Sheryl Crow Aquatic Center dedication, grand opening Saturday

The Sheryl Crow Aquatic Center at Kennett grand opening ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 9:45 a.m. Saturday with a special appearance and performance by the nine-time Grammy Award winner slated tentatively for 11 a.m.

Special introductions will be offered by area officials, including Randy Morgan, president of The Kennett Chamber of Commerce and Jan McElwrath, chamber executive director, at 9:45 a.m., sources told The Daily Dunklin Democrat.

The excitement continues immediately when one of three area bands on tap to perform takes the stage, said Kennett musician and businessman Ken Williams, who serves on the chamber's Quality of Life Committee. Williams will appear with Kennett rock-and-roll outfit, The Usual Suspects, who will act as event headliner and backing group for Crow.

"A lot of people have worked a lot of hours on this," said Williams, who plays drums and harmonica with The Suspects. "We're just happy and thrilled to be a part of the event."

According to an agenda offered to the Kennett City Council by pool manager Krisie Holmes, A Local Band featuring Matt Jackson, Nathan Creed, Darren Cunningham, Steve Pellham, all of Kennett, and Donnie Parker of White Oak opens the show at 10 a.m.

Creed said A Local Band is a good-times troupe that specializes in classic rock. But the guitarist emphasized that friendship rather than musicianship anchors the ensemble.

"We've all played together in different renditions of this group over the years," Creed said. "We just played Paragould's Loose Caboose Festival together last weekend.

"It was our first gig with this lineup," he continued. "We're real excited about Saturday."

The guitarist said A Local Band will play such crowd favorites as Bryan Adams' "Cuts Like a Knife," Steely Dan's "Peg" and John Mellencamp's "Wild Nights."

"We've played events like this before," Creed said. "But we've never played with a Grammy Award winner.

"Not to my knowledge," an exuberant Creed said. "This will be neat."

The Benders, a trio that consists of David Ellis, Roger Privett and Mark Ward, all of Kennett, continues the festivities at approximately 10:20 a.m. with The Usual Suspects on tap to round out the morning at about 10:40.

"I can't say enough about The Benders," Williams said. "They're great."

Ellis said The Benders have been a band for 18 years and have played many venues in Memphis, Tunica and other Midwestern cities where popular music both appreciated and revered.

"I'd call what we do 'classic rock,'" he said. "We always have a gameplan for a gig.

"But we've been together and have been friends so long that sticking to it is something different," he laughed. "You never know. We're just so excited about being included in this deal that our heads are still spinning."

Williams said The Usual Suspects is coordinated by guitarist Jim Baker, who is joined by guitarist and trumpeter Wendell Crow, keyboard player Daryl Wilcoxson, bassist Gary Wilcoxson, lead guitarist Terrell "Dunk" Carter of Memphis, and vocalist Ashley Wilcoxson.

Baker said Williams penned a new original song, "Pool Party," which features Sheryl Crow's vocals sampled into the mix, but was quick to add that The Suspects exist for one reason only -- having fun.

"We put together this group several years ago," Baker said. "It's a rotating group of guys whose sole purpose is to show up, play and have a good time.

"That's what we hope people see when they're around us," the guitarist added. "A bunch of guys who left their egos outside and are just there having fun."

Baker said Saturday's set consists of five numbers, "Never Make Your Move Too Soon," "Still Got The Blues Over You," "At Last," "Steamroller Blues," and Williams' "Pool Party."

"This is something we've really looked forward to ever since we found out about it," Williams said. "Sheryl has done more for our town than many people know about, and that's the way she likes it.

"She sat in with us when we played at B.B. King's in Memphis two years ago," he added. "She loves to jam. It's a thrill to play with her in out hometown. Just a thrill.

Baker was equally as excited to introduce Ashley Wilcoxson to the Kennett audience.

"She does a great job," Baker said of Wilcoxson's rendition of the Etta James tune, "At Last." "We heard her sing this song and everybody thought, 'This would be a great time to make Wendell (Crow) drag out his trumpet and play.'

"When he plays the trumpet, audiences know they're hearing a real horn player," Baker added. "He picked up guitar a few years ago, and he's excelled at that, too. We can't wait. We're all a little giddy about this thing."

Sheryl Crow and The Usual Suspects are expected to take the stage at approximately 11 a.m., with tours of the facility slated for 11:30, the agenda indicated.

A press conference featuring Crow is scheduled for noon, and the first public open swim is from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. the agenda stated.