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Supreme celebration: City books legendary singer for Main Street event
By Kenny Green, kgreen@starlocalnews.com
The city of Rowlett's Fireworks on Main event has been constantly growing over the last several years. The city has decided to step things up a notch for 2013 and has booked Motown singer Mary Wilson to be a headline performer at the event.
"Since 2010 the attendance has increased from 8,000 to more than 10,000 people," said Jermel Stevenson, Rowlett parks and recreation director. "We anticipate that this year we will have 20,000 visitors."
Stevenson said that based on a conservative formula, the city garners approximately $7.50 in economic impact per attendee from 70 percent of the attendees. He added that the parks department believes the opening of the DART rail station will increase the attendance even more this year.
The addition of Wilson adds an element to the event that hasn't been present since the event was relocated to Main Street several years ago.
Wilson is part of the legendary group The Supremes. She will bring her well-known repertoire of hits to the Fireworks on Main Street event this year. At their peak in the mid-1960s, the Supremes rivaled the Beatles in worldwide popularity, and their music crosses the boundaries of cultures, genders and generations. Fans of Wilson can hear her smoky voice in the latest Supremes collection, "Diana Ross & The Supremes: The No. 1s," re-mastered original recordings of their chart-topping hits. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Supremes, which will be a focal point of the show.
"She will perform a 90-minute set at a cost of $10,000," Stevenson said.
The city will also be responsible for additional fees, which include organizing dressing rooms, negotiated stage and lighting, ensuring Wilson gets from the airport to the venue, and two nights of lodging.
The plan is to cover the cost of the talent and associated fees with sponsors and the allotted budget.
One new sponsor, Radio One-Dallas, also known as Old School 94.5 FM, will provide commercials, ads, an on-air interview with Mary Wilson to promote the event, a live broadcast the day of the event and will sponsor the meet-and-greet.
"They will provide several 10-second spots," Stevenson said. "The radio station will get a certain number of VIP tickets for the meet-and-greet and the city will get the rest. The idea is to use the city's VIP tickets to market the [Rowlett Community Centre]. We will put them into a drawing for new members and those who are renewing their memberships."
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