Legends Revue with Todd Allen Herendeen to benefit SOWEGA Council on Aging

ALBANY — Sadly, music fans will no longer get to experience the thrilling live performances of late music legends Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Buddy Holly.

But Saturday night, Southwest Georgia music lovers will have an opportunity to connect with the spirit of those great artists and others.

Indiana native Todd Allen Herendeen, one of the most dynamic musical showmen working in America today, is set to bring his Tribute to the Legends show to the Albany Municipal Auditorium on Saturday. The 7 p.m. performance will benefit the Southwest Georgia Council on Aging.

State Theatre owner Lane Rosen is promoting the benefit show.

“The Council on Aging has been our good neighbors at the State for the last 10 years,” Rosen said. “We are acutely aware of their economic predicament, so we wanted to help any way we could. It’s always good to do something that benefits our community, and the Council on Aging is one of our greatest causes. Some of the programs they provide give some of our senior citizens the only human contact they have all day.

“We were planning to have Todd’s show at the State because there is such a local demand to see him, but we decided to hold it at the Municipal Auditorium because it’s a more appropriate venue and gives us an opportunity to raise more money for the Council on Aging.”

Herendeen, whose patriotic 2011 single “My Name Is America” reached the No. 1 spot on the “indie” world country music chart, has opened for such superstar acts as Jerry Lee Lewis, B.J. Thomas, the Four Tops, “Little” Jimmy Dickens, Tim McGraw, Gretchen Wilson, the Beach Boys, the Platters, Diamond Rio, Foreigner and Rhett Akins. He has also hosted TV’s The Todd Allen Variety Show.

Las Vegas and Panama City Beach, Fla., are among the cities that regularly host Herendeen’s gospel, country and classic rock revues.

SOWEGA Council on Aging Development Director Izzie Sadler said proceeds from Saturday’s show will help with a number of the council’s ongoing projects, as well as the construction of its new Family Life Center.

“Because of the (2010) census numbers, we received a big cut in the funding we get from the federal government,” Sadler said. “What people don’t know, though, is that because of sequestration, unless things change we will continue to have our funding cut for years to come.

“We’ve actively tried to diversify our funding, and community support is an important part of that. Lane contacted me about doing this benefit, and I think the fact he would hold it at the Municipal Auditorium rather than his own venue shows what a true supporter of our mission he is. We’re receiving 50 percent of the net proceeds from the show, and that funding will be used for several of our programs and to maintain our new facility.”

General admission tickets for Herendeen’s Legends Tribute are $40, while limited reserve seating is available for $50. Tickets are available at the Council on Aging’s 1105 Palmyra Road offices, at Austin’s Firegrill and at Moe’s Southwest Grill. For reserved seating contact Rosen at (229) 344-2237.

For additional information about the benefit concert, contact Rosen or the Council on Aging at (229) 432-1124.