Hundreds of country music and Dukes of Hazzard TV show fans were delighted with actor/singer John Schneider’s visit this weekend. The 64-year-old performer headlined Cornelia Music Fest, featuring the Journey tribute band Departure. Local favorite Habersham County band Headed South opened the concert on Saturday evening, May 18.
The evening featured a classic car show hosted by YearOne, and yes, the Duke boys’ General Lee was there, along with a Jesse Duke (Denver Pyle) lookalike and actors portraying Sheriff Roscoe T. Coltrane and a Smokey and the Bandit-era Burt Reynolds.
‘Everyone was in awe!’
Undeterred by the threat of bad weather, fans pulled up their lawn chairs at the downtown Cornelia music venue on South Main Street. Noah Hamill estimates close to 1,000 people attended. As Cornelia’s Main Street manager, Hamil helped organize the event. He says the evening went off without a hitch.
“The best part of the night was when John Schneider finished his last song, and the fireworks started immediately, and everyone was in awe!” says Hamil.
Fans swooned online during and after the show over the music and the man who was once a series lead in one of the hottest TV shows of the early ’80s.
While playing Bo Duke on the action/comedy series Dukes of Hazzard, Schneider began a music career. He’s been playing for audiences ever since. His music has peaked at No. 1 on the U.S. Country Billboard Charts several times. Some of his more famous tunes include “I’ve Been Around Enough to Know,” “Country Girls,” and “You’re The Last Thing I Needed Tonight.”
Schneider was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
More concerts to come
Saturday’s music fest kicked off a series of free summer concerts in downtown Cornelia. On May 30, the Steve Bryson Band will perform, followed on June 27 by the Dylan Armour Band. The Pickup Line Band takes the stage on July 25. All of the concerts are set to start at 6 p.m. at Fender’s Alley.
“On top of the bands performing, we will be having a summer festival each night with merchandise and food vendors and lots of fun activities,” says Hamil.
