Adair County High holds its first rock concert

One of the highlights of the school year was a concert by Chase, one of the leading rock groups in the country Not only did Chase perform for the entire student body, but Bill Chase, the leader of the group, held a clinic for band members to help them with their playing.

The concert, sponsored by the Adair County High School Band, lasted slightly over an hour. Over 2400 students from Adair County and surrounding counties attended. The gym at Adair County High was the scene of all the excitement and the gym was practically full.

The arrangements to get Chase was made by Bill Chinn, the band director. This was the first rock concert that has been held in Adair County and everyone was thrilled about having a top band such as Chase to perform. As well as being entertainment for the student body, this concert helped the band to raise money to purchase new uniforms.

Chase Group Ends Tragically

The career of the rock group Chase, that staged a successful concert at Adair Co. High last year, ended tragically as four of the members were killed.

The group was on its way to Jackson, Minnesota, from a concert in Chicago, aboard a Piper Comanche. The plane vent down, due to the poor visibility, about 75 yards short of the runway. Four of the members of Chase, Bill Chase, 39, the super-talented trumpet player and leader of the group; Walter Clark, 25, the drummer; John Emma, 22, the guitar player; and Wallace Yohn, 27, the organist were killed.

Chase, voted the top jazz-rock group in the country by Downbeat Magazine, usually appeared in top night clubs and auditoriums. The group appeared here through the help of a friend of Bill Chinn's, Adair High's Band Director.

Bill Chase, considered the greatest trumpet player in his field, had played with Woody Herman's band, but has headed his group for over three years. He gave pointers to Adair Co. Band merbers be fore their concert bere, demonstrating his technique.

The group's greatest hit was "Get It On."