By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
“Decatur never lets us down; the concert was another success,” Steph and Jeff Brite said following the fifth Connor Brite’s Wildflowers benefit concert, held last Saturday on the Madison St. Plaza.
“The weather cooperated this year and we had a great turnout.” Incoming inclement weather had forced last year’s event indoors.
The annual concerts are the main fundraiser for the free music lessons offered by the Wildflowers organization as sponsorships continue to rise.
“This (year) was the most sponsors we’ve ever had,” the Brites said.
“We want to thank all our sponsors, anyone who donated and the volunteers who support our program … it takes a village and we have the best!”
T-shirt sales are another key fundraiser. This year’s shirts – available before and at the concert – honored the organization’s namesake: Tom Petty’s Wildflowers CD, with the colors and “You Belong Among the Wildflowers” around the logo.
Music punctuated the plaza stage Saturday night, being kicked off by four students of the free lessons program: Maddison Young, Nakoma Setili, Agustin Sponseller and Karsen Combs.
They were followed by more students – young people taking lessons at the School of Rock in Fort Wayne.
Things really got rockin’ when Sunglasses At Night hit the concert stage. The six-person Fort Wayne band brought high energy in a two-hour performance featuring ’80s music.
The band played the plaza stage in the Summer Concert Series last year and will be back again on August 20.
The Brites are the parents of Connor Brite, one of three Decatur young men killed in a horrific car accident on January 7, 2020. Jordan Fuelling and Trevor Ortiz also lost their lives.
As a way to honor their son, the Brites, boosted by family and friends, came up with the program to offer free lessons in drumming, guitar and keyboard to Adams County students in grades 4 trough 12.
The lessons are provided by volunteers.
Connor Brite loved Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers” album. Thus, that was the name given to the program.
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