Three of McMinn County’s best-known singers will make their debut as one act Saturday night in a concert for the Athens Area Council for the Arts.
“Our Three Tenors” will present Mike Simmons, Rusty Patterson and Tim Frazier in an intimate cabaret setting with hors d’oeuvres, desserts and cash bar served to guests seated at tables.
“These three guys are outstanding singers. They’ve either sung solo or as part of larger casts but never together,” said Ellen Kimball, Arts Center executive director.
“We have presented tenor shows here, such as Celtic Tenors, and they are very popular with our audiences, so it just seemed natural to present our three tenors,” she said.
Patterson said their first act will feature Broadway favorites such as selections from “Phantom of the Opera,” “Guys and Dolls” and “Show Boat.” The second act will showcase a variety of styles from country to crooners.
Like their famous operatic namesakes, the McMinn trio is opening with the signature tenor aria “Nessun Dorma.”
“We’re just doing one operatic number, and everything else brings it down to our level,” quipped Patterson.
Patterson said the trio will be backed by pianists Kay Simmons and Pam Thigpen, Joe Littleton on bass, Matt Dannell on percussion, Tim Hughes on trumpet and Corey Walker on saxophone.
“We’re just three ordinary, working guys who love to sing and enjoy each other’s company, coming together to do what we love to do when we aren’t working,” said Simmons. “To be able to do this tenor music together has been a joy for me.”
ABOUT THE PERFORMERS
Mike Simmons
Occupation: Athens Junior High School principal
Credits: Soloist with the Knoxvile Chamber Orchestra; roles in “Camelot,” “Once Upon a Mattress,” “Jazzy Little Christmas.”
Rusty Patterson
Occupation: Abitibi Bowater PM5 paper machine superintendent
Credits: Played Cornelius Hackel in Athens production of “Hello, Dolly,” also had roles in “Broadway Babies,” “My Fair Lady” and Tellico Village production of “A Cole Porter Revue.”
Tim Frazier
Occupation: Quality technician at Johnson Controls, minister of music at Rocky Mountain Baptist Church.
Credits: Performed in “Jazzy Little Christmas,” “The Music Man,” “A Gem of a Show.”
If You Go
What: Our Three Tenors in concert.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday; doors open half-hour before each.
Where: Athens Arts Center, 320 N. White St., Athens, Tenn.
Admission: Reserved seating $12 adults, $10 students; call today for space availability.
Phone: 423-745-8781.