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'How Sweet It Is' James Taylor tribute is first Community Concert of 2022-23 season
JameTaylorTribute
Steve Leslie, right, will perform “How Sweet It Is,” a tribute to James Taylor, for members of the Golden Belt Community Concert Association at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, in the Great Bend Municipal Auditorium, Lakin and Stone. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. At left, behind the piano is Leslie’s accompanist, Kyle Tupper.

Nashville-based Steve Leslie will sing a heart-warming tribute to legendary singer/songwriter James Taylor in “How Sweet It Is,” the first concert of the Golden Belt Community Concert Association’s 2022-2023 season. The concert is set for 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, at the Great Bend Municipal Auditorium, Lakin and Stone. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. 

A singer/songwriter himself, Leslie, who describes Taylor as one of his greatest influences, presents an authentic and spellbinding tribute with his warm baritone and exceptional guitar technique, and he often has audiences singing along to Taylor’s well-known folk rock, pop, blues and country songs. Leslie is accompanied by Kyle Tupper on piano.

Leslie has received accolades for the music he has written and his songs have been recorded by such country greats as Kenny Rogers, Mark Chesnutt, George Strait, Neal McCoy, Darius Rucker and many others. He wrote “That’s the Truth,” for George Strait’s album, “Always Never the Same,” and he won a Grammy award for penning the title song, “Brand New Strings,” for Ricky Skaggs’s 2004 Best Bluegrass Album. He has played at the grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium, and can be seen regularly at the world-famous Bluebird Café.

Leslie’s background in music is rich in both experience and education. With a bachelor’s degree in guitar and jazz studies from Morehead State University in Ky., Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Boston, Mass. He was an adjunct professor of songwriting at Belmont University in Nashville from 2011-2014.

This GBCCA event is open to association members. No single concert tickets are available. Anyone who is not a member and wishes to purchase a season membership may do so at this concert. Because the concert association encourages music education in the schools, full-time students of any age will be admitted to the concert for a $5 donation at the door.

Season memberships are $50 per adult; $10 for any full-time enrolled student; $110 for a Family Membership (two adults and all dependent children living in the same household); and $110 for a Grandparent Package (two adults and up to four minor grandchildren).

For more information about GBCCA and to see video previews of the new season’s concerts, go to the website, www.goldenbeltcca.org, or call 620-793-2748.