Kilgore Community Concert Association presents: The Coats

The Coats play for the Kilgore Community Concert Association. The Coats, a Seattle-based men's vocal ensemble that became U.S. national grand Champions by sweeping the National Harmony Sweepstakes, will appear at Dodson Auditorium on the Kilgore College campus at 7:30 p.m. Thursday (May 11) under auspices of the Kilgore Community Concert Association.

Their performance is the last in the association's 2005-2006 season. Admission is by Community Concert Association membership, with no individual tickets being sold. However, non-members who join for the 2006-2007 season may attend The Coats' performance at no additional cost.

Memberships will be available at Dodson Auditorium 30 minutes in advance of the concert at $35 for adults, $10 for students, or $80 for family memberships.

The Coats trace their beginning as an ensemble back to 1987, when four young men on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle found a common passion for singing and joined together in a four-part vocal ensemble.

Initially, they sang on campuses, at local restaurants and supermarkets, sporting events, and anywhere else a crowd would gather to listen. They became regulars at Seattle's celebrated Pike Place Market. They crafted a distinctive a cappella sound and developed a repertoire that spans the popular hits of more than four decades. They are equally at home with everything from 1950s doowop songs to jazz and country ballads.

Because most of their early performances were out of doors, they wore trenchcoats to protect themselves from Seattle's inclement weather. They became known at The Trenchcoats, but eventually shortened the name to The Coats.

As word of their unique sound spread, the ensemble received invitations to perform with such celebrities as Kelsey Grammer on NBC's hit comedy Frasier, The Beach Boys, Jay Leno, Trisha Yearwood, and Hall & Oates. After a 2001 performance in The White House, President George W. Bush was quoted as saying, "The White House has never heard such great harmonies."

The ensemble includes tenor Jamie Dieveney, who composes much of the group's original music; baritone Doug Wisness, the group's founder and leader; bass Kerry Dahlen; and tenor Keith Anderson.

For more information, call 903-983-2834.