Grassroots Equipment and Outdoors partnered with Townsend Spice and Supply in presenting The Cleverlys at Ozarka College on Sept. 10.
Hosted by the Ozarka College Foundation with the support of the local ICARE organization, The Cleverlys brought a crowd of nearly 700 to the John E. Miller Auditorium at Ozarka College in Melbourne.
Led by Paul Harris, his band of “family” artists performed renditions of recent pop hits to the tune of their classic bluegrass sound.
Event proceeds benefited the Earnie Blackley Memorial Scholarship Fund through the Ozarka College Foundation, which by showtime tallied more than the $10,000 needed to fully endow the scholarship.
“Losing Earnie was a huge blow to this community, and we felt like hosting a concert in his memory would be the least we could do to honor a life dedicated to law enforcement and public service,” said Shane Linn, owner of Townsend Spice & Supply. “We owe a big thanks to Grassroots Equipment for kicking this off; we’re grateful for the show of support and proud we were able to endow this scholarship.”
The remaining funds supported ICARE, an organization that comes to the aid of abandoned and abused animals. The concert’s success is a result of event coordination by Ozarka Foundation board member Shane Linn; key financial support from Bill Miller with Grassroots Equipment; Ozarka supporting staff; and Sheilla Wammack of ICARE, Ozarka College said in a release.
“We are so grateful for the community support that continually makes these events successful,” said Dr. Josh Wilson, Ozarka College vice president. “This concert has been a priority since before the pandemic, and we appreciate Shane’s coordinating this show as a commitment to honoring and memorializing the life and career of Sheriff Blackley. The Foundation will carry that memory by awarding a scholarship in his name each year.”
The Cleverlys are a comedy/music blend coming from the remote part of the Ozark Mountains, near Cane Spur, Ark. They are all accomplished musicians putting their unique bluegrass spin on cover songs from any genre. The Cleverlys’ set list included genius arrangements of tunes like Psy’s “Gangnam Style,” a medley of Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” and Flo Rida’s “Low” that recently went viral on Facebook, with over 11 million views from a local TV appearance.
Image and information provided by Ozarka College
Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. And don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Get up-to-date local and regional news/weather every weekday morning and afternoon from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3 KWOZ. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on 93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and Your FM 99.5.
