Saturday, October 30, 8:00 PM

The Robert Cray Band
www.robertcray.com
Robert Cray is an American guitarist and singer who started playing guitar in his early teens. By the age of twenty, Cray had seen his heroes Albert Collins, Freddie King and Muddy Waters in concert and decided to form his own band; they began playing college towns on the West Coast.

After several years of regional success, Cray was signed to Mercury Records in 1982. His third album release, Strong Persuader, received a Grammy Award, while the crossover single Smokin’ Gun gave him wider appeal and name recognition. With that success, Cray was often selected as an opening act for such major stars as Eric Clapton (who remains a friend to this day), and began playing larger venues as a solo artist. By the early 1990s, his name was immediately associated with his soothing, soulful voice, crisp, clean guitar work, and innovative modern blues sound.

Though generally categorized as a blues musician, Cray’s music covers a wide spectrum. “Blues is one of the foundations of our music, but it’s not all that we play,” Cray says. “When I first started playing guitar, I wanted to be George Harrison – that is, until I heard Jimi Hendrix. After that, I wanted to be Albert Collins and Buddy Guy and B.B. King. It’s all mixed up in there.” He continues, “…a little rock, soul, jazz, blues, a little gospel feel. I always attribute it to the music we grew up listening to on the radio back in the ’60s. It’s pretty wide open. It’s hard to put a tag on it.”

Don’t miss this fantastic entertainer!

This concert sponsored in part by the Furman Mathewson Trust of Edgecombe County Memorial Library.

Tickets: $30 public, $25 senior (65+), ECC faculty/staff,
and students.

Wednesday, December 15, 8:00 PM

North Carolina Symphony

Holiday Pops Concert
www.ncsymphony.org
Founded in 1932, the North Carolina Symphony is a vital and honored component of North Carolina’s cultural life. Its 175 performances annually are greeted with enthusiasm throughout the state in communities large and small, in concert halls, auditoriums, gymnasiums and outdoor settings. Based in spectacular Meymandi Concert Hall at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, the state’s capital city, and an outdoor summer venue at Regency Park in nearby Cary, NC, the orchestra has also appeared at Carnegie Hall in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington, and Orchestra Hall in Chicago.

Under the gifted artistic leadership of Music Director Grant Llewellyn, the orchestra has grown in stature and sophistication. His heralded arrival in 2004 brought audiences to their feet and has invigorated musicians to achieve ever greater levels of passion and eloquence in their playing.

The beloved Holiday Pops concert features music from the holiday season and the popular “holiday sing-along.” 

The orchestra will perform under the direction of  William Henry Curry, Resident Conductor.

PLEASE NOTE: THE HOLIDAY POPS CONCERT IS GENERAL ADMISSION – NO RESERVED SEATING AVAILABLE

Tickets: $20 public, $5 students.

Friday, February 25, 8:00 PM

Jimmy Wayne
with special guest, to be determined
www.jimmywayne.com
Sara Smile is more than another hit record for North Carolina singer-songwriter Jimmy Wayne. Much more.

Jimmy Wayne’s remake of the Hall & Oates pop classic is the centerpiece of an album that showcases his formidable talents as both a vocalist and a songwriter. His soulful singing permeates every note of such soaring, powerful ballads as All the Time in the World, Belongs to You and Counting the Days. He rocks splendidly on There’s a Memory and Things I Believe.

As a songwriter, Jimmy Wayne is uplifting and inspirational on Just Knowing You Love Me. He is soft, romantic and dreamy in Just Look at You. Elephant Ears is touching and tender. In I’ll Never Leave You, which he wrote alone, he finds a new way to explore a loving relationship.

The new album caps what has been an extraordinary year for Jimmy Wayne. Do You Believe Me Now soared to the top of the country charts, was No. 1 for three weeks and became one of the biggest hits of 2008-2009. He toured with Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley and played Madison Square Garden. Nashville Lifestyles magazine named him one of its “Beautiful People of 2009.”

“It’s been amazing,” he says gratefully. “It just goes to show you what perseverance can do. That, plus having a great team.”

Don’t miss this talented North Carolina artist!

Tickets: $30 public, $25 senior (65+), ECC faculty/staff,
and students.

Friday, April 29, 8:00 PM

The Family Stone
featuring original founding members of Sly & The Family Stone, Jerry Martini and Cynthia Robinson
www.familystonepromo.com
You know the songs: Everyday People, Hot Fun In The Summertime, Thank You (Fallettinme Be Mice Elf Again), I Wanna Take You Higher, Family Affair, Dance To The Music, Sing A Simple Song…the list goes on. The Family Stone original founding members Jerry Martini and Cynthia Robinson are both Rock & Roll Hall of fame inductees and R&B Pioneer Award Winners.

Jerry Martini is the original founder of Sly & the Family Stone; calling upon Sly Stone to become the leader of the first interracial, multi-gender major American band. He has also performed with countless luminaries including Mike Bloomfield, Carlos Santana, Robert Cray, Willie Lomax, Prince, and Van Morrison.

Through her years with Sly & the Family Stone, Cynthia Robinson was notable for being an early black female trumpet player in a major American band. In recent years, she has graced many stages throughout the US and Europe, playing with P-Funk maestro George Clinton, Larry Graham, and Prince, to name a few.

Though Sly Stone no longer performs with the group, Jerry and Cynthia have continued to keep this great music alive with a stellar band of musicians and singers. This high energy concert will have you singing along and dancing in the aisles!

This concert sponsored in part by the Furman Mathewson Trust of Edgecombe County Memorial Library.

Tickets: $35 public, $30 senior (65+), ECC faculty/staff,
student and/or child.