'Thursday in the Patch" features "Wally" Fowler

This week's "Thursdays in the Patch" concert will feature

a true son of Kilgore" who began his musical career here in the 1950s.

Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation will present Wallace "Wally" Fowler in concert July 16 at the World's Richest Acre Park. The free, one-hour concert begins t 6:30 p.m.

Fowler, an electronic keyboard player, will be accompanied by his son Chris on bass.

This is Wally's second concert under the derricks and one of many KHPF appearances. His music will provide an evening of enchantment as he plays the beautiful songs many will remember from long years ago.

Wally started his music career playing the trombone in the high school band (he was also band captain). In junior high, he won the Sherwood Conservatory of Music. At Kilgore College he played trombone in the Ranger Band. His connections to Kilgore College run wide and deep, as his beloved grandmother, known as "Momma Fowler," was the Rangerette chaperone for many years.

His musical studies began with Mrs. Brooks and then Joe Proctor, both of Kilgore. Wally was told he should study classical but he wanted to learn popular and jazz. He and others formed a "De Moley" orchestra and he later belonged to the vocal group "The Four Freshboys."

In his musical career, Wally has also managed groups and taught lessons. He entered the Air Force Tops in Blue contest and finished third in Combined Military in both classical and popular instrument solo.

A man of many talents, Wally enrolled in college to study architectural engineering and design. Then he had the calling to earn his "wings" and became a Air Force pilot, flying KC-135s interspersed with tours flying C7As in Vietnam, all the while earning his Bachelor of Arts degree. He then proceeded into a career of education, both in the classroom and administration. He earned a Master of Arts degree, along with 15 hours towards a Doctorate in Education. After retirement, he moved back to East Texas.

It was later in life that he began to play the electronic keyboard, which opened up a whole new world of creation and musical management for Wally through arranging accompaniments for vocalists, writing six musical scores and recording his own albums. His work on the keyboard is simply phenomenal and concert attendees are sure to be spellbound.

Wally resides in Longview with his wife Danna. He has three sons and two grandchildren.

Son Chris has sung and played in groups, in the USO, opened for Sawyer Brown and has his own recording studio. He has been performing and producing music professionally for more than 25 years. In the early 1980s Chris began performing live with his father in Abilene, playing jazz standards. He has been a valued bass player and vocalist for several

bands, has owned and run a successful recording studio and has produced all types of music as a sound engineer. In 1992 Chris opened The Mint, a recording studio in Kansas City's jazz district. He recorded, mixed and produced

CDs for dozens of local bands and talents including jazz, country, rock and rap. The Mint was selected by Kansas City radio station "98.9 The Rock" to produce the weekly radio show "Unsigned." In 1991 and 1992 Chris received the "Best Bass Player in Kansas City" award from The Pitch, the city's premier entertainment magazine. Chris performed as lead vocalist and bass player with The Clique for 17 years.

Everyone is invited to bring your lawn chairs, sit back in the cool breeze, and enjoy a musical journey into yesteryear. Wally says, "Hello Kilgore! It's good to be back. Hope you enjoy the music!"

"Thursdays in the Patch" offers free concerts under the derricks every third Thursday through November. July's concert is being underwritten by Marian Hartman Richardson and Renee' Routon Conner.

All concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. and last one hour.

On Aug. 20, The George Faber Jr. Trio will perform. Faber, a Kilgore native son, is in charge of all of music programs at Tyler ISD.

September's concert will have double billing as Kilgoreites Debbie Dane and husband John Whitehead will perform from 6:30 to 7 p.m., followed by Mark Fried from 7 to 7:30.

October's concert will feature The Jazz Professors on the 15th.

Nov. 19 kicks off "Christmas in the Patch," when the stars on the derricks and holiday lights all over town will light up. The prelude begins at 6 p.m. at the World's Richest Acre with performances by the Kilgore College Ranger Band and twirlers, followed by the program at 6:30 p.m.