~-- • .. .',. ~# .. ~ , ~ , \\ .•.. / it . / 1Z: , . ~\no / i' . t. I b .: ( , '.- . 'I ' ~', ..' ttl i'\ __ r: I ,\ '. I I ~. r '..'., , - \ - '"3 ~ ,. . ,~, ' I I I ","' , I , ... , If I , , " ~I I • I I I m;~~l\;j;'~j I I i , .......1. "'. '·'i"··.~·{I· 1 ! I e re urn 0 THE WRIGHT BROTHERS For the past four years the Wright Brothers have been featured as the first week concert at Harding. After the act broke up a year ago, students voiced disappointment this fall upon discovering that they would not be able to enter· tain during the week. After the group reunited this winter, Harding was the first college audience for which they performed. "We've been accused of being bluegrass," stated group member Tom Wright during the concert, continuing to comment that they felt that they were more "polished" than traditional bluegrass. The Bison described the group as country·pop·rock, which aptly applies to their repertoire. Included in this concert were a Beatles medley, "Travelling Shoes" and "Anna,'! an original composition by Carl Hinkle for his daughter. The group climaxed the evening with "Rocky Top:' a traditional favorite. ENGLAND DAN Be JOHN FORD COLEY Play for 29 000 Laying carpet on the floor of the New Gym. nasium and renting an 80·foot stage were only a couple of the many preparations made by the Student Association when England Dan and John Ford Coley appeared in concert. Their efforts were judged worthwhile when 2,000 people attended the April 20 concert in 1978. The two native Texans launched their act with familiar hits, "Nights are Forever Without You," "Sad to Belong to So· meone Else," and "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight." Later in the pro· duction, the duo featured some harder rock, demonstrating a less familiar, versatile side of their talent. SAC Hosts favorites A three-year member , Melanie Watson served as chairwoman of the Student Activities Committee (SAC) this year. Working under the Student Association, the SAC is the catalyst for concerts, coffee houses, and even frisbee contests. The 15-member committee works with Dr. Erie Moore in fine arts concerts as well. Each year, representatives of the Committee attend a convention of the National Entertainment Campus Activities Association (NECAA), where they have the opportunity to hear groups that may be considered for bookings at Har· ding. By operating on a block booking system in which the artists play at several schools in an area, the costs of bringing groups to Harding is less expenSive. It was through the NECAA that the SAC first booked Gene Cotton and the Wright Bros. A contract is drawn up under the close supervison of sponsor Jerome Barnes and with it are attached "special riders," requiring the band involved to abide by Harding regulations while visiting on campus. There is much preparation to be done for a concert to be held in the new gymnasium. Recalling the spring concert with England Dan and John Ford Coley, Melanie recollected how the SAC spent many preconcert hours building the stage, collecting "every available folding chair in town," numbering the seats, going to Little Rock to get technicians for the lights and sound , and shopping for unusual foods that were included in the can· tract. Feeling that the expense and work of hosting another concert in the new gym was not worth it , Melanie and the SAC decided to save their funds until next year when a big spring concert could be held in the new auditorium. The SAC has become a favorite of Gene Cotton and the Wright Brothers for the submarine sandwiches that are customarily served to . groups before the concert. Due to the raving of Cotton, representatives of other colleges have asked Harding's SAC for their recipe. "The main thing we try to do is present to them the ideals of Harding," commented Melanie. "We take them out for pizza after the concerts and talk to them a long time about the College . I've taken a couple of groups to church with me the next morning. Our goal is showing them what Christianity means to us and, hopefully, making it mean something." Concerts. 17
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