Kinston Music Legacy benefit set for SUNDAY

By Junious Smith III

Publisher's Note: The original version of this story said the event was on Saturday. It is, in fact, on Sunday, Aug 25.

A great day for music is set for SUNDAY in Kinston.

The Red Room will be the destination for the Kinston Music Legacy Benefit, which will run from 1-9 p.m. The cost is $20 at the door for those 18 and older, while patrons 17 and under will be admitted for free. Drinks and refreshments will be served at the event, and a cash bar will be in place.

All proceeds will go toward the second stage of the Storefront Window Restoration project, which was started by Kinston gospel musician Lessette Kornegay on July 14.

“Lessette got the ball rolling and now we want the goal to be more than just restoring the posters back to where they were,” Dean Daughety said. “We want them to be permanently on display throughout the area.”

Daughety, the lead singer of Dean Daughety and The Trouble Makers, will be one of the acts performing Saturday, along with Dick Knight, The Wicked Shimmies, Mason Jar Bonfire and Nature Blu. Kornegay will also perform at the event and said while the $3,500 goal to replace the portraits has been reached, actions are being taken to secure them permanently after many were recently vandalized.

“We’re asking people to come out and support because these proceeds will ensure these portraits will be going back in a more secure state,” Kornegay said. “This is the heritage and legacy of the city and being able to raise money over the past four weeks to replace them shows people want them back.

“With the benefit concert, we have so many different and local bands who wanted to come together — it shows that if you mess with one musician, you mess with all of us. Music is so universal and transcends color and boundaries. This beautiful project is not only a way to honor local musicians, but a way to encourage people from small towns that greatness can manifest here.”