Artist stages concert for scholarship

Published 12:00 am Monday, August 25, 2003

R&B singer Athena Cage will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at Basil Griffin Park. Photo by Miranda Pederson

Russellville native and R&B singer Athena Cage likes what she sees at Western Kentucky University. She says WKU has been good to her and she plans to give a little back with a concert to raise money for a scholarship. South Central Bank will present An Evening with Athena Cage at 8 p.m. Saturday at Basil Griffin Park Amphitheater. All proceeds from the $10 admission price will go toward the scholarship. Cage has had several collaborations with Keith Sweatt and recorded the title song to the movie Save The Last Dance called All or Nothing (Live Your Dreams). Tickets are on sale at all South Central Bank Bowling Green and Franklin locations, the Logan County Chamber of Commerce and Greenwood Mall Service Desk. Id like to send a young person from this area toWestern, Cage said. Im committed to this concert for five years. In that time she hopes to raise $100,000 for the scholarship. She might add other money to the concert proceeds. We want the community support for sure, she said. Other concert sponsors include Warren County Parks and Recreation Department, Omni Custom Meats, Adamas Records, The Carpenter Group, Campbell Chevrolet, the Park City Daily News, ESPN Radio, Gerald Printing, Greenwood Mall, Insight Communications, 103.7 The Point, Rental Service Corporation, Star 100.7, WBKO and WUHU 107.1.Cage is forming a full-service record company that will be based in Bowling Green. One possible location thats been discussed is the Circus Square area that is proposed for downtown Bowling Green. The facility would have a state-of-the-art recording studio, rehearsal studio and a fitness gym. Its going to be an artists dream, Cage said. Everything you need is going to be there in one facility. Its going to be amazing. Cage is trying to find financial backers from Kentucky to invest in the record company. I want the area to share in the success, she said. The company could attract lucrative jobs, which would go to people in the area, she said. Growing up in a small town, she had obstacles to overcome to become a successful recording artist. But she had plenty of people encouraging her, including her elementary school music teacher, Mary Beth Dowden. I could see right away that she had something special and I encouraged her, Dowden said. I think that stuck with her more than I ever realized. Cage was a quiet young lady, Dowden said, but she couldnt hide her talent. In high school, Cage sang in the choir and entered contests. It just seems like she blossomed, Dowden said. Music was a big part of Cages life when she was growing up. All I did was listen to the radio and mimic what I heard, she said. That was what I dreamed of, hearing my voice on the radio. The first time that happened, Cage was in a hair salon. She called everyone she could think of and told them to turn on the radio. All those dues that you pay to get there are worth it to hear it the first time, Cage said. You pinch yourself every once in a while when you hear yourself on the radio. Cage, who now lives Bowling Green to be closer to her family, is helping restore the Logan Theater in Russellville. Plans are in the works for a Christmas concert in Russellville to benefit the theater restoration. I think its important for our kids to go see a play, see a concert, she said. Im going to see it through to the end. She will have a little help at the concert this weekend. Children from the Delafield Community Center, where she volunteers, will be on stage with her. While Cage is the only performer, the concert isnt all about her. Its about helping young people in our community, Cage said. I cant do it alone. The first scholarship will go to a student from Delafield. After that, one student from Warren County, Bowling Green, Logan County and Russellville will receive the scholarship on a rotating basis. Near the end of the last school year, Dowden and Cage teamed up for a seminar at Russellville High School about careers in music. Cage is active in several projects to encourage more music education, something Dowden said the singer has always had an interest in. Dowden didnt know what Cage wanted to do when she grew up. I did tell her she had a special gift and I hoped she would follow through with it in some way, she said. Its nice to see that happen. I think shes just starting to scratch the surface of whats ahead for her.

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