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29th in the Series
In this day of mp3, iTunes, UTube, streaming, Internet, downloading, expensive live concerts, CDs, WHATEVER!...it is intriguing to hear(!)about performers who have rocked K-Staters since 1960, although current students are too young to recognize the names of many music stars who entertained the Wildcats during the earlier decades (even though they might recognize their hits); however, trust me, their parents would!!! The performers in Ahearn Field House (constructed in 1950), McCain Auditorium (1970), outdoors, and Bramlage Coliseum, were often the biggest and baddest names of time! Bramlage has seen its share of rock stars, the Beach Boys played that facility's first concert in 1988 (long after that group had reached its prime), Queensryche in 1991, and Jason Durelo performed in 2011, for example. However, the list pales in comparison with Ahearn Field House in previous decades when it comes to the number of concerts. Soooo, let's take a look at an unofficial and purely subjective list of members in K-State's rock and roll hall of fame (along with one of their hits)!
Bad Company (1991), "Feel Like Makin' Love"
Beach Boys (1988), "Good Vibrations"
Harry Belafonte (1967), "Day O"
Chicago (1979 & 1985), "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?"
Def Leppard (1988), "Bringin on the Heartache"
John Denver (1973), "Rocky Mountain High"
Dixie Chicks (2000), "Long Time Gone"
Doobie Brothers (1978), "Listen to the Music"
Electric Light Orchestra (1977), "Evil Woman"
Firth Dimension (1969), "Age of Aquarius"
Jethro Tull (1976), "Too Old to Rock and Roll, too Young to Die"
Billy Joel (1980), "Piano Man"
Johnny Mathis (1985), "Chances Are"
Willie Nelson (1988), "On the Road Again"
Pointer Sisters (1976), "Slow Hand"
Helen Reddy (1988), "I am Woman"
REO Speedwagon (1974), "Keep on Loving You"
Righteous Brothers (1966), "You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin'"
Leon Russell (1981), "Heartbreak Hotel"
Soul Asylum, 1995, "Runaway Train"
Temptations (1971), "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"
Three Dog Night (1971), "Joy to the World"
UFO. (1976), "Too Hot to Handle"
But, wait, there's more at the tip of the iceberg! Among those who made an appearance at K-State between 1960 and 2011 include Leon Bibb, Bread, Brewer and Shipley, Harry Chapin, Cowsills, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Ben Folds, Flying Burrito Brothers, Four Preps, Janis Ian, Lee Greenwood, Jefferson Starship, Kansas, B. B. King, Los Lonely Boys, Marshall Tucker Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Pure Prairie League, Seals and Crofts, Shooting Star, Billy Squier, and the beat goes on...
Still, a "Keepsake" does not allow the space for more names to be listed (and without question more research is needed to find more; any volunteers?), nevertheless, from this roster most of you should agree that K-State has attracted a large and somewhat diverse number of big name performers during their prime. The styles of music are certainly diverse, however, it should be noticeable that African Americans and women are under represented.
After World War II numerous performers visited campus representing several musical genre: folk (Limeliters, Glenn Yarbrough); jazz and "big band" (Count Basie, Dave Brubeck, Nina Simone, Duke Ellington); pianists (Peter Nero); brass (Canadian Brass, Tijuana Brass, Al Hirt); country (Garth Brooks, Lee Greenwood, Roger Miller); etc. Even so, many of them crossed over and recorded at least one tune that made it to rock's "top 40." Also, we should understand that back in the day "rock 'n' roll" had a much broader definition.
Although big name "rock" groups still perform at K-State, the numbers began to decline in the mid 1980s. Articles in the Collegian over the years provide enlightening details regarding patterns in K-State's rock history. Students have always been vocal about their desire for more performers to grace the campus: "$40,000 + 8 Months = 1 Concert" (1976), yet, in so many cases, the turnouts were disappointing ("Ticket sales remain slow: money, scheduling could be factors"). At other times, unpopular groups were booked ("K-State doesn't need kiddie band," "Concert a bummer"). Another problem has been the facilities ("Facilities keep super-groups away"). How about this headline? "Drug use at ELP [Emerson, Lake, and Palmer] highest in K-State history" (wonder what made the Collegian reporter who penned that headline an authority on the subject?!?).
In the last few years, the McCain Performance Series has been more diverse in its booking of rock/pop entertainers. For example, Janis Ian, Kansas, and Los Lonely Boys performed during the 2010-2011 season. Certainly these are not rock concerts on the level of those in larger venues and it is questionable if large crowds would flock to Bramlage to experience their music, nonetheless, McCain is providing the people in the Manhattan area a taste of rock from well known performers!
It appears that K-State has become a victim of 21st century live concert big business in terms of the ability to attract main stream rock stars on a regular basis: the expenses involved with booking a big name performer; Manhattan's location as it relates to the one night concert circuit; small population base; small indoor venues which don't allow high tech special effects, etc.
The performance in Bramlage by Soul Asylum on Oct. 2, 1995 illustrates the iffy proposition of sponsoring a concert at K-State. According to the 1996 Royal Purple, 1,200 attended the event sponsored by the Union Program Council (Bramlage holds approximately 12,500 for basketball games). The actual loss was not provided but it was "...below the original $40,000 estimation"! And $4,000 was spent on advertising.
In contrast, the Dixie Chicks' concert in Bramalge on October 12, 2000 drew "about 7,000" at $45 a ticket. Even though Bramlage administrators hoped to fill 9,800 seats, "It was the highest grossing event in Bramlage's 12 year history." The group needed 12 semi-trailer trucks to bring its equipment, along with 70 crew members, plus an additional 75 student and community stagehands once they arrived, to set up for the performance!
No doubt this information reminds many readers of Manhattan's successful Country Stampede (which usually includes a "rock" group such as Lynyrd Skynyrd), nonetheless, it has yet to be proven that booking country entertainers for one night stands in K-State facilities on a consistent basis would be successful ("Willie Nelson a financial flop"). Maybe a more interesting hypothetical situation would be the potential success of a multiday outdoor festival with live performances by Lady Gaga, Beyounce, Adele, Kanye West, Foo Fighters, and, dare I say, Justin Bieber? Prairiestock? Bill Snyder Family Stadium? Easy to say it will never happen... but you get the picture!
On that note (!), if you want to learn more about K-State's rock 'n' roll history, visit the University Archives in Hale Library! Rock on!
Tony Crawford, Morse Department of Special Collections
Sources: Royal Purple; Collegian; University Archives-Vertical Files; ELP and Bad Company album covers from the Jerry Wexler Collection, Morse Dept. of Special Collections; Internet for information regarding perfomrers and hit songs: photographs, Royal Purple and University Archives.
It's Memorial Day weekend. The sun is shining. The birds are singing. Bodies of water are beckoning. You are... staring at your computer?!
Creative Commons Photo by Giorgio Montersino on Flickr
Many students (both of the on-campus and distance variety), choose to while away their summer hours taking online courses or conducting research. Intercession and summer classes offer greater options for students who wish to get ahead or catch up. These courses can often be taken online, so no matter where you are in the world, you can obtain the knowledge of the ages. Or retake that statistics class.
K-State Libraries are here to help, whether you're logging in from a beach in Cancun, or from your parent's basement in Alburquerque. The bottom line: you can access library services anywhere you have an internet connection. Our website, databases, catalog, help pages, and K-State Online research tools can be accessed for free at any time, day or night; you'll just be asked to enter your K-State eID and password to access some of it.
You can also get help with an assignment or research project. During Service Hours, you can shoot your questions to our friendly library staff by using our instant messaging system, email, phone, or text message. You can even arrange a virtual meeting with some librarians through Skype or Wimba (but be prepared for extreme jealousy if you're Skyping in from Cancun).
Got a long flight? Road trip with the Fam? You can check out books and other...physical stuff from the library to keep yourself entertained. And it doesn't even have to be educational because we have plenty of fiction, music, and audiobooks, too.
If you're a regular distance student studying in the U.S., you can request that we mail items to you (sorry Cancun, you'll have to check out before you leave). To request an item be mailed to your location, visit our Interlibrary Services page for distance patrons. Just temporarily taking a distance Intercession course away from Manhattan for the summer? Give Interlibrary Services a call (785-532-7440) if you need library materials mailed to you for those special situations. Through Interlibrary Services, you can also access articles, book chapters, and other materials we don't own --- we just borrow them from another library and then send them to you. Articles and book chapters are especially convenient because they are accessible electronically. The only bummer is that you have to pay for the return shipping on physical items.
Did you know that there are library resources waiting for you in K-State Online? Check out the Research Help @ K-State Libraries "class" in your organizer. Trust me, it's there. It's full of helpful tidbits and applications designed to make your online student life a little easier. Check out the Assignment Planner and the links to citation help guides, especially if you just used your style manual as kindling to start a campfire.
So, as you drive, fly, or swim to your next destination this summer, remember that K-State Libraries are here to help you with your distance research. Visit our Distance Learning page for more information. If you're having trouble getting what you need or are unsure how to go about it, just preguntar a un bibliotecario (Ask a Librarian).
Joelle Pitts
Even though you've graduated and left K-State for future endeavors, don't forget about K-State Libraries just yet! We still have an abundance of resources, tools, and services to benefit recent graduates and alumni.
Remember that your library account and our restricted resources will only be accessible with your K-State eID and password until just prior to the beginning of the next semester --- late August for spring graduates.
Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/kstatelibraries/1484244940/
But just because you're new alumni doesn't mean that K-State Libraries isn't aware of your research needs. K-State Libraries still welcomes you with continued services for alumni. Check out our Alumni Services page.
The Alumni Services page has links to our free resources, including free e-journals, free databases, open-access journals, and State Library of Kansas databases, which are available when accessed from a computer within the state of Kansas. These free resources are available whenever and wherever the future takes you. And you still are, of course, more than welcome to use almost all of our e-resources when on a K-State Libraries computer (we do have a database or two that are limited to current K-Staters).
The K-State Alumni Association Membership Card also grants alumni access to additional K-State Libraries resources. With an Alumni Card, you can check out library materials and use a limited version of Interlibrary Services for those remaining in the general Manhattan area.
Not ready to join the Alumni Association? You can still get a community patron card for $10 a year and check out materials. And, like those with an Alumni Card, you will have limited Interlibrary Loan services.
Remember when you created a RefWorks account and packed it with all of your personal research? Well, you won't have to worry about losing any of that. RefWorks is a life-long service; just continue to visit K-State Libraries, click on the RefWorks -- cite your sources link, and use your same account information. As long as K-State Libraries has RefWorks, so will you! You'll want to go in and update your e-mail address and status in the User Profile. Also, be aware that the Get It button won't be able to grant you access to our fee-based articles and resources, unless you are on campus.
Regardless of your research needs, you can show your love for K-State Libraries by joining The Friends of The K-State Libraries. This organization supports the Libraries through monetary donations, events, and project in order to stimulate greater awareness and support for K-State Libraries in the campus and community.
The mission of K-State Libraries is to serve K-State students, not only during your career at K-State, but beyond. So, even if you've already packed up your boxes and moved out of Manhattan to take on the real world, remember to take a little bit of K-State Libraries with you! Congratulations recent graduates!
Into each semester comes a time of great study. That time is upon us now.
If you haven't stopped by Hale yet, you should know that everyone is hunting down a corner so they can study for Finals. Based on the number of study groups we've seen, we know people need space to study in groups. We've also been hearing from a lot of people who want somewhere quiet to study (and thanks to roommates, neighbors, and other distractions, quiet study space in Manhattan is hard to find.)
So, where are you going to study?
Quiet study: 1st, 3rd, and 4th floors are designated for quiet studying.
Group study: 2nd floor and the Anita C. Lehner 24 Hour Study Area (you know, outside Einstein's).
Don't worry, we've put signs on almost every table, so it should be clear from the moment you walk through a floor whether it's quiet or group study.
When you do come in to study, you should be aware that space in Hale will be at a premium. Here's where the great courtesy comes in. For instance, who hasn't seen one person at a table that can seat 4 or 6? Our motto? Share the table, share the love.
Trying to be courteous by taking your phone call away from a quiet study area? Avoid anywhere with tiles, like the stairs at either end of the building or the entrace to 2nd floor. Tiles + phone call = everyone in the vicinity hears everything you say.
Another opportunity for courtesy? If you're studying in a quiet zone and a couple decide to review their biology notes out loud, feel free to politely remind them that they are in a quiet zone, but group studying is encouraged on 2nd and in the 24 Hour Study Area.
Finally, if you don't find a spot to your liking in Hale, there are some other options on campus, especially if you don't need to study all night.
Fiedler Engineering Library--open until 11:30 p.m. starting Sunday
Weigel Architecture Library--open until 10:00 p.m. starting Sunday
VetMed Library--open until 10:00 p.m. starting Sunday (11:00 p.m. on Thursday)
Confirm their hours here.
The Union is open until 10 p.m.
If you live in the Halls, ask at your hall's front desk to learn if any study rooms are available. The Academic Resource Centers in Derby and Kramer are open until 11 p.m.
Best of luck on your studying! Remember to get plenty of sleep, and in one short week summer will be here.
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