The Virginia Beach community is honoring the legacy of Robert “Bobby” Melatti by naming a stage in his honor to ensure future generations will never forget his contribution to the oceanfront entertainment scene.
Virginia Beach City Council unanimously approved the renaming of the 24th Street Park stage to recognize his importance to the success of the city. A plaque will be placed in the spring at The Robert ‘Bobby’ Melatti Stage.
Melatti died on July 11; he was 77.
A longtime resident of Virginia Beach, Melatti established the region as a destination for live music, festivals and community events. His work in the city spanned three decades with an emphasis on recognizing and celebrating young talent.
He was also a well-known rock ‘n roll producer working to book shows for artists on the East Coast in the ’90s.
Melatti was active in the civic arena: previously serving as chairman of the Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission and as a member of the Virginia Beach School Board.
The renaming will remind the community and visitors of his contributions each time they attend a concert, festival or gathering in a space he helped bring to life.
“The 24th Street Park is home to so much of our beach events programming, so having the stage named after Bobby is incredibly meaningful,” said William Younce, who succeeded Melatti as director of the Beach Events program. “It’s beautiful to see our City Council unanimously agree to recognize a great man and the remarkable legacy he left for this city.”
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Crystal Graham
