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WELLSBORO – On Wednesday, July 6 at 7 pm, Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and producer Verlon Thompson will take the stage at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main St. in Wellsboro. The evening marks the kickoff of the Little Hickory Concert Series at the Deane Center which will raise funds for the Sue Cunningham Music Scholarships.

Little Hickory Productions Inc. was founded by Frank Serio, a Wellsboro resident whose partner and love of his life was Sue Cunningham, a world-renowned violin player, who passed away in 2015. Little Hickory was started to honor Sue’s legacy by supporting the youth music scholarships they have created in her name. Sue was a PhD Mechanical Engineer and Rocket Scientist, in addition to performing and recording music with a who’s who list of great musicians. She also co-founded the Hickory Festival just outside of Wellsboro in 2001 which became the area’s premier roots music gathering and brought thousands of people to the area every summer.
“I am very excited that we’re kicking off this series with one of my best friends and Sue’s last and most favorite musical partner, Verlon Thompson,” said Serio. “Little Hickory Concert Series is going to be special because we’re inviting musicians that performed all over the world with Sue – that happen to be some of the most influential, highly respected musicians working in the Americana, Roots, Folk, and Country genres today. Their love and appreciation for Sue will be the heart and soul of this concert series – truly a special thing!”

Verlon Thompson is a multi Grammy nominated recording artist who spent over 30 years playing and writing with the legendary Guy Clark, and his songs have been recorded by Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Alan Jackson, Jimmy Buffet, and many more. He has performed frequently at Hickory Fest and has previously performed solo and with Sue Cunningham at the Deane Center. The show begins at 7 pm at the Deane Center’s Coolidge Theatre. There will also be a special ticketed ‘Meet and Greet’ Reception with hors d’oeuvres and drinks and Verlon Thompson in the Grand Community Room upstairs at the Deane Center beginning at 6pm.

As a special treat for the audience, Mansfield University’s 2022 recipient of the Sue Cunningham Endowed Music Scholarship will be performing before the show begins.

Proceeds from the Little Hickory Concert Series will go to support the Sue Cunningham Music Scholarships at the Wellsboro Area High School, Rock L. Butler Middle School, and Mansfield University.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact the Deane Center at 570-724-6220 or visit the websites LittleHickory.org or DeaneCenter.com.