King Records Celebration Saturday

This is quite an eclectic gang -- country singer Bonnie Lou, Otis Williams from the Charms, drummer Philip Paul, bassist Ed Conely, the daughter of country singer Cowboy Copas and Syd Nathan's nephew...

They'll all be at the main Public Library downtown Saturday for two panel discussions celebrating the 65th anniversary of King Records, Syd Nathan's old Evanston studio where James Brown recorded.

--At 1 p.m., King Records 1950s country and bluegrass music will be discussed by Bonnie Lou; Steve Halper, nephew of King Records founder Syd Nathan; Cathy Hughes, daughter of country singer Cowboy Copas; Shake It Records owner Darren Blase; and music historians Randy McNutt and John Simon.

--At 3 p.m., Williams talks about King Records' R&B years with Paul, Conley and music historian Larry Nager.

--At 11 p.m., on WVXU-FM's (91.7) "Blues" show, Lee Hay will replay an hour of her "King Records: Cincinnati Legacy" documentary with Williams, the R&B singer from The Chamns, a vocal group discovered while students at Withrow High School. On 11 p.m. on May 24, she'll repeat her "King Records" hour with Bonnie Lou and guitarist Rusty York.

Those who come downtown Saturday probably won't be disappointed. The library's 2006 panel on "Twilight Zone" writer Rod Serling's Cincinnati days was excellent. This one sounds like lots of fun too.