OliverFest date set for North Wilkesboro

Coming off of a successful year in 2009, another OliverFest will be held in Downtown North Wilkesboro.  Festival director and chairman, Ted Brown made the announcement today.  “This year, we will hold OliverFest on Saturday, June 12 from 5 p.m. until midnight.  We had fun with it last year, so we thought we would do it again.” OliverFest is a music festival in honor of the singer “Oliver”.

Brown said, “The festival is still in the planning stages so the only thing we can tell the public is to mark your calendars with the date and time of the event.  However, we should have more information within the next couple of weeks. This year’s event will definitely be much cooler because we’re holding it at night.  Last year we almost had a meltdown, it was simply, too, hot.  It was so hot that we actually took a public vote on whether to hold OliverFest as a nighttime event.  The vote was unanimous to go to night.”

William Oliver Swofford  was known as Bill before becoming a music star.  He was the brother of Carl, Jim and John Swofford.  Carl and Jim are businessmen in North Wilkesboro and younger brother, John is the Commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

William Oliver Swofford became a singing sensation from 1969 until around 1975.  He was born and raised in the Finley Park section of North Wilkesboro.  He was an honor student at Wilkes Central High School where his athletic ability was equaled only by the quality of his singing voice.  He was an outstanding person, scholar, and human being. And, he went on to put North Wilkesboro on the map.  Bill Swofford became a huge name in pop music during the summer of 1969.

A few years before becoming a successful solo act, Swofford had joined with some of his fellow University of North Carolina students to form a bluegrass band, the Virginians. The group recorded and toured, but national success eluded them. Then, in 1968, their manager brought them to a man who would have an immeasurable effect on Swofford's career: Bob Crewe.

By the time he met Swofford, Crewe's sparkling Four Seasons productions had earned him the admiration of everyone from Brian Wilson to Rolling Stones producer Andrew Loog Oldham. He also had hits with many others, from Mitch Ryder's supercharged soul stomper "Jenny Take A Ride" to Lesley Gore's hauntingly beautiful "California Nights."

The Virginians changed their name to the Good Earth and made an album for Crewe's DynoVoice label, only to break up soon after its release. The album failed to hit, while Swofford was left with no band and no deal. Fortunately, he had a major booster in Crewe, who says today that he always had faith in Swofford's talent: "I loved his voice. It was pure, almost like a reed instrument; the clarity in his voice was wonderful. He'd be around the office a lot, and I said, 'One of these days, we're going to come up with a piece of material, and, if that be the case, I'd love to cut you as a solo artist."

Crewe had seen "Hair" and loved "Good Morning Starshine." One of his DynoVoice artists, Eddie Rambeau, recorded it, but it failed to hit. Nonetheless, Crewe was convinced of the song's potential. It was then that he thought of the young Southerner who hung around his office.

Crewe used the drum track of Rambeau's recording to build a new backing track, with Swofford playing guitar. As Swofford later recalled to Record World, others had also discovered the song, so they had to work fast. "We did it very quickly—I learned it on Tuesday and we recorded it on Thursday and Friday. It was the fastest release I was ever on."

Before the disc was released, Crewe decided that a new name was in order. But first he had to ask permission of his friend Lionel Bart, composer of the Broadway smash "Oliver!" "I said to him, 'I have this artist whose middle name is Oliver,'" Crewe recalls. "'How would you feel if I called him "Oliver"?' He said, ' that would be outstanding.'"

The executives at DynoVoice were loath on releasing another "Good Morning Starshine," so Crewe went to Jubilee, which badly needed a hit. As any lover of pure pop knows, the label wasn't disappointed. Oliver's soaring vocals and Crewe's intricate arrangement took the song to #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 in the summer of '69.

Crewe's friendship with Rod McKuen led to Oliver's recording McKuen's theme to "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie." The first single on the producer's new label, modestly called Crewe Records, it did even better than its predecessor, reaching #2 on the Hot 100 and going gold. Oliver's debut album, Good Morning Starshine, followed closely on its heels, reaching #19 and staying on Billboard's album chart for an impressive 38 weeks.

When Oliver's follow-up singles failed to match "Jean"'s success, Crewe tried subterfuge. As the names of Oliver and another of his artists, Lesley Gore, were losing their chart cachet, he used their middle names to create a "new" duo: "Billy and Sue." Why their take on the Fleetwoods' "Come Softly To Me" failed to hit is a mystery. With the fascinatingly complex, multilayered vocals, Crewe accomplished organically what modern artists attempt via digital sampling. Lesley and Oliver's voices complemented each other perfectly and accentuated the song's haunting feel.

Oliver became less and less happy with his direction. "During the course of the popularity of 'Jean,' Bill—Oliver—;started to get a little bit aloof and pull away," Crewe recalls. "The problem was building because Bill, God bless him, was growing up emotionally and wanted to sing meaningful, cause-worthy material.

Oliver began his UA career in early 1971 with a song that epitomized his desire for global change, "Light the Way." It was written by future Raspberries leader Eric Carmen, who also played piano and organ on it and wrote the string arrangement.

Record to host forum for sheriff candidates

By JERRY LANKFORD

Record Editor

The Record will host a Wilkes County sheriff candidates’ forum on Thursday, April 15.

The event will start at 6 p.m. at the upper level of the Wilkes County Public Library on 10^th Street in North Wilkesboro.

The six candidates who have filed to run for the post – Republicans Chris Shew, Zach Henderson, Sharon Call-Diaz, Tony R. Combs, Willie Tharpe and Democrat David Pendry - will participate.

Each candidate will be allowed a two-minute opening statement and a two-minute closing statement. Questions asked of the candidates during the forum will be submitted by readers of The Record. These questions will be drawn at random by WKBC Radio News Director Ed Racey, who will serve as moderator.

Candidates will be limited to one minute per answer.  Each candidate will have a chance to answer each question. No one-candidate questions will be allowed in the forum and no candidates will see the questions prior to the event. The order in which responses are given will be rotated.

Racey has served as moderator for years in forums hosted by The Record.

About the forums, Racey said, “I think they cover a wide variety of subjects, and current issues. They also allow the candidates to give some angles they are working on. The forums help people make up their mind in regards to the issues.”

Speaking of the sheriff candidates’ forum in particular, Racey said, “I think this one should be interested being that we have a number of candidates running. I think it will be especially beneficial in this primary.”

Any one who has questions they would like to submit for the forum can email them to lankford@therecordofwilkes.com, fax them to 336-667-6694 or call Jerry Lankford at 336-667-0134.

 

MX Aircraft opens race season, continues growth
By REBECCA TRIPLETT-JOHNSON

For The Record

For The Record     Red Bull pilots Nigel Lamb and Peter Besenyei flew their MXS-R airplanes into second and third place finishes in the first race of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.
     The season opener was held in Abu Dhabi last week and drew hundreds of thousands of spectators to what is becoming one of the word's favorite motor sports series.  More than 270 million people watched the televised Red Bull Air Race series on networks around the world in 2009. 
      "It was a very interesting week and interesting day of the race," said second place finisher, Lamb.  "I am delighted with our finish."
      "I am super happy to place third," said Besenyei.  "I was going to be happy just to make the Super 8 this time.  However, it is good to be at third in this first race."
     The sleek and fast airplanes, built at the MX headquarters at the Wilkes County Airport, continue to make a strong impression on pilots and Red Bull fans as they enable the brave and talented pilots to cut the air at over 10 g's while making split second turns and climbs in order to maneuver through the chicanes in the fastest time with the least penalties.
     MX Aircraft owner, Chris Meyer, continues to take his company to new heights with state of the art engineering techniques and proficient builders who work to construct the award winning planes for pilots who demand the best aircraft for the world renowned championship series as well as other competitions and pleasure flying.  Through these efforts MX Aircraft continues to be an outstanding Wilkes County company as it goes forward with world wide recognition and county wide growth.  
     While providing jobs and revenue for Wilkes and North Carolina, MX Aircraft is also providing excitement and amazement for spectators of the Red Bull Air Race as well as those watching Aerobatics World Champion Rob Holland and World Free Style Flying Champion Greg Poe perform at air shows across the country in their MXS airplanes.  This excitement has translated to increased business and sales while creating the need for a larger facility.  Construction is continuing on the new MX hanger and office complex at the Wilkes Airport that will allow for further growth and hiring of more employees. 
     "I am very happy to see two of our five pilots place second and third on the pedestal of the season opening race," said Meyer.   It is still too early in the series to make a lot of predictions about the season.  I am just glad that MX is off to a safe and top finishing start in 2010."
    

Genealogical group to meet

By JERRY LANKFORD

Record Editor

Genealogical  aficionados will have a chance to learn more about their passion during a workshop set for Saturday.

A “Farmhouse, Meeting House, Court House: Breathing Life Into Your Family’s Story” with J. Mark Lowe, CG, will be presented by the North Carolina Genealogical Society and the Wilkes County Genealogical Society at the North Wilkesboro Elks Club.

The program includes “Making Those Early Census Records Talk to You,” “My Ancestor, the Farmer: Shaping a Profile for your Rural Ancestor,” “Bible Thumper or Pious Pilgrim: Religious Ancestors on the Frontier,” and “Follow a Case through Court.” Book and map vendors will also be present.

Sandra Watts-Hutchens, president of the Wilkes County Genealogical Society and also a member of the North Carolina Genealogical Society board, said the workshop will be informative.

“Mark Lowe is a great speaker,” Watts-Hutchens said. “He has ancestors from Wilkes County and has been a member of the local genealogical society in the past.”

About the event, Watts-Hutchens said, “It’s just amazing to me the wealth of knowledge you can gather from a workshop of this time.”

Vendors will also be on hand to sell books and other merchandise.

For more information and a registration form, visit http://www.ncgenealogy.org

Registration is 8:30 a.m. until 9 a.m. on Saturday. The workshop starts at 9 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m.

The Elks Lodge is providing lunch, which is covered in the registration fee. Registration is $50 for members of the North Carolina Genealogical Society and $60 for non-members. Those attending have the option to join at registration.

 

 

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Community Happenings

 

On Saturday April 10 there will be an  Open House at the Black Cat Station Railroad Club, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM  and everyone is invited to attend. We are a large "HO" Scale Model railroad, operating many trains at the same time. As we are a non-profit organization, there is no admission charge, and lots of good times to be had by all. The Club is located at: 800 Elizabeth Street, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 (The Old Wilkes Art Gallery) You can find us at www.blackcatstation.com.

 

A Chicken Que will be held on April 9 at Memorial Park in North Wilkesboro from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Event is sponsored by Chapel Hill AME Zion Church.  Plates are $6.00 each.

 

Wilkes Toastmasters is an interactive workshop to improve your communication and leadership skills.  Meetings every Thursday 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm at the Addison Inn on Hwy 421 N in Wilkesboro.  For additional information, email wilkestoastmasters@gmail.com or visit Toastmasters.org.

 

Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission, Inc. (BROC) will hold its BROC Full Board Meeting on Thursday, April 8,  7:00pm, at BROC Ashe Office in Warrensville.  Please call Wilkes Office at 667-7l74, Ashe Office at 384-4543 or Alleghany Office at 372-7284 for additional information.

 

A free seminar on Humor and Caregiving will be presented on Tuesday, April 13 at 1 p.m. at The Ruby Pardue Adult Day Health Care Center on West Park Drive in North Wilkesboro.  For more details, call 336-667-28659.

 

One Holy Lamb, an Easter play will be presented again on Sunday, April 11 at 7 p.m. at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Millers Creek.  All are invited to attend.

 

A gospel singing will be held Saturday, April 10 at Wilkes Central High School Gym.  Show time is 7 p.m. Pre-show is 6 p.m.  Featured groups will be The Bledsoes, The Wishons, New Wine Quartet, and The Key City Boys. Food concessions available. Tickets in advance are $10.00 and $12.00 at the door.  Children under 10 admitted free of charge with paying adult.  Presented by Unity Baptist Church. Call 921-2363 or 838-1166 for more information.

 

Take a Kid Fishing Day will be held on the premises of Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir on Saturday, April 17 from 1 until 3 p.m.  To register, call Chad Eller at 336-921-3390.  Space is limited for the first 100 children.  Registration ends April 10.  Bring rod and reel. Gear, bait, and refreshments will be provided.

More details can be found at www.friendsofthelake.org.