Weather doesn't halt Handy Fest

FLORENCE -- Tangela Middlebrooks pointed to the stage on the lawn of the W.C. Handy Home and Museum to illustrate why she loves the opening ceremonies of the W.C. Handy Music Festival.

“I'm coming to listen to some good gospel music,” the Florence resident said Sunday evening. “I also enjoy the people, and some people from out of town who we haven't seen in a while will be here, so we're looking forward to that.”

Middlebrooks was among a crowd at the event, which officially kicked off the festival.

The band she pointed to was Billy Allen and Friends. When Tori Bailey, one of the festival organizers, introduced the band, she said someone talked her into letting them perform for the event.

That man, Ken Hawkins, promised Bailey the band wouldn't disappoint. Judging from the way the crowd clapped and swayed to the sounds, Hawkins was right.

Hawkins was among the crowd, enjoying the action.

“I've known Billy Allen since he was born,” he said. “He's been in choirs at First Baptist Church in Town Creek all of his life.”

Other performers also took their turns on stage, including state Sen. Bobby Denton, who sang “The Lord's Prayer” for the festival's opening prayer.

As is tradition, Eric Kirkman got on stage with his trumpet and performed a rendition of Handy's song “The St. Louis Blues.”

In what is becoming a festival tradition, volunteers with Keep The Shoals Beautiful were on hand.

One volunteer, Charles Wickwire, said the group is at various Handy functions this week.

“It's a litter-free event, sponsored by us, but in partnership with whatever the venue is,” Wickwire said. “We roam around and pick up any litter we see, but also provide trash cans and containers for recyclables.

“Last year, there was zero litter here when we left. We think it's important to be at these events, not just to clean up, but also because people take this message home.”

Florence residents Lillian Cooper and Wayne Fuqua said they don't miss the opening ceremonies if they can help it.

“We both love music,” Cooper said. “I'm loving this

singing.”

For a while Sunday, organizers wondered whether the opening ceremonies would go on as scheduled. Threatening clouds and spots of rain in the area had them worried.

Bailey said Mount Moriah Primitive Baptist Church officials told her they could move the ceremonies into the church's life center if it rained.

“There's a deacon standing at the church with the keys right now,” Bailey said. “If it rains, we'll shut down here and move it over there.”

The rain held off.

“I'm afraid maybe the threat of rain kept some people away, but those who are here will be blessed with wonderful music,” Bailey said.

“We get all kinds of requests from groups wanting to perform at the opening ceremonies. It's hard to pick out who to choose. I would like to have them all here, if it were realistic.”

She said the festival, which started Friday and runs through Saturday, has more events than in previous years. “We have a lot of festival favorites performing, and some new ones, so it's a good

mixture.”

Bernie Delinski can be reached at 256-740-5739 or bernie.delinski@TimesDaily.com.