Don’t delay – enter now!

Want to enter something in this year’s Contra Costa County Fair? The deadline has been extended, so there’s still time! The deadline for submitting paper entry forms is Friday, May 4, and the Fair Office will accept entries until 5 pm on that day. The on-line entry system will be available until midnight on Sunday, May 6.

There are no post entry fees, so simply visit the Fair Office in Antioch or log-on to the Fair’s website at www.ContraCostaFair.com to complete the entry process.

Join the thousands of Contra Costa County residents who enter exhibits in the Fair each year. There are hundreds of categories and specialty contests for adults and children. It’s fun and it’s easy to enter, so don’t delay – enter now!

Complete descriptions of all categories are available in the Fair’s Competition Handbook, which is available on the Fair’s website at www.ContraCostaFair.com.

The Fairgrounds is also accepting coloring contest forms and cook-out paper entries from now until May 18 at 5 pm.

This year’s Contra Costa County Fair is May 31 – June 3. For information, visit www.ContraCostaFair.com or call the Fair Office at (925) 757-4400.

East County Idol 2012 Winners - from left, Nicholas Crossen, Raina Vizcarra, Andie Paredes and Idara Akpakpa with Antioch Music Foundation President Walter Ruehlig. photo by Luns Louis

Raina Vizcarra

Raina Vizcarra  of the Delta Performing Arts Academy in Antioch placed third in this year’s East County Idol competition at the El Campanil Theatre on Friday night, April 21.  She received a $100 cash prize for her performance of “I Will Always Love You” made famous by the late Whitney Houston. Nicholas Crossen, also of Antioch and a student at De La Salle High, placed fourth by performing “Broken Vow” by Josh Groban and received a $50 cash prize.

The first place winner and reigning Idol was Idara Akpakpa from Liberty High School in Brentwood. She was awarded $400 for her rendition of “And I Am Telling You” by Jennifer Hudson. Second place winner of a $200 cash prize was Andie Paredes from Freedom High in Oakley, for her performance of “Here I Am.”

The show was emceed by jazz performer Malcolm Hunter and produced by Linda Thompson and Sharon Vela. Guest performers were 2010 runner-up Ashley Goins and 2008 winner Chanelle Lewis.

At least two professional agents approached the winner after the show. One past East County Idol, Neshia Go, made the

Nicholas Crossen

top 50 of American Idol.

A free performance by the winners will be held at Somersville Towne Center in the rotunda at noon on Saturday, April 28th.

The competition was sponsored by the Antioch Music Foundation through a grant from District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover and Calpine Corporation.

Second Show Added!

The Multi-platinum-selling, Grammy Award winning Christian rock band Third Day will perform in Brentwood at Golden Hills Community Church on Saturday, April 21, 2012 during their Make Your Move Spring Tour.

A second show jas been added at 2 p.m. – Also performing are Matt Maher and Trevor Morgan!

Third Day has played to millions of fans in numerous sold-out arenas around the world. It’s garnered 25 No. 1 singles across multiple formats—not to mention armloads of Grammy and Dove Awards. Yet the band’s willingness to struggle openly before fans and critics alike to unearth its identity, purpose and mission stands as Third Day’s most valued accomplishment during its first decade together. Backing up the band’s ascent, Billboard magazine noted the act is “not only one of the best Christian bands of the ’90s but one of the best rock bands, period.”

Third Day has clearly weathered the difficult climb from obscurity to success, but the band is hardly suffering from over-confidence or complacency. In fact, the band’s eleventh album, Revelation, addresses that very issue head-on. Rather than lean back in a figurative easy chair, Third Day challenged itself immensely, shaking up its direction and reasserting its place as a rock band of enormous depth and passion.

“Our career is like a dream I didn’t even know I had,” drummer David Carr says. “It’s gone beyond anything I could have dreamed of.”

Influenced by the Southern rock of Lynyrd Skynyrd and other artists such as U2 and Rich Mullins, Third Day were originally formed by vocalist Mac Powell and acoustic guitarist Mark Lee. The duo added bassist Tai Anderson and drummer David Carr from another local band, and recorded some demos. Third Day’s live shows gradually built a loyal fan base, and just after lead guitarist Brad Avery joined, the band signed to Gray Dot Records. Their eponymous debut followed in 1996, with Conspiracy No. 5 appearing a year later. In 1999 Third Day returned with Time, and the next year Offerings, a collection of new and live material, came out, followed in 2003 by its companion, Offerings II: All I Have to Give.

That same year, the American Music Awards tapped them with a nomination in the Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist category. For their fifth studio album, 2004’s Wire (which was followed shortly after by Live Wire), Third Day returned to their rock & roll roots, a trend they kept up for 2005’s Top Ten hit Wherever You Are, which came out in CD/DVD format the next year. After the release of the holiday album Christmas Offerings in 2006 and the compilation Chronology the following year, the band announced the departure of Avery in February 2008. Despite the loss, Third Day soldiered on, releasing Revelation in July of that year. The album was produced by Howard Benson and featured appearances by Chris Daughtry and Lacey Mosley. Third Day won the American Music Award in 2008.

The church is located at 2401 Shady Willow Lane, Brentwood. See map: Google Maps

For tickets click here. For more information about Third Day, click here. For more information about Golden Hills Community Church visit www.goldenhills.org.

Lawrence Beaman performs Saturday, April 21 at El Campanil Theatre in Antioch.

America’s Got Talent Finalist LAWRENCE BEAMEN

“A Night of Soul”: A Barry White R&B Tribute Concert

SATURDAY, APRIL 21 at 8:00pm

TICKETS: $15 – $27

El Campanil Theatre

602 West Second Street

Antioch, CA 94509

Box Office: 925.757-9500

www.elcampaniltheatre.com

LAWRENCE BEAMEN stepped into the national spotlight as a contestant on Season 4 of the hit TV Series AMERICA’S GOT TALENT, when his powerful rendition of “Ole Man River”brought the studio audience – and all 3 judges – to their feet. Millions of home viewers rushed to their phones each subsequent week to vote him all the way to the ‘Top 5’ Finals. Since then, he has been playing to sold out crowds in Las Vegas and across the country recreating the sounds that inspired judge Piers Morgan to call him “the next Barry White”.

Currently a Bay Area resident, Beamen’s life and musical inspiration began in the churches of rural Mississippi which he carries with him today. From Gospel to Traditional to Contemporary R&B, his voice projects the passion of his humble beginnings and the optimism of better days.

He has worked with noted artists including Patti LaBelle and Andrae Crouch, and has performed around the world for such diverse audiences as President Bill Clinton, NAACP honoring Rosa Parks, at Buckingham Palace, and even at The Vatican for the Pope.

“I want to bring back the depth of Barry White, the soul of Mahalia Jackson, and the honesty and rhythm of Bill Withers,” says Beamen.

His fans know that he does all of that…and more.

Twenty-one of the best youth singers from East Contra Costa County will perform ballads, Broadway, country, folk, gospel, jazz, pop and rock music in hopes of becoming the 2012 East County Idol and win the cash prize of $400 for the first prize winner, $200 for the second prize winner, $100 for the third prize winner.

The competition, which will be held at the El Campanil Theatre on Friday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m., is sponsored by the Antioch Music Foundation through a grant from District V Supervisor Federal Glover and Calpine Corporation.

Contestants are all high school students and will sing the following musical pieces:

Andie Paredes…………………………………………………………………… Here I Am

Angelina Phelan (with piano accompanist Kathleen Flemming)….. Memories

Bianca Panaligan……………………………………………………………… If I Ain’t Got You

Cayson Renshaw …………………………………………………………………New Shoes

Enrique Guzman………………………………………………………………… Drop Baby Drop

Hailey Schneider……………………………………………………………….. Someone Like You

Idara Akpakpa………………………………………………………………….. And I Am Telling You

Jackie Richardson……………………………………………………………… American Honey

Jakeb Leroy Baird………………………………………………………………. Fly Me To The Moon

Katelyn Allen (with guitar accompanist Drake Miller)……………….. Rhythm of Love

Kayla Arroyo…………………………………………………………………….. The Climb

Madeline Durling………………………………………………………………… Blue Bird

Marcus Lance…………………………………………………………………….. Hallelujah

Marissa LaMantia………………………………………………………………… Good Bye My Lover

Morgan Handy……………………………………………………………………. Don’t Know Why

Nicholas Crossen…………………………………………………………………. Broken Vow

Patrick Velasquez………………………………………………………………… I’m Yours

Rachel Wirtz……………………………………………………………………….. At Last

Raina Vizcarra ……………………………………………………………………. I Will Always Love You

Victoria Young……………………………………………………………………. I Am Changing

Zoe Blalock…………………………………………………………………………. Orange Colored Sky

‘This is the Foundation’s fourth East County Idol; and this event continues to fulfill a vital role in our mission to empower the youth and cultivate a vibrant community,” said Cynthia Ruehlig, board member and administrator of the non-profit Antioch Music Foundation. ‘The competition is a practice of life skills and acquaints the participants to challenges they will soon face as adults.  Contestants learn to complete applications, read and follow rules, write a short bio, plan and prepare for their presentation, face an audience to compete confidently and, most importantly, gain self-esteem and maturity to continue the pursuit of their dreams.”

The event is hosted by jazz artist Malcolm Hunter with special guest performances by Chanelle Lewis, 2008 East County Idol winner, and Ashley Goins, 2010 East County Idol runner-up.

The Antioch Music Foundation sponsors the fourth rendition of the East County Idol this Friday, April 20th at 7:30 p.m. at the El Campanil Theatre.

By Walter Ruehlig

Kudos to the Friends of Music Series for once again bringing major talent to our own Far East Bay backyards.

On March 31st the organization celebrated the 327th birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach at St. Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church. Don Pearson, former Organist and Choirmaster at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral in Denver, and current Director of Music and Artist in Residence at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church, brilliantly performed a selection of Bach’s most thrilling music ever written for the organ. Pearson’s talent was complimented by the fantastic Rodgers’s 958 Trillium Masterpiece three manual and pedal Pipe/Digital Organ gifted the church by an anonymous donor.

A champagne and chocolate reception followed the concert. After all, Johann had a life worth raising a glass to. He was prolific beyond imagination, composing more music than almost any other composer in history. His complete works are in 150 volumes, each one being about as thick as your average telephone book.

Amazingly, even though it is estimated that about one third of his music is still lost, Bach is, nevertheless, the most recorded composer in history. His works have been adapted for everything from jazz choir to synthesizer, from banjo to bagpipes. Oddly, he faded into history after his death in 1750 and owes his popularity to Mendelsson’s efforts some 100 years later.

Bach was chosen to represent mankind on the Voyager launch.  That ship is still in space ready to tell any life it may happen to encounter about life on earth by a sampling of Bach’s music. When asked why Bach’s complete works were not included, Carl Sagan said that would have amounted to bragging.

His story is as colorful as his repertoire. Bach is an ex-con who was jailed for almost two months for asking permission to be dismissed from one job to take another.

He was prolific in more than music. He sired twenty children with two wives. Ten of those children died before he did.

The same physician, Dr. Taylor, had the ignominious distinction of putting a lot of great talent to rest. He performed eye surgery on both Bach and Handel, one in 1750 and the other in 1751. The outcome was not as desired. Both died. Luckily, the well-meaning but star-struck physician couldn’t kill the music.

Due to a lack of ticket sales, the Meet the Press event, scheduled for Saturday night, March 31, 2012 at the El Campanil Theatre, was cancelled.  Organizer Charleen Earley is hoping to reschedule for another venue in the future.