HEFFNER & HEFNER
PERFORMANCE TIME: 2 p.m. Sunday, April 28, Plant City Observer Stage
WEBSITE: skattanproductions.com
When Katherine Heffner was building her career as a jazz artist, her management team in Pittsburgh at the time decided she needed to switch up her name to be more recognizable.
“They wanted to call me ‘Cat,’ but I didn’t like that, so we went with ‘Katt,’ adding an extra T and took one of the Fs off of my last name,” Hefner says. “It’s two Ts and one F. I liked it, and it just stuck.”
Hefner has been singing since she was little, and her brother, Stan “The Man” Heffner, has been playing the organ since he was 16.
“He was self-taught and was pretty much a child prodigy,” Hefner says. “He plays the Hammond B3, which is the organ. The boss. It doesn’t sound like any other.”
The brother-sister duo has been playing together for a long time, but the five-member Heffner & Hefner band has been together about one year. Together, the band released its first album, “Over & Under Blues.”
The group features talented musicians, including saxophonist Butch Thomas, who has toured with Sting, Lenny Kravitz, Elton John, Diana Ross, James Taylor and more.
Since forming, Heffner & Hefner have played shows and festivals throughout Tampa Bay, including the Ybor City Jazz Festival, the Sarasota Jazz Festival and the Tampa Cigar Festival.
This will be the group’s first time performing at Keel and Curley Winery.
“We’re very honored to be playing the Blueberry Festival at Keel and Curley,” Hefner says. “Personally, I love their blackberry wine. I knew of them long before they knew of me. We have friends and fans in the area that are excited to come and see us.”
As a solo artist, Hefner has had an impressive career, with three successful solo albums. She has headlined world tours and had a stint performing in Tokyo, Japan.
Heffner & Hefner also has completed a musical play, “4 Faces of African-American Music,” which premiered in February.
“People who come see us play will love the energy we bring,” Hefner says. “If they like good music, that’s what they’re going to get.”