Great Pretenders take stage July 16
Each summer, the W.C. Handy Music Festival brings outstanding music and entertainment to communities across the Shoals. For more than four decades, the Franklin County Arts and Humanities Council has proudly supported that tradition by presenting the “W.C. Handy Evening at the Historic Roxy Theatre.” Our event is one of the independently coordinated programs supporting the official 44th Annual W.C.
Handy Music Festival, which will be held July 15-26.
The 43rd “W.C. Handy Evening at the Historic Roxy Theatre with the Great Pretenders” will be July 16. Doors open at 6 p.m., followed by a prelude performance at 6:30 p.m. by the Still Here Gospel Group. The show begins at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door, and children younger than 6 are admitted free.
Since 1982, the City of Florence and communities throughout the Shoals have celebrated William Christopher “W.C.” Handy, known as the Father of the Blues, for his accomplishments and enduring musical legacy.
The Music Preservation Society Inc., under the leadership of Chair Tori Bailey, Handy Events Coordinator Amanda Perry, and the organization’s board of directors, coordinates the festival.
Along with volunteers and independent event coordinators, the society presents hundreds of performances and activities throughout the festival.
In the festival’s early years, Edsel Holden and Nancy Gonce were among the original organizers and members of the Music Preservation Society Board that founded the festival.
Holden, affectionately known as the “Godfather” of the festival, and Gonce helped expand the celebration beyond Florence into surrounding communities, including Russellville.
I still remember when the late Russellville Mayor John Blackwell, Holden and I, as president of the Franklin County Arts and Humanities Council, met at Gonce’s home during a Preservation Committee gathering to discuss how the Historic Roxy Theatre and our council could become part of the Handy Festival.
Those conversations led to our first W.C. Handy event at the Roxy, featuring John McAndrew, and began a tradition that continues today. Since then, the Roxy stage has welcomed outstanding performers, including the UNA Jazz Band/Little Big Band featuring Holden as lead vocalist, Kent DuChaine, “Microwave” Dave Gallaher and many others.
For the past several years, our W.C. Handy Evening has spotlighted talented local performers from Franklin County and the surrounding area through the “Great Pretenders.”
I have enjoyed watching these entertainers share their talents with our audiences and continue this wonderful tradition.
Sydney Medley has been performing in the “Great Pretenders” since she was in high school.
“It is always such an honor to get to be a part of this special night. It is so awesome to see all the amazing talent we have in the county showcased in an evening at the Historic Roxy Theatre!”
Katernia Cole-Coffey has served for many years as emcee for “W.C. Handy Evening at the Roxy with the Great Pretenders.”
She has also participated in numerous Handy Festival activities and portrayed W.C. Handy’s wife in the play “Determined,” based on the life of the legendary musician.
The evening will begin with a prelude by the Still Here Gospel group, which has shared its ministry through music for the past 15 years. Members are William Nelson, Frankie Hubbard, Bryant Bonds, Rev. Johnnie Smith, Larry Freeman, Willie Buchanan and Eric Goodloe.
This year’s “Great Pretenders” include Dr.
Danyelle Hillman, Jeff Allen, Angela Townsel, Kinsley Benford, Ella West, Megan Rogers, Ariel Cothrum, Dana Hill, Brandley Benford, Keylee Mayfield, Sydney Medley, Bruce Hamilton, Buford Parker, Tanner Hall, Aaron Freeman, Matt McDuffa and Gunner Lane.
