“Just one week from tonight,” was what Chuck Banas, public relations chairman for the Tyrone-Snyder Public Library, had to say about the Feb. 15 benefit concert featuring doo-wop artists Jimmy Beaumont and The Skyliners’.
“It is going to be a great night of entertainment,” said Banas. “I was excited earlier, but now after talking to The Skyliners’ and The Marcels on Wednesday evening, I’m even more upbeat. They shared with me some things that they are going to be doing.
“It’s going to be fantastic.”
The concert was designed to help raise funds for the library’s construction project, that, when finished, will furnish Tyrone and surrounding areas with a state-of-the-art library facility.
Tickets for the concert have been selling extremely well, said Banas, noting only about 300 are left for purchase.
“There are still tickets available,” he said. “Each hour that goes by result in more being sold. On Tuesday afternoon, I needed to go around to all the ticket outlets in Tyrone and give additional tickets as each had sold out of theirs.
“We still have one week left to sell tickets and we are hoping to be able to announce a total sell-out by Saturday evening.”
Tickets can be purchased for $30 and all proceeds will be donated to the library’s building fund. Tickets can be purchased at a number of locations, including the present Tyrone-Snyder Public Library, Joy Beans, the Bull Pen, Med-Center Pharmacy, Miller’s Car Care and Bressler’s Food Mart and Sports. There are also a number of locations in Altoona and State College, and tickets can be purchased from any board member.
Information on tickets can be obtained by calling Healthy Alternatives at 684-7929 or the Tyrone-Snyder Library at 684-1133. Banas said if there are any seats remaining on Saturday evening, these tickets will be available at the door. He strongly urges people wishing to attend not to wait until Saturday evening to attempt to secure a ticket.
The Marcels, famous for “Blue Moon,” will open for the legendary Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners’. For the past 40 years, this group has continued to make music history.
It was back in 1959 that Jimmy Beaumont wrote the first song “Since I Don’t Have You,” which shot the group to the top of the charts literally overnight. Since then, the Skyliners’ have brought us such great hits as “This I Swear,” “Pennies from Heaven,” “Where Have They Gone,” and “Lonely Way.”
Producer Phil Spector calls Jimmy Beaumont “one of the best lead singers in group history” and credits the Skyliners’ with bringing “class to rock and roll.”
“Since I Don’t Have You” skyrocketed to number one in just several weeks time and opened the door for an appearance on American Bandstand when lead singer Jimmy Beaumont was just 18 years old. What is just as amazing is that Beaumont wrote the music for almost all of the group’s hit records.
“Growing up in Pittsburgh, Jimmy Beaumont and The Skyliners’ was a household name…just like Heinz Ketchup,” said Banas. “There wasn’t a Friday night dance in the high school gym that we did not dance to ‘Since I Don’t Have You.
“I am sure this concert will bring back some great memories.”
