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Story and Photos By Nicole Butler

Mayor Tom  Schneider made his grand appearance on stage, welcoming the band to  the city and, to the crowd; he said “I just want to let you know that city council is taking credit for the weather tonight!”

Though Schneider got a good laugh from the crowd,, no one could argue the fact that it was an absolutely gorgeous evening for an outdoor concert in the park. The residents of Florissant definitely agreed. It was estimated that 2,000 people crowded the hill in front of the stage.

The crowd did not stay still in their seats for long, however. Before the sun even had a chance to set, people began gathering in front of the stage and set the mood for the rest of the evening… dancing. Whether the music was slow or fast, the concert quickly turned into a dance party and residents of all ages were joining in the fun.

Butch Wax and the Hollywoods certainly put on a fantastic show. The band, which originated 27 years ago, consists of several members who are all from the surrounding area. Larry Smith, who plays saxophone, has been with the band for 14 years. “It’s great fun. We enjoy making music together. We aren’t all the original members,” and then, chuckling, Smith adds, “the ladies are new, obviously, because they are half our age.”

The band had perfect harmony of talent, passion, and a great deal of dedication towards providing top notch entertainment. They even like to take a step back and invite other talent onto the stage with them.

On this particular evening, Theo Peoples joined the band and kept the party going with hits such as “My Girl” and “Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got)”. Peoples; also a St. Louis native, has been a lead singer in the classic-era Motown groups for both the  Four Tops and The Temptations.

It was probably safe to say there was also quite a bit of talent displayed on what the crowd turned into a dance floor. Conceert-goers certainly had plenty of fun in St. Ferdinand Park.  “We rock!” Mayor Schneider said, “Florissant just rocks!”