The Beagles performing at Friday Nights at Milepost 89

Special to The Clinton Courier

The Beagles will perform on Friday, June 20, at 6:30 p.m. at Friday Nights at Milepost 89. Their musical style has influences of New Orleans jazz and Memphis blues, as well as country, gospel and contemporary music. They are best known for music by Patsy Cline, Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, Elvis, Crystal Gayle, James Taylor, the Doobie Brothers and others mixed with jazz hymn arrangements and gospel songs with a touch of soul.

Originally, the group functioned like a music co-op, where there was a pool of musicians, and, when the request came to perform, the first two or three musicians that committed to the date played the event. This method created a unique instrumentation depending on the musicians available, the singer and the variations on key signatures to put the music in the right range. People would ask if the band had a name, and, for years, it didn’t. Somewhere along the way, the name “Beagles” came up for the group, since the “Rat Pack” was already taken.

The group members are Curtis Carter, keyboard and vocals; Sherry Brown, clarinet; David McCoy, drums and harmonica; and Wilson Karges, dobro. Guest musicians join the pack for some performances. The group is available for hire for worship concerts, Valentines and Christmas concerts.

Friday Nights at Milepost 89 is the third Friday of the month at the Clinton Visitor Center. Admission to each performance is at least eighty-nine cents, and collections go to the musicians.

The Visitor Center is located at 1300 Pinehaven Road at Milepost 89 on the Natchez Trace Parkway. For more details, call 601-924-2221.