erinn Diaz and Serah Haley. He was so impressed that he asked them to perform at the Winston Salem Elks Veterans Dinner. After two cruises with Erinn and Nelson, and attending several more of their performances, he decided to get more involved, and, as they say, “the rest is history”.
He, and his wife Barbara, have three phenomenal children, Jennifer, Christopher, and Nicholas. They have given Jerry & Barb five wonderful grandchildren, all of whom have special talents.
Jerry says: my life was changed the first time I saw them perform. When you see any one of their performances you’ll see veterans with tears of joy, and proud moments throughout the show as the girls engage the veterans from the audience. There is a great sense of pride being part of this rapidly growing musical performance. I never expected my life to take such a turn in careers, BUT, when you are doing something for which you are so passionate, “it is not a job”. Barbara and I plan to attend as many of concerts as we can, and there will be great pride to have been involved in producing many of these concerts. What a great way to see this beautiful country and meet so many exceptional men and women who gave us the freedom that many take for granted. I don’t!
He, and his wife Barbara, have three phenomenal children, Jennifer, Christopher, and Nicholas. They have given Jerry & Barb five wonderful grandchildren, all of whom have special talents.
Jerry says: my life was changed the first time I saw them perform. When you see any one of their performances you’ll see veterans with tears of joy, and proud moments throughout the show as the girls engage the veterans from the audience. There is a great sense of pride being part of this rapidly growing musical performance. I never expected my life to take such a turn in careers, BUT, when you are doing something for which you are so passionate, “it is not a job”. Barbara and I plan to attend as many of concerts as we can, and there will be great pride to have been involved in producing many of these concerts. What a great way to see this beautiful country and meet so many exceptional men and women who gave us the freedom that many take for granted. I don’t!
SERAH HALEY (MUSICAL ARRANGEMENTS) has done many musical arrangements for Letters From Home, and performed in the group from it's inception through 2016 when her and her husband Matt announced they were expecting a baby! Serah will always cherish the time she spent touring the country with Letters From Home, and you still might catch her helping out at a LFH event or performance! Serah works alongside her dad, Kevin Frack, on their family farm, Terra Sol Farms and with her husband at his European automotive company, Haley European Motors. She is now a happy mommy to her son Eli, her stepson, Nathan, and a goofy chocolate lab, Sydney.
Serah Says: I believe that most of my generation lives life as though wars were only really "fought" many years ago and find it hard to relate to those who have protected our freedom even before we were born. We watch the news and receive a very "arms-length" perspective on the wars of today. I was raised to believe that to lay down one's life for another is the greatest sacrifice of all, so why would we not continue to honor and show our gratitude today as we did so many years ago? The 1940s were governed by war in a way that my generation will never know. What I do know is the men that emerged from WWII or any war since then deserve so much more than any thank you I could ever offer. My grandfather, John F. Vance, fought bravely in the front lines of the U.S. Army in France during WWII. Only when he was nearing the end of his life did I ever truly begin to get a glimpse into his experience during the war. I know how much this show would have meant to him, so I put my heart and soul into it to honor him and his brothers who fought next to him. My grandfather, Robert Frack, served our nation ten years later overseas in the U.S. Air Force and continues to be one of our greatest supporters today. I am so thankful to both of them for instilling in me a love for my country, and a humble respect for those who have risked their lives to protect me.
Serah Says: I believe that most of my generation lives life as though wars were only really "fought" many years ago and find it hard to relate to those who have protected our freedom even before we were born. We watch the news and receive a very "arms-length" perspective on the wars of today. I was raised to believe that to lay down one's life for another is the greatest sacrifice of all, so why would we not continue to honor and show our gratitude today as we did so many years ago? The 1940s were governed by war in a way that my generation will never know. What I do know is the men that emerged from WWII or any war since then deserve so much more than any thank you I could ever offer. My grandfather, John F. Vance, fought bravely in the front lines of the U.S. Army in France during WWII. Only when he was nearing the end of his life did I ever truly begin to get a glimpse into his experience during the war. I know how much this show would have meant to him, so I put my heart and soul into it to honor him and his brothers who fought next to him. My grandfather, Robert Frack, served our nation ten years later overseas in the U.S. Air Force and continues to be one of our greatest supporters today. I am so thankful to both of them for instilling in me a love for my country, and a humble respect for those who have risked their lives to protect me.