The Pinecone
|
May 2014
• 7 •
Thomas Chapman
C A N A L E P O I N T M A N
Memphis In May is a time-honored showcase of Music Fest,
BBQ, Sunset Symphony, and fireworks. It’s held in Tom
Lee Park throughout May and draws thousands of people
from across all states in the United States plus many foreign
nations. It’s financed in part by corporate sponsorships that
include, for example, D. Canale Beverage Company, TGIF,
and Pepsi Cola.
After discharge from the Marines, Kirby Pines’ resident,
Thomas Chapman, worked 31 years for the D. Canale
Beverage Company and was awarded the D. Canale Highest
CompanyAward. Chapman was the Canale “point man” who
supervised every aspect of the Company’s commitment to the
Memphis In May events. The D. Canale Company sponsored
the Budweiser stage for the Music Fest. Every day of the
Music Fest, Chapman and his crew set up the Budweiser
stage and equipment and, then, dismantled and stored
equipment when the performances were over. Chapman and
his crew also worked the Canale special promotional event
open only to their vendors, such as Kroger, Walgreen, and
restaurants. During May, he and his crew worked from 8:00
A.M. to 2:00 A.M. the following day. His bottom line was to
ensure that nothing would go awry at D. Canale activities. As
he talked about this period of his life, he had justifiable pride
in his performance, and even admitted that he came to like
the month-long frenetic schedule.
In 1978, the Memphis
Symphony Orchestra was
added to the festivities. A big
favorite was James Hyter with
his elegant bass voice singing
“
Ol Man River”. Some years,
Mr. Hyter added six or more
encores to satisfy his many
fans. In 1968, he played the
role of Joe in the Memphis State University production of
Showboat. His fans were legion. In 1987, Tom Lee Park was
fenced in and a $2.00 entry fee was imposed. When public
concern was expressed about Memphians who could not
pay the entry fee, a special fund was set aside to assist those
who otherwise would be turned away. By 2005, the BBQ
Cookout had serious competition among the more than 250
teams. International and U.S. media swarmed the event and
the judges were “put to the test” as they tasted the finished
product and declared the winner. During the 70s and 80s, the
Music Fest primarily featured gospel and country/western
music. RAP was added to the line-up in later years.
Over the years, civic leaders
and volunteers high-lighted
a country to be honored for
the next Memphis In May
Festival. Countries honored
include Venezuela, Egypt,
Mexico, Australia, Japan,
Kenya, United Kingdom,
France, and Belgium. Kenya
was the first African Nation
to be honored, drawing the
most inquiries from home
and abroad about tickets and
events.
–
Jacqueline Besteman,
Resident
James Hyter at Sunset Symphony
World Champion Barbecue
Cooking Contest - 1993
