By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@thecitizennews.com

If you're a fan of country music and would like to support local artists as well as a good cause in the community, head out Saturday to the fourth annual Country Music Concert benefiting Fayette Senior Services.

The concert will be held at Sams Auditorium from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Fayette Senior Services has done a lot of good for the seniors in the community over the last 20 years. The most well-known FSS-sponsored program is the Meals on Wheels, but the agency also conducts a congregate meals program and in-home services like Friendly Visitor, homemaker services and personal care; case management services, and an active senior group, the JOY Club.

This concert is the primary fund-raiser for FSS and helps keep the group current with its programs.

This year's performers will be Allen Goodman and Band, J.J. Cox and John Hudson, along with instrumentalists and vocalists Bobby Calmes, Debbie Clanton, Wayne Bailey, Walley Panutich and Steve Geis. They are also known as AWWOL. The vocalists also include local singers Debbie Walker and her daughter Susanna, Melanie Thompson and Tonya Anderson.

Goodman is a young musical phenomenon that plays a brand of music like Jerry Lee Lewis, while Clanton is better known as one of the Rader Family Musicians from Panama City's Ocean Opry House. Thompson and Anderson are sisters that sing a gospel-like form of country music alongside Calmes, their cousin. The evening will close with Cox, one of last year's favorites acts. She will be backed up by Hudson and the rhythm and bass of the house band.

“I will put our talent up against the record labels any day,” said Harold Joyner, the concert's organizer. “This is an exceptionally talented group of musicians and singers.” Joyner is a retired assistant vice president for Delta. He works closely with local businesses as well as the Board of Directors of FSS to raise money for the group.

“We really appreciate the hard work that Harold and the Board of Directors do on this concert,” said Andy Carden, executive director of FSS. “We always have a great time with the raffle and door prizes at the concert and we hope the community will come out to hear these bands and support FSS.”

Tickets for the show are $5 for adults and $3 for children. Groups or individuals interested in attending the concert can purchase tickets in advance by calling Fayette Senior Services at 770-461-0813. Tickets also will be available at the door.

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