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Published on 9/28/2008

Jazz Under the Oaks at Litchfield Plantation Sunday afternoon concluded three weekends of excellent entertainment during the Pawleys Island Festival of Music and Art.

David Duckworth on piano was followed by Brazilian singer/composer Duda Lucena at the finale´, infusing the type of international flavor with our own unique sights and sounds that the late Dr. Lee Minton envisioned when he began the festival in the early 1990s.

That President Fred Newby and Executive Director Susan Baldwin were able to present such a high quality program without the assistance of Accommodations-tax funding makes this year's festival all the more impressive.

There were concerns that the festival would not be held this year because of a lack of funding after the county refused its normal request. Thankfully, that was not the case, and Dr. Minton's dream remains intact.

He was a big fan of Lowcountry spiritual and gospel singing and started the Miracles of Zion, a combined group from the Sensational Miracles from St. John's AME Church and the Men of Zion from Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Georgetown.

One of the objectives of the Pawleys Island Festival is promoting Lowcountry traditional African-American music. Over the years, the festival has had the Hallelujah Singers of Beaufort (seen in the movie "Forrest Gump"), the Moving Star Hall Singers of Johns Island and the Harlem Gospel Ensemble. This year's festival included the Waccamaw High School Chorus/Hallelujah Singers as its tribute to the local sound.

One of Dr. Minton's first projects was an evening of music at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, called Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, in September of 1991. Notable area performers were the first artists to enthusiastically respond to his call. As the years passed along, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik became a staple as other programs were added.

Professionals were hired and the original weekend became three weekends in October.

Out of necessity, the festival has moved on. This year it featured Sam Bush, known as the "king of Newgrass," (think modern bluegrass) and a heart-pounding fiddle group, Barrage. The festival added impromptu comedy with Chicago City Limits, chamber music with Philip Powell and the Long Bay Symphony to round out its offering.

The festival continues to offer better and better talent, showing growth and maturity and the ability to withstand the loss of local tax support.

This community is enhanced by its cultural arts. The Pawleys Island Festival of Music and Art has continued its legacy against long odds this year. It deserves the community's support when it begins organizing for 2009.