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Ron Jackson's Perspective
The Sunday Journal -
Think
Kankakee, Illinois
March 21, 2004
Sweet music helps
enliven downtown |
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Happening.
Now that is a word that isn’t used very much anymore, and it
certainly hasn’t been used to describe an activity in downtown
Kankakee in a very long time, but that was the best way to sum up
the “Everyday People” benefit concert at the Paramount Theater on
March 10th.
For the first time in many years, the main stage at the
Paramount Theater presented a live musical performance and what a
performance it was. The entertainment was the quality you
would expect to see only if you drove to Chicago and would be
willing to pay much more plus an additional $45 just to park.
In what could be titled, “The Little Drummer Who
Could,” the story starts as the dream of one man, Gary Reynolds, a
local painter who painted the main theater and was also a drummer
who dreamed to perform there at least once, the equivalent to
Michelangelo performing in the Sistine Chapel.
One man took his dream and matched it with a community
need — support for the Youth Programs at the Community Resource
Center, and the end result was the happening that will be remembered
for a long time.
Without the need for committee meetings, subcommittee
meetings, and research, Mr. Reynolds went about his mission of
securing the use of his dream venue and finding the most talented
local musicians available to support his cause. He didn’t stop
there. He found the best light and sound professionals.
Again, all this talent was found right here in Kankakee County. Who
but Gary Reynolds “woulda thunk it?” Judging by the response
from the 500 or more appreciative people in the crowd, he succeeded
on all accounts.
In addition to the “Everyday People,” kudos to some
other entities from this community who played a big part in making
this event a successful reality: The Paramount Theater and their
wonderful staff, WVLI and WKAN radio stations, The Kankakee River
Valley Chamber of Commerce, Colonial Studios of Bourbonnais, The
Daily Journal, King Music, and the hundreds of people who came out
to support a worthy cause.
Gary Reynolds’ personal dream may have come true, but
it had an ever farther reaching effect. His efforts will help
keep it possible for many local youth to continue pursuing their
dreams. Who knows, there may be a future painter or drummer at
the Community Resource Center. If not, certainly there will be
a dreamer or two. As loud and beautiful as the music was, the
message to the world spoke volumes that wonderful things can again
happen in downtown Kankakee if you only dream it can.
Yes, downtown Kankakee was happening one recent
Wednesday night. The is only one question left unanswered.
Will it be “happening” again?
Jesus Christ, General Douglas Macarthur and the
Terminator all promised they would be back. The Everyday
People did not. Then again, they have not left the area, so
there is hope we could see them again. Let’s keep hope alive.
Who knows, maybe if we all dream hard enough like Gary
Reynolds, it, too, will come true. |
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