By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

Thanks to the Shelby County High School Alumni Association, Music on Main will have one more concert night this summer, Friday, August 15, starting at 6:30 p.m.

The Shelby County High School Marching Band under the leadership of Band Director Tom Grigsby will perform as well as the SCHS Color Guard and SCHS Starlettes Danceline.

Grigsby begins his 18th year as band director. A graduate of Jacksonville State University with a double major in trumpet and piano, Grigsby played in both his high school and college bands. He lives in Columbiana with his wife and two children.

“This band has a strong sense of family,” said Grigsby.

Recently, many band members donated blood in honor of band members Steven and Austin Wilder’s sister, Mollie, who has brain cancer. Mother Renee’ is president of the SCHS Band Boosters. A contest was held and the trumpets won a pizza party for the section with most members who donated blood in honor of Mollie.

The band has approximately 120 students, including some from Columbiana Middle School. Known as the “Pride of Shelby County”, the band played in Gov. Robert Bentley’s inauguration parade. Gov. Bentley graduated from SCHS where he was president of the Student Council.

SCHS band alumni currently playing in their college bands including: University of Montevallo, UAB, Jacksonville State University, University of Alabama, Troy University and Huntington College.

Also playing at Music on Main on Aug. 15 will be three gospel acts. Opening the night will be Three Brothers with Love, the gospel trio of brothers Harrison, Robert and Michael Moore with Frances Love on piano.

Following SCHS band, the Singing Churchmen and Justified will sing. The Singing Churchmen are Joe Stone, pastor of Kline Baptist Church on Highway 76, Jack Stone, Dan Dawkins and Buddy Beasley. Justified is a band from Marbury, consisting of Charles Coleman and his daughters.

Planning the SCHS Pep Rally and Gospel Night are SCHS Alumni Association officers: President Allan Lowe, Vice President Victor Dinkerd, Secretary/Treasurer Dawn Carden and Activity Liaison Randy McDonald. A voluntary love offering for new uniforms for the SCHS Band will be taken on Aug. 15.