Music legends come alive at Parkside Playhouse Theatre

Published 7:42 pm Tuesday, March 26, 2019

: Award-winning recording artist Billy Buchanan will perform at the Parkside Playhouse Theatre April 9 at 7 p.m., in “The Pioneers of Rock n’ Soul.” During the performance, Buchanan will portray Little Richard, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke and Chuck Berry. (Submitted/The Vicksburg Post)

For one night only, legends from the 50’s and 60’s will come to life at the Parkside Playhouse Theatre.

Award winning recording artist Billy Buchanan will portray Little Richard, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke and Chuck Berry in the touring stage production of “The Pioneers of Rock n’ Soul.”

“This ninety minute show is all about keeping the music alive from these 50’s and 60’s legends of rock and soul,” Buchanan’s publicist Sharon Borneman said, adding, “This is an authentic, jaw dropping portrayal of the ones that started it all with Billy performing all four characters in full costume, wigs, and make up.”

Buchanan, who has shared the stage with Tower of Power, Jersey Boys On Tour, Harry Connick Jr., The Temptations, The Four Tops, Morris Day and The Time and Chaka Khan, just to name a few, grew up with this music at an early age, Borneman said.

“Digging into his father’s LPs at a very young age, Billy became a disciple of all the soul, blues, and rock trailblazers,” Borneman said.

“As an artist, my highest aspiration is to celebrate 50’s and 60’s soul and early rock artists and to educate my audience on these artists’ ginormous contribution to the musical landscape,” Buchanan said.

And not only does Buchanan “belt out the classics like nobody’s business,” Borneman said, he is also an award winning songwriter.

“Buchanan has released seven albums as a solo artist, two albums with the band Fusebox, and another album with the band Beehive. He’s had three Top 20 songs on the CCM charts and has performed in all 50 states and in 26 countries,” she said.

“In his original music, you can hear the backbeat rhythms and musical influences of all the artists he admires,” Borneman said.

In addition to his musical success, Buchanan is a Sunburst Celebrity Impersonator Award Winner. He was nominated for a Dove Award for his role in the touring production and as a celebrity impersonator, he was nominated for the 2018 prestigious ‘Bea Fogelman’ Award of Excellence (the highest honor you can bestow on a celebrity impersonator) at The Sunburst Celebrity Impersonator’s Convention, Borneman said.

Later in the year, Buchanan will be working for ‘Legends in Concert’ out of Las Vegas, Borneman said, “As their Stevie Wonder, later this year, so locals will be seeing the real deal during the Vicksburg performance.”

For more information on tickets or Buchanan, email booking@billybuchanan.org or visit billybuchanan.org/tributes.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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