By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
March 29, 2002
Although Doug Deweese personally prefers rock-and-roll, he is bringing a variety of music to town to both satisfy his diverse customer base and help worthy causes.
Deweese, CEO of Super Stop, is hopeful next week's free concert, headlined by Christian rock group Jars of Clay, will raise about $10,000 for Hope Village for Children.
The concert, scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Lauderdale County Agri-Center, has already raised $5,000 for Hope Village, according to Deweese, because advance tickets were made available to church youth groups and the public for a donation of $5 per person through last week. Concession sales will also benefit Hope Village.
Deweese said donations will also be taken at the show, but are not required. Although the concert is general admission, people who have advance tickets will be seated first. Advance tickets are also available through giveaway promotions with local radio stations.
She said money donated from the concerts go to making the home for abused and neglected children ready.
She added that some of the money from the Super Stop concert series will also go toward playground equipment for the children this summer.
Deweese plans to stage other concerts this year in Meridian and the Jackson area. The Jars of Clay concert will be opened by two other acts, Shaun Groves and Jennifer Knapp. They will perform Monday in Canton.
Coming May 28 at the Agri-Center will be Starship and Friends, a group of lead singers from popular former rock groups Mickey Thomas, of Starship; Jimi Jamison, of Survivor; Bobby Kimball, of Toto; Fee Waybill, of The Tubes; and Chuck Negron, of Three Dog Night. The same group will perform in Jackson on May 29.
A free concert featuring the country group, Diamond Rio, sponsored by Super Stop last year, collected more than $8,000 for Hope Village for Children.