Letter to the editor: Lee tribute is a chance to show community pride

This Memorial Day weekend, we all have the chance to enjoy an excellent concert honoring one of our most famous Jamestown natives. “A Tribute to Miss Peggy Lee” featuring Stacy Sullivan will take place in the Jamestown College Reiland Fine Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. May 25. This is Jamestown’s chance to enjoy fine music, put its best foot forward and welcome a special group of people to town for the first time.

The family of Norma Egstrom, known to the world as Peggy Lee, will be here for this concert and to help celebrate the grand opening of the Wimbledon Midland Continental Depot Transportation Museum featuring Lee on May 26, the late singer’s 92nd birthday. In addition to family members, several of the late artist’s friends, fans and musical collaborators will be coming to town to see where the famous singer got her start.

The Reiland Fine Arts Center is a world-class facility. The success of the Friday, May 25, “Tribute to Miss Peggy Lee” depends on the support of the people of Jamestown and the surrounding area. This is Jamestown’s chance to show the world that we value her and her contribution to the international music scene.

Several excellent regional businesses have demonstrated their belief in this project by helping to underwrite the event. The concert committee members, Jodi Bunde, Candace Dempsey, Dave Robertson, George Spangler and I, are coordinating with the Fargo production company, Prairie Airwaves to make it happen. This company is the successful producer of the Dakota Air live radio shows that so many have enjoyed. We are striving to make this concert an unforgettable one for all North Dakotans as well as for our celebrity guests.

This concert will be an outstanding entertainment and a tribute to Lee, but even more so, it is a chance to show our community pride. We in Jamestown want the world to know that we honor the legacy of this famous woman.

This won’t happen if we can’t fill the Reiland. Please consider coming to the concert, and please encourage your friends and family to attend. We have the chance to hear some world-class music and celebrate the legacy of an international star who proudly told the world that she was Norma Deloris Egstrom from Jamestown, North Dakota.

Kate Stevenson

Jamestown

Tags: opinion, letters, lee, tribute