The first performance in the Dale Wheelis Memorial Concert Series will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23 at the Lyric Theatre as the National Swing Band of Texas takes the stage.

Wheelis, who passed away in February of 2021, served on the Lyric Board and was instrumental in the renovation and operation of the Lyric Theatre.  As Vice President in charge of facilities he oversaw the renovation of the theatre into a modern performing arts facility.

“Dale passed away about a year ago and I talked with Ruth about doing something in his honor,” said Eric Evans, Managing Director of the Lyric Theatre. “He loved music, he loved inspiring people, he played music himself and sang in the church choir for years. I thought this would be more than an apropos way to acknowledge his life and celebrate Dr. Dale Wheelis.”

The National Swing Band of Texas is comprised of 19 talented musicians playing some of the great classic and new Texas Swing music in fresh ways, according to the Lyric website.

Among the musicians in the National Swing Band of Texas are Bill Price, Tommy Hooker, Bobby Flores, and Steve Palousek.

“I put this band together years ago but we disbanded,” Price said. “We’re back together now with some new personnel and few old hands still around.”

Hooker performed in more than 560 shows over the last seven years, and Evans stated residents of Missouri were planning to attend to event just to see Hooker sing. Hooker has shared the stage with such legends as Leon Rausch, Darrell McCall, and Hank Thompson, and guest starred on the Penny Gilley Show that airs weekly on RFD-TV.

In 2008, Hooker won the Academy of Western Artists’ western swing song of the year, “Texas In My Soul.” In 2013, he performed at the esteemed International Country Music Festival in Caithness, Scotland In 2016, he won the Pure Country album of the year award for “It Should Be Easier Now.”

Flores, on fiddle, won a Grammy in 2003 for his string and brass arrangements and violin performances on Freddy Fender’s CD, “La Musica de Baldemar Huerta”. Flores has also recorded and performed on stage with Ray Price, Willie Nelson, Johnny Bush, and Doug Sahm.

Palousek in 2013 was inducted into the Texas Steel Guitar Hall of Fame and Price considers Palosi “one of the top three in the world.” He has toured with Ray Price, Gene Watson, Gary Stewart, Johnny Bush, Kenny Dale, Fiddlin’ Frenchie Burke and Paulette Carlson.

Tickets are $20 for adults and can be purchased at brownwoodlyrictheatre.com.

The concert will have an intermission period, concessions will be open and adult beverages will be available for purchase.

A total of five concerts are planned with additional information coming in the future.