Report on Orville Redenbacher

 

Popcorn Festival Receives Signed Billy Joel Guitar

Glen Brown for the Times

 

The Popcorn Festival now has a Nashville Connection and that means Tennessee’s Music Capital. When an anonymous person contacted President Evelyn Brown about giving a signed Ovation guitar by a well-known artist to the Festival; she never expected to get it signed by artist, writer, and singer Billy Joel. Although, Billy Joel is known as “the piano man”, he also plays a guitar. Many people know that Billy Joel is better known as a singer who has won “Record of the Year”, “Song of the Year”, several Grammy Awards, “Best Rock Performer” and other titles that are too numerous to list here. This entertainer, who did not graduate from high school so that he could support his family, loved music at an early age. He started at age of four learning early classical piano and later tied with the Beatles as the act with the most multi-platinum albums in rock and roll.

 

“It was more than I expected and when I saw it, I couldn’t believe it;” says President Evelyn Brown. She asked the anonymous donor; “Is this really his signature?” And he said with a big grin on his face; “I saw him sign it.” Evelyn further states, “What made it more exciting; is that it comes with a letter of authenticity.” When the donor asked about our Festival, he wanted to know if we had a need in our community that the Festival wanted to endorse. That question did not take long to answer when Evelyn stated that there was an interest in buying some handicapped equipment for Forest Park playground. The donor was glad to help us out with an item that the Festival can sell raffle tickets to make money for a worthy cause. With the monies collected, Vice-president Janice Cox states that some of the proceeds will go towards the purchase of handicapped equipment for Forest Park.

 

When asked about the value of the guitar, the donor states, “It’s a $1700 guitar without the case. And with the signature…well, let us say it could be in the thousands of dollars.” It was learned that what makes the guitar unique is the Billy Joel signature when in reality he is associated more with his piano image. But whatever you want to say about the guitar’s worth; it’s always in the eyes of the beholder was related by our Nashville Connection.

 

The guitar is an Ovation Standard Elite LX with light-weight bowl, advanced neck system, and scalloped LX bracing. It comes with an original patented pickup and an OP Pro Pre Amp built into the guitar. Ovation guitars are American made in New Hartford, Connecticut.

 

The signed Billy Joel Ovation guitar is a featured raffle this year and only 2000 tickets will be sold. Tickets can be purchased prior to the Festival at the Brazil Daily Times or from any Festival Board member. Tickets can still be purchased at the Festival

(5-7 October 2007 only). The guitar will be given away on Sunday, 07 October at 5 PM in the Band Shell. You do not need to be present to win. Tickets are $5.00 each or 3/$10.00. Remember, only 2000 tickets will be made available for this once-in-a-life-time event.