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Sept. 14, 2005, 10:03AM LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLLSpring Branch, Cy-Fair residents aim to reach Baby Boomers through songDuo plans musical events that will appeal to 40-plus crowdBy KIMBERLY BLAIRChronicle Correspondent
Spring Branch resident Chuck Davidson and Jerry Creed of Cy Fair are on a mission to bring quality entertainment to the over-40 crowd in the Spring Branch community. ''The goal is to establish a local venue for Spring Branch residents to have quality entertainment at a reasonable price in our community," Davidson said. ''The hope is to have quarterly, if not monthly, shows for the Spring Branch community." The first venture is a Good Times Oldie Party featuring Dean Scott & Friends, which include Mike Duffy and Jodi Rayburn. The event is scheduled for Sept. 22 at The Pavillion on Gessner, 2500 N. Gessner. The stage was set more than a year ago when Davidson and Creed, general manager at The Pavillion, began discussing the dearth of entertainment options open to residents in the community. "There is no place in the area, that we know of, that even offers live entertainment for the 40- plus crowd," Creed said. "We feel that older people today are healthier, more active and are looking for more to do than going out to eat and to the movies. "Most don't enjoy going to nightclubs, which primarily target the younger crowd, anyway," he said. "That's not to say that people under 40 or 50 won't like the shows. We've already heard from people in their early 30s who said they have been waiting for something like this in the area," Creed said. Davidson, president of the Spring Branch North Super Neighborhood, said the goal is to "establish a local venue for Spring Branch residents to have quality entertainment at a reasonable price in our community."
Community reactsSpring Branch resident Bill Crafton is all for new entertainment opportunities."I'm excited about that possibility," said Crafton, 74. "I think bringing in some of the more mature entertainers, both pop and even country western, would be interesting. "If you think about it, I don't believe there's a place like this in Houston you can go to," Crafton said. "You can go down Richmond Avenue and see all of the venues there, but they're geared for a younger age group." Anne Chaney, who lives in Spring Shadows, already has reserved several tables of eight for fellow members of the Spring Branch North Super Neighborhood. "Just to have something like this in the neighborhood is really good," said Chaney, 72. "I don't think this is just a senior citizen thing. "I think we'd like to have things like this for everybody." The event also has caught the attention of younger music fans. Cypress resident Dayna Myers, 34, has been planning to attend the show since she heard about it from a friend. "I am so excited," Myers said. "You just don't hear that kind of music. "The world is so crazy. This evokes a nice atmosphere. The lyrics are good; the music is good."
Hit the spotlightWhen it came to organizing the first show, Creed turned to an old friend and veteran entertainer Dean Scott.Scott, 61, has appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Ed Sullivan Show and toured with legendary blues master B.B. King. The Memorial-area resident also has performed for former U.S. Presidents Gerald Ford and George Bush. "Dean was the first one I called because he is the best bet for that age group and can do so many things that they will enjoy," Creed said. "He is one of the best vocalists and entertainers that I have ever seen and does incredible impressions of Ray Charles, Neil Diamond, James Brown, Lou Rawls and many more." said Creed, 54, who is from Cy Fair. He plans to bring Scott back to the Pavillion for a special show that spotlights his impersonations "with all of the characters he portrays in costume." Creed said he and Davidson hope to tap into an "underserved market that's ready to have a good time and listen and dance to the music that they like." "I'd really like to bring in tribute bands — everything from the Beatles and Beach Boys to Elvis — on a regular basis," Creed said. "But first we need to see if there is interest."
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