Posted 3:23 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012
The influence of a local music legend will live on thanks to an endowment established through the UW-La Crosse Foundation.
[caption id="attachment_16906" align="alignnone" width="770" caption="Organizers of concerts honoring La Crosse rock ‘n’ roll enthusiast Lindy Shannon recently handed another check over to the UW-La Crosse Foundation following their latest concert in August. They established a scholarship for musicians in 1992 after the first concert. The organizers included, from left, Dan Hanson, Al Trapp, president of the UW-L Foundation, Bill Harnden and Tari Tovsen. With the recent check, the concerts have put more than $52,000 in the fund."]
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The influence of a local music legend will live on thanks to an endowment established through the UW-La Crosse Foundation.
In 1992, friends of La Crosse rock ‘n’ roll enthusiast Lindy Shannon organized a concert to honor the local icon who helped many budding musicians. With some of the profits, they created an endowed scholarship at UW-L in 1992 that’s awarded annually to music majors.
[caption id="attachment_16911" align="alignleft" width="234" caption="Lindy Shannon was a popular La Crosse disc jockey during the rise of rock ‘n’ roll. A scholarship through the UW-L Foundation has provided nearly $23,000 to students since 1992. The scholarship’s endowment surpassed $50,000 following a concert in September.""]
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Bill Harnden, one of Shannon’s fans and an organizer of the concerts, says he and others decided to honor Shannon because of his ailing health. “A group of us wanted our dear friend Lindy Shannon’s name to continue to have an impact not only for the decades it had already, but for decades to come,” explains Harnden.
More than 5,000 showed up for that concert featuring those who Shannon had helped with their careers. Crowds were enthusiastic at other concerts held in ’94, ’96, ’02, ’07 and ’12. “The great support of all the concerts by the fans and musicians makes a statement as to how important of a contribution Lindy made to the local music scene and the lives of everyone involved,” says Harnden.
Since the scholarship was created, 53 awards have provided nearly $23,000 to students. This year after the concert held in September, organizers helped the endowment reach more than $50,000 — ensuring budding musicians will get financial help for many years to come.
The organizers not only set up scholarships, they also made sure Shannon was memorialized. Following his death in 1995, they purchased a headstone and set up perpetual flowers at his gravesite.
Shannon was one of the region’s most popular disc jockeys when rock ‘n’ roll entered the music scene in the late ’50s, says Harnden. He helped two national acts launch their careers — Bobby Vee and the Fendermen.
Shannon was one of the few disc jockeys who interviewed Elvis Presley. And Harnden says Shannon helped the local group Unchained Mynds propel to stardom with their biggest hit, “We can’t go on this way,” which was the No. 1 hit for 26 weeks locally, keeping the Beatles’ “Hey, Jude” out of the top spot on the local playlist.
Harnden says the final large concert was held in August, but “the door is still open” for some smaller shows in the future.
“We were blessed with great weather, great fans and some of the most incredible reunions ever,” says Harnden. “During the final songs of the final set by the headliners at Lindy 2012, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. What a great run; ending on top feels good.”
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The influence of a local music legend will live on thanks to an endowment established through the UW-La Crosse Foundation.
In 1992, friends of La Crosse rock ‘n’ roll enthusiast Lindy Shannon organized a concert to honor the local icon who helped many budding musicians. With some of the profits, they created an endowed scholarship at UW-L in 1992 that’s awarded annually to music majors.
[caption id="attachment_16911" align="alignleft" width="234" caption="Lindy Shannon was a popular La Crosse disc jockey during the rise of rock ‘n’ roll. A scholarship through the UW-L Foundation has provided nearly $23,000 to students since 1992. The scholarship’s endowment surpassed $50,000 following a concert in September.""][/caption]
Bill Harnden, one of Shannon’s fans and an organizer of the concerts, says he and others decided to honor Shannon because of his ailing health. “A group of us wanted our dear friend Lindy Shannon’s name to continue to have an impact not only for the decades it had already, but for decades to come,” explains Harnden.
More than 5,000 showed up for that concert featuring those who Shannon had helped with their careers. Crowds were enthusiastic at other concerts held in ’94, ’96, ’02, ’07 and ’12. “The great support of all the concerts by the fans and musicians makes a statement as to how important of a contribution Lindy made to the local music scene and the lives of everyone involved,” says Harnden.
Since the scholarship was created, 53 awards have provided nearly $23,000 to students. This year after the concert held in September, organizers helped the endowment reach more than $50,000 — ensuring budding musicians will get financial help for many years to come.
The organizers not only set up scholarships, they also made sure Shannon was memorialized. Following his death in 1995, they purchased a headstone and set up perpetual flowers at his gravesite.
Shannon was one of the region’s most popular disc jockeys when rock ‘n’ roll entered the music scene in the late ’50s, says Harnden. He helped two national acts launch their careers — Bobby Vee and the Fendermen.
Shannon was one of the few disc jockeys who interviewed Elvis Presley. And Harnden says Shannon helped the local group Unchained Mynds propel to stardom with their biggest hit, “We can’t go on this way,” which was the No. 1 hit for 26 weeks locally, keeping the Beatles’ “Hey, Jude” out of the top spot on the local playlist.
Harnden says the final large concert was held in August, but “the door is still open” for some smaller shows in the future.
“We were blessed with great weather, great fans and some of the most incredible reunions ever,” says Harnden. “During the final songs of the final set by the headliners at Lindy 2012, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. What a great run; ending on top feels good.”