A Great Night of Opera and Grand Ole Opry raises funds for local art scholarships.

On Saturday, November 14 at 7:00 PM in the Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts Recital Hall, Harry Butler presents “A Night of Great Music to Suit Every Taste”. The show features Rhonda Reid and Jim “Hank” Singleton. It repeats the story of how the Grand Ole Opry came to be and ticket sales benefit scholarships for local music, dance and art students. The “Fund for Access” provides financial aid for the more than 300 students enrolled in music, art and dance lessons at the Gadsden Community School for the Arts, a project based in the Hardin Center. “With the current weak economy, we have seen an increase in financial aid requests. To date this year, over $12,000 has been awarded to students,” said Bobby Welch, Director of the Gadsden Cultural Arts Foundation. “Plus, there is always need for more. Some of our students have an unemployed parent, several even have both parents unemployed. Through the “Fund for Access” these students are able to continue to study in their chosen discipline. Studies show that students who take a weekly structured art lesson excel in other academic areas. We hope that we will always be able to offer students lessons regardless of their ability to pay.”
The show, directed by Harry Butler, writer, broadcaster and local mover and shaker, re-creates a Saturday night in 1927 on WSM radio. WSM went live in October of 1925 from the 5th floor offices of National Life with a simple announcement: "This is WSM, We shield millions. The National Life & Accident insurance Company." Within its first month of operation, "The Solemn ole Judge", George Hay, a popular radio announcer went on the air with his hillbilly program, replacing the shows announcer, Jack Keefe.

Over the next few years, the show was known pretty much as the WSM Barndance until one Saturday night in 1927, George Hay made this statement following the show’s opening performance by DeFord Bailey; "For the past hour, we have been listening to music taken largely from the Grand Opera, but from now on we will present the Grand Ole Opry" and the name took hold and the show has been called the Grand Ole Opry ever since.
Eight years ago, Harry and his wife Anne visited New York City. While shopping at Macy’s they ran into “the singing salesperson”. The salesperson was New Jersey Opera Lyric Soprano Rhonda Reid. Ann, a long time voice instructor, and Rhonda brought applause from the shoppers after they broke into song. Every year since, the couple makes a song pilgrimage to New York and now, Rhonda is coming to Gadsden to perform. Joining Rhonda in the recreation is Hall of Fame winner Jim ”Hank” Singleton. Jim is the second cousin to Hank Williams, Sr. and his passion for singing turned into a tribute to the late great Hank Williams, Sr.
Artist Bios and photos below -end-
<image006.jpg>RHONDA REID -- singer, dancer, actress, and writer...has been performing professionally since 1973. Among her credits are the Nat Horne Musical theatre, the Monte Verdi Opera Company, the Jazz East Dance Company, the New York Sterling Forest Renaissance Festival, several off-Broadway productions, The New York Christmas Revels, and the Xavier company (a NY-based touring Christian musical group).
She has also appeared as guest artist with the Pan American Symphony Orchestra at the New York Symphony Space Theatre. Her international credits include five solo concert tours to Belize, Central America where she has also produced, performed and directed one of her own plays titled, “Through Her Eyes."
Rhonda is trained in singing by teacher and opera singer Lisa Armstrong. Rhonda's vocal styles include opera, sacred, Broadway, Negro spirituals and contemporary Christian. Her dance skills are the result of the Alvin Ailey School of Dance, where she was once selected for the original secondary company, Ailey II.
Rhonda's song selections for the November 14, 2009 concert may include as follows:

1. The Lord Is My Light Sacred
2. Oh, bless the Lord, My soul Godspell
3. Deep River Spiritual
4. His Eye Is On the Sparrow Spiritual
5. Green Finch and Linnet Birde Sweeney Todd
6. My Man's Gone Now Porgy and Bess
7.Love Is Where You Find It Broadway
8. Quando Men Vo La Boheme
9. -- Encore – TBA

JIM “HANK” SINGLETON – Hank Singleton was born in South Alabama. Growing up on a farm and being 1 of 10 children, the whole family was nothing but musicians. You either played an instrument or you sang. Hank started out playing the drums in the family band and doing a little singing. But soon Hank felt the passion for singing and loved it. After he finished his tour of service with the military, he started singing in different places, festivals, reunions, and nursing homes, anywhere he could sing. His passion for singing turned into a tribute to the late great Hank Williams Sr., so when Hank Singleton sings, he sings Hank Sr. When asked “why not sing other music?,” Hank replies “ I’m just keeping the memory alive.” The passion goes deep for Hank. Hank Singleton is actually a blood relation to Hank Williams, Sr. Hank’s mother is the 1st cousin to Hank Sr. So, if you like Hank Sr., you’ll love Hank’s “Tribute to Hank Williams, Sr.”
The fact that Hank sings Hank Sr.’s songs is well known across the State of Alabama (Attalla, Gadsden Ft. Payne, Guntersville, Huntsville, Montgomery, Georgiana, Springville, Lineville) just to name a few; and many, many small towns in between. Hank has also performed his tribute in Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa and Oklahoma. “Singing at area nursing homes is the best yet. It is fun singing for the people at nursing homes, they love you even if you have a bad day,” says Hank. “I have so much fun making people happy.”

If you know Hank Williams Sr., you know about his Drifting Cowboys that played with him. Hank has entertained at one time or another with each and every one of them. The Drifting Cowboys have voted Hank as being the best singer of Hank Williams songs in this part of the country.
Hank has performed and been the featured singer many times over the years at the Hank Williams Sr. Museum in Montgomery, AL. If you’re ever in Montgomery, stop by the Museum. Hank has performed at the Hank Williams Sr. Festival, where he sang with Jett Williams, the daughter of Hank Sr., He has appeared at Steve Maze’s Yesterday’s Memories Annual Award Celebration in Arab, AL, The Polk Salad Festival in Arab, The Homestead Hollow Festival in Springville, and The Baileyton Founder’s Day Celebration.

Hank was inducted into the Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame on September 1, 2006 in Iowa at the Missouri Valley Country Music Festival. He was scheduled for 4 shows but after his first appearance on the main stage he was booked 10 more performances for the next 3 days. In 2005, Hank received the honor of being inducted into the Deep South American Music Hall of Fame given by the American Music Association for his outstanding involvement in the field of music. Following this great honor he performed for 2.5 hours to a crowd of 600 fans. Perhaps the greatest honor Hank has received is The Hank Williams Legacy Award for living and promoting the dream of keeping Hank William’s name and legend alive, given on the July 23, 2005 by the American Music Association and Museum.

Hank has been featured in The Montgomery Advertiser, The Tri-County Daily, The Times Journal, The Anniston Star, The Lineville Review, Tradition Magazine, The Metro-region, The Daily Home, Union Springs’s Herald, The Time Journal, Iowa’s National Traditional Country Music Magazine and the Arab Tribune.

If you’re ever in the area that Hank’s performing you have to stop by and see him. Everyone says he’s the best they’ve heard singing Hank Williams Sr.’s songs and keeping the dream alive.

Air Conditioning Tribute Movie to Premiere at Wallace Hall

The Air Conditioning Tribute Committee of the Gadsden Cultural Arts Foundation is pleased to announce the public screening of a movie chronicling the Air Conditioning Project. “Cool: Gadsden Salutes the Invention of the Air Conditioner” details the initial planning of the project, the selection of artist Thomas Lyles, the production of the air conditioning sculpture, the Freedom Saturday 4th of July celebration, and the unveiling of the sculpture.

The movie also includes many interviews of local citizens who discuss the impact air conditioning has had on their lives and what it has meant to the economic progression of the South. Through these interviews, the viewer gains an introspective understanding of life before air conditioning and comes away with a greater appreciation not only for that marvelous invention, but a heightened appreciation for life in general.

Peter Gregerson, Air Conditioning Tribute Committee chairman, believes that Gadsden is the only city in the world to have a permanent sculpture dedicated to thankfulness, not just to the air conditioner, but also to the “attitude of gratitude” that comes with being thankful. This film shares his vision of thankfulness and inspires the audience to pause and survey all that the things around them for which they should be thankful.

“Cool: Gadsden Salutes the Invention of the Air Conditioner” shows Thursday, September 3, at 2:00 pm at Wallace Hall on the campus of Gadsden State Community College. Admission is free, but donations in thankfulness of the Air Conditioning Tribute Project will be accepted.

Watch the AC Tribute Video Here!