About the Columbia State Community College Foundation

The Columbia State Community College Foundation’s mission is to support and partner with Columbia State to positively impact our communities and student success through the maintenance and enhancement of resources through excellence in relationship building, fundraising and investment management. Foundation management is under the direction of Bethany Lay, Executive for Advancement for Columbia State. Advancement also includes annual giving, alumni relations, community events and grants management.
In addition, for more than a decade the Foundation has partnered with Columbia State Community College, First Farmers Bank and other sponsors and patrons have successfully brought local and world-renowned artists to perform on the Cherry Theater stage as part of the Performance Series. The Foundation also supports the mission of the Pryor Art Gallery, located on the CSCC campus in Columbia, which strives to a first-class artistic venue where appreciation for all forms of visual art is enhanced through presentation of stimulating exhibits and programs that inspire, educate, enlighten, challenge and entertain.


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Richard Marx Headlines 2012-13 Columbia State Performance Series

The 2012-13 Columbia State Community College First Farmers Performance Series season kicks off on Sept. 27 with Richard Marx, the singer, songwriter and producer who has sold more than 30 million albums and written 13 number one songs.
“We are honored to have an entertainer of the caliber of Richard Marx accept our invitation to perform at Columbia State,” said Dr. Janet Smith, Columbia State President. “We expect this concert will sell out quickly because of the lasting appeal of his music.”
For a quarter century Marx has consistently and powerfully made his mark on the music industry. His debut single, “Don’t Mean Nothing,” and self-titled debut album kicked off his career as a solo artist in 1987 and went on to sell 3 million copies. His 1989 follow-up CD, “Repeat Offender,” became even more successful, selling more than 7 million copies worldwide.
From 1987 to 1990 he became the first male solo artist in history to have his first seven singles reach the top five on Billboard’s singles chart, including the number one hits “Hold On to the Nights,” “Satisfied” and the worldwide classic, “Right Here Waiting.” This feat remains unchallenged.
Marx is a three-time Grammy nominee. He received an American Music Award nomination for favorite male singer, was awarded Best Selling Adult Contemporary Artist at the 1992 Billboard Music awards and received the International Song of the Year Award at the Australian Music awards for his song “Hazard” from his double platinum CD “Rush Street.” The 1994 “Paid Vacation” CD also went platinum and featured the single “Now and Forever,” which not only went top 10 on the Billboard Pop Chart but spent a nearly record breaking 13 weeks at number one on the Billboard AC Chart.
Marx has also emerged as a top producer working with some of the biggest names in the music business. Among those artists are NSYNC, Barbra Streisand, Josh Groban, Vince Gill, 98°, Luther Vandross, Kenny Rogers and Sister Hazel. More recently, he has written and produced records for Leann Rimes, Travis Tritt, Natalie Cole, Kenny Loggins, actor Hugh Jackman, Keith Urban and others.
“Better Life,” a 2005 song written by Marx and Urban, was the biggest hit single on Urbans’s triple platinum CD “Be Here,” spending six consecutive weeks at number one on Billboard’s Country Singles chart. Urban released another song in 2007 co-written by Marx, “Everybody” from his “Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing” CD. The song went top five on the Country charts.
Marx joined Ringo Starr’s All-Star Band for a 2006 North American tour of 22 cities, playing guitar in the band supporting Starr and others, including Billy Squier, and performing his own hits at each show. He co-wrote “Mystery of the Night” with the former Beatle for Starr’s 2010 CD “Y Not.”
Tickets for Marx and all 2012-13 Columbia State Community College First Farmers Performance Series performances are on sale now. Individual tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students. Purchase all six shows and receive the 20 percent discounted price of $96. Tickets may be purchased at the Columbia State Community College ticket office located in the Pryor Administration Building, Room 108, Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. To charge tickets by phone using a major credit card, call (931) 540-2879.
All series performances are presented in the Cherry Theater, located in the Waymon L. Hickman building on the Columbia campus, with the box office opening one hour prior to each performance. For more information visit www.columbiastate.edu/performance-series.