MUSICIANS' CHRISTMAS HOOT THURSDAY AND FRIDAY

A proposed scholarship for Southeast Missouri State University and children with mental health problems will be beneficiaries when the Cape Musicians Guild presents its annual Christmas Hoot Thursday and Friday.

Proceeds from the entertainment volunteered by area musicians will go toward establishing a scholarship in the name of Doyle "Whitey" Hendrix and to Cottonwood Residential Treatment Center.

Hendrix was a longtime Cape Girardeau musician who died earlier this year of cancer at age 52. "He always stood up for fellow musicians," said Bob Camp, Hoot organizer.

The Cottonwood Treatment Center helps teen-agers who need mental health treatment.

Camp calls this the fourth or fifth annual Christmas Hoot because the first one was just an organizational party for the Cape Musicians guild.

This year, the guild also is organizing carolers from area schools to perform both nights in downtown Cape Girardeau from 7-10 p.m. To volunteer to carol, phone Jim Whelan at 651-0176.

On Thursday's first day of the Christmas Hoot, musicians will perform their own arrangements of Christmas songs beginning at 8 p.m. at the River City Yacht Club.

"A lot of people have been contacting me and saying, 'We've got our Christmas songs ready,'" Camp said.

Highlights of past years have included "Christmas with the Devil" by Spinal Tap, "Run Run Rudolph" and "I've Got the Blues for Christmas."

The individuals and bands who have signed up to perform include Teresa Morrill, John Lohr, Bob Camp, Keller Ford, Bruce and Anita Zimmerman, Randy and Sally Leiner, Mike McElwrath, Sonny Ford, Kelly Keene, Fara McSpadden, Bill Hughey and Don "Jawbone" Greenwood.

Also on the list are Steve Ariola, Daddy Cool, Human Zoo, Freddie Friction, Doug and Bob, Mike Kohlfeld, and the quartet of Rick Bain, Danny McSwain, Wesley Gray and Richey Blankenship.

Beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, 18 bands will perform at five locations downtown: Broussard's, the Yacht Club, The Edge, Murphy's, Papa Bear's and Sharky's. Purchase of a wristband will allow entry into any of the venues.

Bands and solo acts confirmed for Friday include the Water Street Blues Band, Bruce Zimmmerman & the Shysters and the Bob Camp Project 2000 with the Grubb Brothers Band reunion, all at Murphy's; the Leiner Brothers, Cold Shot, Group Therapy and Van Gogh's Ear at Broussard's; A Ska Christmas featuring Cataphasia and Friends at The Edge; Solid State, the Highway Matrons and Daddy Cool at Sharky's; and Dillagence, Arsenic Orange, Turner-Up and Drivin' Rain at Papa Bear's.

The Highway Matrons, who include Freddie Friction and Mark Stephens, have been nominated as band of year in St. Louis.