JACKSON, Tenn. – On Friday morning, local leaders and the Bicentennial Commission gathered to unveil the lineup of free community activities planned to wrap up the year-long Bicentennial celebration the weekend of August 12-13.
The celebration will begin with the Jackson Madison County Bicentennial Choir performing at the Carl Perkins Civic Center on Friday, August 12 at 7 p.m. Applications to participate in this choir are still being accepted for anyone interested. This event is sponsored by the Bank of Jackson.
A Celebration Parade will happen in downtown Jackson on Saturday, August 13, at 10 a.m. The theme for the parade will be “connecting through the centuries.” The City of Jackson is coordinating the parade and can be contacted for information on how to participate.
A new time capsule will be buried at Bicentennial Park located at 345 West Main Street at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, August. 13.
A free community concert will take place on Saturday, August 13 at the Jackson Ballpark featuring The Commodores and LOLO. Gates will open at 4 p.m. with LOLO taking the stage at 6:15 p.m. and the Commodores at 7:30 p.m. A fireworks show will end the night at 9 p.m. The community concert and fireworks are sponsored by Leaders Credit Union, BancorpSouth and The Jackson Clinic.
Legacy sponsors for the Bicentennial include the City of Jackson, Madison County, West Tennessee Healthcare and Jackson Energy Authority.
About LOLO
LOLO, also known as Lauren Pritchard, is an artist, songwriter, actress and composer from right here in Jackson, TN. Her first big girl job came at the age of 18 years old when she originated the role of Ilse in the eight-time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical ‘Spring Awakening.’ LOLO is signed with Sony Music Publishing and has released three full-length albums.
In 2017, she was nominated for a Grammy Award for her work on Panic! At The Disco’s hit album “Death Of A Bachelor.” LOLO is a co-writer of “High Hopes” and “Say Amen” from Panic! At The Disco’s 2018 follow-up album, Pray For The Wicked, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The global hit, “High Hopes,” achieved number one on all radio platforms and forever marked its place in history as the longest-running number one song, 66 weeks on the Billboard Rock Chart. Her new album, titled “Lauren,” will be released on August 12, 2022, leading up to her performance at the Bicentennial Finale Concert.
About The Commodores
For three decades, the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry.
The Commodores aren’t just any group. They have staying power. Just like their hit song “Brick House,” the Commodores have created a foundation that just won’t budge. After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days, the Commodores still hadn’t achieved Grammy recognition until 1986, without Lionel Richie, when the Commodores released “Night Shift.”
The group was formed in 1968 while all the members were in college at Tuskeegee Institute. After being discovered by Berry Gordy, the Commodores went on to sell over 60 million records for Motown. With hits like “Machine Gun” and “Sail On,” the Commodores became proven artists. They proved it then, and they proved it in 1986 with “Night Shift,” and now they are ready to prove it again.
The successful Commodores of the present have not only produced six new albums and embarked upon a worldwide tour but have created their own record label, Commodores Records and Entertainment. Today the Commodores stand not only as talented and successful musicians but also as artists determined to continue their success into the future.
About the Jackson Madison County Bicentennial Celebration
The City of Jackson and Madison County will both celebrate bicentennial anniversaries, respectively in 2022 and 2021. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime commemoration of 200 years of history, culture and community. Madison County was established by the Tennessee Legislature on November 7, 1821, and was named after the founding father and fourth President of the United States, James Madison. The City of Jackson was formerly known as Alexandria but was renamed in honor of Tennessee native and seventh President of the United States Andrew Jackson on August 17, 1822.
City Mayor Scott Conger and County Mayor Jimmy Harris asked local community volunteer Elaine Christian to serve as Commission Chair. Other Bicentennial Organizing Commission members include Anita Kay Archer, Ted Austin, Leigh Anne Bentley, Trey Cleek, Gayle Gilbert, Loni Harris, Ken Newman, Judy Renshaw, Randy Wallace, Glenn Vaulx and Marda Wallace.
Planning is underway for multiple events during the year-long celebration, The culmination of the year-long celebration will occur in August 2022, the creation of a time capsule to be opened in 50 years and a musical celebration with fireworks.
