Hicks concert will benefit Robbinsville band program
Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera, to buy tickets for the Hicks concert. Tickets can also be purchased at local businesses or at Robbinsville High School.
Robbinsville – Taylor Hicks appears in concert in Robbinsville on Saturday — possibly the biggest name to appear in concert in Robbinsville’s history — and he’s here to help raise money for the Robbinsville High School Band.
Thank Allison Grooms, who runs a shaved ice trailer in Robbinsville during tourist season. Her daughter is a Robbinsville High School senior who plays clarinet for the Black Knights Band and Grooms is president of the band’s booster club.
Grooms has been to 271 Taylor Hicks concerts and is considered one of his biggest fans. She said Graham County Schools Superintendent Angie Knight attended a Hicks concert and – knowing Grooms to be a big fan – suggested she ask him to perform in Graham County to raise money for the band.
Grooms and Knight are big thinkers. Together, they spearheaded a local effort that raised $22,000 for new band uniforms last year, so getting top talent to appear in a small town to support a high school band was more plausible than it seems.
“I’m really thankful for Allison,” Taylor Hicks told The Graham Star, adding that Grooms has “worked tirelessly and put it together.”
Hicks said his band will perform one long set with piano, guitar, base guitar and Hicks himself providing lead vocal, guitar and some “good harmonica playing.”
The concert will be 6-10 p.m. at Big Oaks Stadium. VIP tickets are sold online only.
This is a rain or shine event, event organizers said. If there is excess rain or thunder and lightning that cannot be “waited out” that evening, Hicks agreed to reschedule a rain date if absolutely necessary, where all tickets will be honored. There are also refunds available for unforeseen event cancellation available through the Band Boosters.
The Robbinsville Tourism Authority is fronting the costs of the concert from occupancy tax proceeds – $15,000 to the band and $12,550 for a temporary stage, sound, and lighting.
“The goal is to bring people into the county, which is happening,” Grooms said on Facebook. “There are fans from all over the country coming to see Taylor.”
Band boosters will get proceeds from ticket sales and will also operate a concession stand.
“Our goal is to be able to replace the instruments that are on their last leg,” Grooms said. “Taylor is a friend of mine and we are getting a discount for him and his full band to drive five hours from Birmingham to play for us.”
Debbie Beasley – a town alderman, chairperson of the Robbinsville Tourism Authority and event organizer – said the concert is the first of its kind in Robbinsville.
“We have not had anything like this before that I can remember,” Beasley said. “I hope the band kids remember that something this big was done for them.”
American Idol
Hicks won the fifth season of “American Idol” in May 2006 at the age of 30 — the first male winner and at that time the oldest winner.
Hicks has been a professional musician since his late teens and performed around the southeastern United States for a decade, during which he also released two independent albums.
“I was a 10-year overnight success,” he told The Graham Star, referring to his “American Idol” victory.
Although he had been performing for years, this show “totally changed my life,” he said.
Since then, he has continued to deliver his particular blend of classic rock, blues and R&B, as well as acting on Broadway.
“It’s not just a musical journey, but a journey of entertainment,” he said.
“Taylor Hicks is, of course, super supportive of young musicians,” Robbinsville High School Band Director Amber Watkins told The Graham Star. “When Allison told him she is our band booster president, he was really stoked to take part in something that would benefit all these up-and-coming musical youth. She told him about the uniforms and such and he has been happy to be as cost effective within his contract to support a great cause – the 150th celebration and the Robbinsville Black Knight Band. After Taylor and his entourage were on board with coming for the concert, the Robbinsville Tourism Authority really stepped up to the plate and provided an amazing gift to our Black Knight Band as well.”