TAMMS READY TO JAM

Members of The Southland Band include, from left: kneeling - Mike Mason, Scott City; and Roy Chasteen, Chafrfee; and standing - Tom Green, Cairo, Ill.; John Jenkins, Sikeston; and Mike Green, Cairo, Ill.

Members of the country band Shenandoah can identify with the cause of Tamms Jam 1994.

Tamms Jam, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 27-28, at the community park in Tamms, Ill., is designed to raise funds to help the town pay its share of costs toward construction of a super maximum prison.

Shenandoah had to pay its dues in a more dramatic fashion. The band was shackled with financial woes following a legal fight over the right to use its preferred namesake. It seems at least two other bands claimed to have exclusive rights to the name Shenandoah.

Having endured the worst of that battle, which led to bankruptcy in 1991, Shenandoah is back on track and ready to play for events such as Tamms Jam. Shenandoah will be on the main stage at 7 p.m. Sunday night.

Fact is, Shenandoah has emerged from the ordeal stronger than ever. "We had always been close as a band," said lead vocalist Marty Raybon. "Through the whole experience and ordeal, it just made us a whole lot closer."

The Southland Band, a local group that includes three members from Scott County and two from Cairo, Ill., will be the opening act on Sunday beginning at 7 p.m. Roy Chasteen, who plays lead guitar and sings is from Chaffee, Mike Mason, who sings and plays the piano is from Scott city and John Jenkins of Sikeston plays the harmonica. The other two band members, Tom and Mike Green, are from Cairo, Ill. Tom sings and plays drums and Mike plays bass.

Said guitarist Jim Seales,"When it actually looked like we were going to start making a decent living, that's when the lawsuit hit. We had 24 hours to make a decision if we wanted to declare personal bankruptcy, and what amazed me is that nobody even took the 24 hours."

Shenandoah can lay claim to the recent success of such hit songs as "If Bubba Can Dance", "Under The Kudzu" and "Sunday In the South."

"If Bubba Can Dance," has climbed steadily up the Billboard ladder since its 1993 realease. The song even reached the No. 1 position on the country charts in May.

"You know,' said Raybon,"the only thing we've ever wanted to do is to try and touch the hearts and souls of people out there who come and see us. The best part of this for us has always been that one-on-one contact with the fans out on the road. The people who come out on the bus, or the folks you meet in the autograph line and get a chance to say something to you are just great."

He added,"Even the fellas who clean up the auditorium after you leave. That's really what kept us going, even through the worst times."

Shenandoah has built a strong base of support with hit records like "The Church on Cumberland Road," "Next to You, Next to Me," "The Road Not Taken", "Extra Mile" and "Long Time Comin'".

Kathy Graviett of Oran, president of the Shenandoah Fan Club in Missouri, said club members are organizing to go to the concert together. She said fan club members will be able to participate in a meet-and-greet session with Shenandoah before the concert. She noted that membership is $10.

Tickets for the concert are $15 for lawn chair seats and $20 for reserved seating. Graviett said she still might have some reserved seats for sale by calling her at 262-2250.

For ticket information on Tamms Jams '94 call (618) 747-2807 or (618) 747-2526.

Shaply Hunter is joining forces with his wife Judy and Leah Pettit to help organize the event. Shaply said he is hoping to raise $10,000 to help defray costs for electric, water and sewer services to the prison.

Shaply Hunter said the event would need to draw about 2,500 to become a success and 1,500 to 1,700 to make it a break-even venture.

The two-day event includes a men's and women's slow pitch softball tournament, a craft fair, Knights of Columbus spelling bee for sixth, seventh and eighth graders.

The event will begin at 11 a.m. each day and close at 6 p.m. The softball tournament will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Scheduled to appear on Sunday are June Benson from Sikeston and Stonebroke of West Franfort, Ill.

The men's slow-pitch tournament is filled, but there are still places available for the women's slow-pitch tourney. There are approximately 35 craft booths scheduled, but there is still room for more.