Marlena Smalls and  Lavon Stevens and Band will be playing Jazz and Blues at the Arsenal, 713 Craven Street, Saturday, October 27, at 7 p.m.  All proceeds will benefit KNOB (Kids North of the Broad), a newly formed after-school artistic program for children ages 11-18. Smalls and her nonprofit partner, Maura Connelly, created KNOB to "link children to the arts ... one note at a time."

[caption id="attachment_8568" align="alignleft" width="199"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Arts-Marlena-Smalls.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8568" title="Arts-Marlena Smalls" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Arts-Marlena-Smalls-199x300.jpg" alt="" width="199" height="300" /></a> Marlena Smalls to perform at The Arsenal this weekend, Saturday, Oct. 27.[/caption]

"During difficult economic times, the first programs often cut are the arts. We wanted to give back to the community and foster a diverse arts program for our children," said Dr. Smalls. The focus will be on music, writing, visual arts (including photography), dance and theatre. The introduction to the program will be Tuesday, October 30, 2012 from 3:30 - 5:30. KNOB will be housed at the Boys&amp; Girls Club of Beaufort, 1100 Boundary Street. Any questions about the program can be answered by calling Maura Connelly at 843.812.1239.

Dr. Marlena Smalls is a versatile and dynamic entertainer, educator, singer and actress. She began singing at an early age and furthered her education at Central State University. In August 2012, she received and honorary doctorate in music from the University of South Carolina, Columbia. A vocalist and lecturer, Marlena ventures into the early history of musical genres such as South Carolina Sea Island plantation melodies, as well as gospel, jazz and blues.

Lavon Stevens is a native of Savannah. Lavon began singing and playing piano at the age of 7. He began performing in local groups across the Southeast at the age of 13. His first instrument was the violin. He later studied voice and piano at Dekalb College in Atlanta.

The program starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at the Beaufort Visitor Center, 713 Craven Street or over the phone by calling <a href="file://localhost/tel/1-%2528800%2529-638-3525">1-800-638-3525</a>.