LOCAL BAND FIRST IN REGION TO TAKE SHOW ME CENTER STAGE AS OPENING ACT

Former Cape Girardeau Central High School graduates Billy Keys, Keller Ford, Alex Allen and Chris Ford will take the biggest step in their careers Oct. 4 when they open for the Pointer Sisters at the Show Me Center.

The aforementioned quartet make up the band Papa Aborigine, which has been together for five years and has played in local watering holes like the River's Edge, Players and Garfield's. Keys is lead singer and keyboard player, Allen and Ford play guitar and Ford is the band's drummer.

This will mark the first time a local band has opened at the Show Me Center. Papa Aborigine is scheduled to play from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Show Me Center Director David Ross decided to give Papa Aborigine a shot to help boost ticket sales via a local-interest angle. Ross said he was impressed with Keys' voice when he heard him singing after a Southeast Missouri State basketball game.

"After checking around, I found out that he played with a band, Papa Aborigine," Ross said. "Hopefully they will attract some local fans and this will lead to bigger things for them. I hope they can say they got their break playing at the Show Me Center."

Tickets for the concert are $10.50 and are available at the Show Me Center box office, main branches of Capital Bank, Disc Jockey Records and Schnucks. Tickets can also be purchased 24 hours a day at 651-5000.