Thomas Memorial Scholarship concert to be held Friday, April 6

The second annual concert to benefit the Leon and Curtis Thomas Memorial Scholarship Fund will be held at 8 p.m. Friday, April 6 at the East St. Louis High School Auditorium, 6901 State St.

The concert and scholarships honor the memories of singer Leon Thomas, an East St. Louis native who performed with Count Basie, Santana, Pharoah Sanders, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and others, and his brother Curtis, a community activist. The money raised goes to scholarships for college-bound students from East St. Louis High School, the alma mater of both Leon and Curtis Thomas.

Featured performers at this year's show will include pianist Reggie Thomas, tenor saxophonist Willie Akins, drummer Steve Tatum, trombonist Kevin Ward, bassist Ben Wheeler, tenor saxophonist James Warfield Jr. and singer Gloria Brand. East St. Louis Poet Laureate Eugene B. Redmond, an English professor at Sourthern Illinois University -Edwardsville and a high school classmate of the Thomas brothers, will serve as master of ceremonies, and Sherman Fowler will also read poetry.

Tax deductible tickets for the concert are $20 and may be purchased by contacting Harvey Jackson c/o Jackson & Associates, 4800 State St, East St. Louis, Illinois 62205-1355; or by by calling Harvey Jackson at 618-274-0928 or Earl Jackson at 618-910-2687.