Humble Beginnings
The Furman lakeside concert series had its humble beginnings in a long-closed music store formerly located across the street from the Poinsett Hotel in downtown Greenville.
During the 1960s Allen's Music Co.
was an informal gathering place for some of Greenville’s finest musicians.
On most weekday afternoons many would gather there to enjoy fellowship and a
soda from Carpenter Brothers’ Drug Store. The late owner Vernon Allen
had a special relationship with Furman band director Dan Ellis. The university
purchased its band equipment from his music store and in appreciation Allen
donated printed sheet music to the Furman Band.
Although no one remembers exactly when or how, the idea of a summer concert series was brought up during one of these informal group discussions at the music store. And the Furman campus with its beautiful lake and shady oak trees seemed to be a natural host.
When Ellis approached the Furman administration with the idea, university president Gordon Blackwell was enthusiastic. The free concert series would serve as a magnet to attract people from the Greenville community to the new Furman campus while exposing more people to concert band music.
In 1968, the first lakeside concert was held. The low-key event included about 25 musicians, most of whom were members of the Greenville Civic Band. It attracted several hundred curious spectators. Four additional concerts were held that summer.
In those early years the band played from the roof of the student center and concert band music was performed exclusively. However, shortly after that first year Ellis decided to spice up the concerts by adding jazz and Dixieland band performances. The popularity of the event grew and in 1973, the performers, now numbering 45, moved to the student center porch because the roof could no longer support them.
The series blossomed in the 1980s as word of the free summer concerts spread. Today, Furman resembles a busy city park during the 13 lakeside concert performances held from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. On a typical summer concert evening, more than 4,000 are drawn to the music and beautiful surroundings.
The free concerts have endeared many to Furman, who have previously had no contact with the school. For many years the concerts were a summer highlight for Manuel and Bea Fernandez. The couple met and married during World War II and moved to Greenville in the 1950s. Manuel, a native of Key West, Florida and retired Air Force veteran, and Bea began attending the concerts in the 1970s. The couple also enjoyed Greenville Symphony concerts.
After Manuel’s death in 1983, Bea continued to attend the concerts with friends. She also volunteered for Meals and Wheels and the F.W. Symmes Branch of the Greenville County Public Library. Bea, who passed away recently, bequeathed a generous gift that will help endow the venerable concert series. Her gift and the charitable support of others will help ensure that the lakeside concerts – a summer tradition in Greenville that she enjoyed for many years – remain free.
The current director of the Lakeside Concert Series is Leslie Hicken, Director of Bands at Furman University. To learn more about Dr. Hicken, please visit his web page: http://www.furman.edu/depts/music/faculty/profiles/hicken.htm