The seventh annual J.B. Hunt Scholarship Gala, set for 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 24, at the Cinema, will once again reunite members of The Exotics in Orangeburg, offering fans a chance to enjoy a night of great entertainment and raise money for aspiring musicians.

Individual tickets for the event, which raises money for the J.B. Hunt Scholarship awarded each year to an aspiring music major, are $30, and reserved tables of eight are available for $240. Scholarships are awarded at the band's annual Scholarship Banquet.

The Exotics, one of the most sought-after bands of the late 1960s and early '70s, had a hit song, "Boogaloo Investigator," and played back-up for some of the biggest names in the industry during its heyday -- Marvin Gaye, Peaches and Herb, ZZ Hill and Clarence Carter, just to name a few.

The group did extensive work with Bobby Womack, who wanted to sign them to a permanent, exclusive contract, but most of the members were reluctant to give up their family life and instead chose to earn salaries at regular jobs and maintain music as a sideline.

The J.B. Hunt Scholarship is given in honor of long-time Orangeburg music instructor James B. Hunt, who served as the first and only band director at Wilkinson High School, the first band director at Sharperson and Belleville junior high schools and Brookdale Middle School and organizer and director of the first band at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School.

The Exotics -- which count among its eight original members Dwight "Sleepy" McMillan, Walter "Wally" Bowers, Francis "Egghead" Thompson, Levi "Rock" McDonald, Johnny Sabb, Stewart "Bogumma" Thompson, Harry Palmer and Rogers "Spod" Jarvis -- have attributed their early musical education to Hunt, who served as the members' first band director at Wilkinson High.

William "Bill" Shuler, who played with The Exotics in the 1970s, will reunite with his bandmates on trombone after mo

re than two decades apart at this year's reunion dance.

Additionally, Exotics members Eartha Shivers-Lampkin, Willie Price and Billy Shaw will be among the evening's featured vocalists.

This year's scholarship recipient was Garion Williams, an O-W graduate. He received $1,000 to off-set the cost of his college tuition. Williams is a student at S.C. State Univer

sity, where he is a member of the Marching "101" Band.

In addition to the scholarship, proceeds from the dance go toward creating music libraries for middle school band programs in Orangeburg County.

Tickets for the Reunion Dance are available at Jamison's Pharmacy, Goldstein's or from any member of The Exotics. Jamison's Pharmacy, however, is the only outlet for reserved table tickets. Reserved table tickets are also available from Exotics members.

T&D Staff Report

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