VENTRILOQUIST WILL BE SPECIAL GUEST: JACKSON CONCERT ON TAP TONIGHT

JACKSON -- The Jackson Municipal Band continues its series of concerts tonight at 8 in the Jackson City Park.

Special guest at the concert will be ventriloquist Jesse Padgett of Cape Girardeau. Padgett has turned his childhood love for puppets into a part-time career. His characters include the wise old Grandpa, the air-headed dodo bird Lester and the sharp-tonged Emmet.

The band's portion of the concert includes "Shiloh Canyon," "Stephen Foster," "Bullets and Bayonets" and "Celebration of Spirituals." The band also will play a collection of rock 'n' roll songs in "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll."

All Jackson Municipal Band concerts are held on Thursdays at 8 p.m. and are free.

Special guest at the June 20 concert will be fiddler Bob King accompanied by his wife, Geneva, on the keyboard, playing a selection of country music.

Selections from the band will include "A Touch of Country," "Bonaparte's Retreat," songs from the musical "Annie," "Jambalaya," and "Big Band Polka."

Special guest for the June 27 concert will be "Forever Friends," a trio of young women from the area who have performed in Nashville at the National Quartet Convention. Members are Robyn Hosp, Cheryl Fortner and Paula Andrews. They will perform contemporary Christian songs as well at some old gospel favorites.

The band's portion of the program includes the trombone feature "The Trombone King," "Pride of the Wolverines" and "Dixieland Review."

Concert-goers are urged to take lawn chairs.