The Tyrone-Snyder Township Public Library has announced that the big annual “fun” raising concert will be held Saturday evening, April 16 at the Tyrone High School auditorium, according to Chuck Banas concert chairman and organizer.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the show will start 7 p.m.
“All of the monies raised will go toward paying the annual mortgage on the new Tyrone-Snyder Public Library located at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 10th Street in downtown Tyrone,” Banas said.
This will be the fourth annual concert the library board of directors has put on for the community.
“We have had some really great talent take to the stage to benefit the new library over the past three years, Jimmy Beaumont and The Skyliners, The Marcels, Vanessa Campagna and The Vogues to name a few,” said Banas. “I am sure that this year we will be able to deliver even more entertainment to the community to benefit our new library.”
The library concerts have all been a success for the library and professionally co-coordinated. Last April’s concert attracted over 800 people and became the leader in attendance for the library. Banas feels this year’s concert will have a very good chance to surpass last April’s concert in attendance.
“We are all very excited with the acts that we have under contract for our April 16 performance,” said Banas. “I think that everyone will agree.”
This year, the concert will bring four different types of acts to the high school stage. Opening up the show will be 15-year-old singing sensation Greta Shepardson.
“So many people loved Vanessa Campagna and her talent that we felt that bringing Greta to Tyrone would be a natural fit. She is a tremendous young talent and I am sure that everyone who sees and hears her will agree,” said Banas.
Following Greta’s performance, Banas told The Daily Herald that yet another 15-year-old, Kelsey Wilson, and the Foxtrot Dancers will be performing.
“Kelsey brings a dynamic singing voice to the stage and the Foxtrot Dancers are high energy and will bring a smile and joy to everyone who sees their performance,” added Banas.
The Foxtrot Dancers will also perform solo after they accompany Kelsey in her performance.
Following the Foxtrot Dancers appearing live from Nottingham, England, will be Mr. Barry St. Ives. This stand-up comic has performed at the London Palladium and has worked with some of England’s finest including Benny Hill, before coming to the United States 15 years ago.
Since then, he has delighted audiences all over the country and at sea, appearing with many of the world’s greatest entertainers such as Tom Jones, Willie Nelson, Pat Boone and Engelbert Humperdinck in Las Vegas.
His light-hearted comedy and realistic impressions are only superseded by his amazing voice and British charm. This winning combination has made him a favorite with the multi-national audiences both on land and the sea.
“Barry will have the entire house rolling with his humor and wit,” added Banas. “I am pleased to announce that after Barry performs and we have a brief intermission then we will have one of the greatest performing groups of all time bring our concert home when I get the opportunity to introduce the one and only legendary group The Platters.”
The group began as a quartet in 1953 when bass singer Her Reed put together the quartet and took the name The Platters from the slang term of the day for records. They started off singing for fun, but their singing began to win awards and they soon found themselves in a recording contract with Federal Records.
In 1954 they added a female singer to become the fifth member. The quintet’s first hit came in 1955 with “Only You” gaining number five on the national charts. Then came an onslaught of national hits in 1955 with “The Great Pretender”, “My Prayer”, “Twilight Time” and “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”.
The original Platters have recorded more than 400 songs and have sold over 89 million records in their career. They have appeared in over two dozen movies, including “Rock Around the Clock” and were inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
“We are just thrilled at the line-up for this year’s concert,” added Banas. “In addition to this great line-up, we also have a few surprises in store. This should be a great evening of entertainment for both young and old alike.”
Tickets for the concert will go on sale starting Saturday, March 12 and will be available up to show time the evening of April 16.
Ticket prices are $30 per ticket, again with all the proceeds going toward the mortgage payment for the new library. All seats are reserved seating. All tickets are on a first come first serve basis.
Tickets will be available to be purchased at the following ticket sale outlets: Healthy Alternatives, Bressler’s Food Mart and Sports, Kopp Drugs, Joybeans and The Tyrone-Snyder Public Library. In the Altoona area, tickets may be purchased at the Altoona Public Library.
Concert information as well as tickets may also be obtained via telephone by calling 684-7929 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
More information about the concert and the performers will be featured in The Daily Herald.
