34 Concerts and something I'd never seen before," said Joe Mabry, a junior from Michigan, "a man playing three different keyboards at once. This year it was the same thing . He used the same routine and only added about one new song to his whole program. It got kind of old." Iceberg began with an electronic version of Harding's Alma Mater, played tunes ranging from Walt Disney to Bach and added a Pink Floyd number. On his awe-inspiring machine, Iceberg conjured up guitars, violins, trumpets, human voices, saxophones, electronic applause, cats, dogs, rain, thunder, wind, trains and cars. The grinning musician added "Fanfare for Wendy Iceberg," a touching piece dedicated to his daughter. Grammy Award winner Ray Stevens who had chalked up such hit s as "Gitarzan," "The Streak," and "Misty," was next in line to thrill country and comedy lovers. Stevens, who is widely known for his sense of humor, said, "To laugh at something is the biggest and best way to bring whatever it is that's bothering you down to size and deal with it. But lUke all kinds of creative work. It doesn't ha've to be funny." Stevens, a true entertainer, kept the crowd laughing with his 1962 hit, ..Ahab the Arab," and modern spoof, "I Need Your Help Barry Manilow." But Stevens did have a serious side. His song, "Misty," which won him a Grammy for the best arrangement in 1975, portrayed deep feeling and emotion for a beautiful girl, Misty. Stevens' warm-up act was David Loggins, a songwriter from eastern Tennessee whose top release was the single, "Please Come to Boston" with Epic Records. He was a tremendous addition to the program. "I like the lyrics to his Boston song," commented Linda Malick, a freshman. "He keeps asking her to come to him. She just wants him to come home." The one dissappointment of the year's concert schedule was the cancellation of Gene Cotton. Cotton, who had visited Harding before, caught the Bangkok flu and missed his appointment because of the illness. He had, however, managed his annual appearance by "warming up" the audience for Anne Murray. Rounding out lhe year's singing and playing were the Wright Brothers. For their ninth consecutive time, the group performed before an appreciative audience. Brothers Tom and Tim Wright along with Karl Hinkle mixed their talents on such songs as " Death Comes a Knocking" and "The Rainmaker. " The entertainers performed impressions, told jokes and talked with audience members in order to build the rapport that made the concert more than a series of songs. In all, thousands flooded into the new Benson to hear the numerous performers. One concert enthusiast spoke of her feelings for the varied shows. "Harding has an excllent program," commented Helen James. "Lots of work goes on behind the scenes. It is difficult to get a group suitable for Harding and yet also popular. We've had both, and that 's a tribute to Dr. Barnes and the SAC." - Skip Bradley and Jimmy Allen
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