From comments and compliments received it is evident that Old Depot Museum trustees and volunteers enjoyed “An Evening to Remember” as much as our guests did. So much so, in fact, that making this an annual event (until all the negatives are used) is very much under consideration.

One of the friends I enjoyed for a few moments at Harmony Club last Thursday was Doris Holland, who brought news of the upcoming Community Concert Series, one of the city’s most enjoyable yearly events. I will not reveal the name of the series’ headliner; suffice it to say you’ll be rocking in your seats when his music pours forth.

Recalling our conversation brings memories of a Community Concert Association Patrons-Sponsor party in 1981, a truly outstanding evening of this annual event.

Difficult to realize that was almost 30 years ago. My daughter Lisa and her friend Warren (whom I claim as a daughter), who accompanied me, were still in college. I recall convincing them that being a part of the cultural effort of the community was important.

The University of Alabama jazz ensemble with Selma native Carl Tesch at the piano presented music of that glorious period, playing song after song in rich and mellow nostalgic notes, taking us back to the time of the Big Band Era.

The audience settled back as “Satin Doll,” a Duke Ellington classic; Erroll Garner’s “Misty;” the Counts’ “Take the A Train;” and my song, that night everybody’s song, “Don’t Get Around Much Any More.”

That evening my thoughts returned to how very young we were and how happy. I supposed I danced a million miles to those songs played by those marvelous musicians who were so much a part of our lives, and whom we took so for granted.

No small part of the magic of that evening was the four young men playing jazz and swing that were classics long before they were born, and playing with heart and understanding of great musicians who wrote the songs.

The community will again be asked to join in support of the Community Concert Series. And when it is, I am confident that once again the response will be overwhelming, just as it was that evening in 1981.