The community is invited to spend an evening under the stars with The Mobile Pops at
 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 3, at the University of South Alabama’s Moulton Tower and Alumni Plaza as they perform for the first time in the new outdoor venue.

The free show “There’s No Business, Like Show Business!” is part of the band’s Starbright Concert Series and will feature musical favorites from popular films, television and theater productions.  The 65-member band will perform music from the golden age of Broadway, big band favorites, ragtime and familiar themes from classic television sitcoms.

The evening performance is under the direction of Mobile Pops conductor Dr. Greg Gruner, who also serves as chair of USA’s department of music. Additionally, Gruner is the University’s director of bands and a professor of music.   Guest vocalist Dr. Thomas Rowell, an associate professor of music at USA, will accompany the band at the campus concert.  Fulton Burns, assistant professor of dramatic arts at USA, will emcee the event.

The Mobile Pops has been serving the Mobile community for 34 years, providing free concerts to their fans, friends and families. The Pops prides itself on performing quality, educational concerts for the people of Mobile.

The group’s Starbright Concerts began in 1978 and have since been hosted in a number of outdoor venues including the Langan Park Performing Arts Pavilion, which was built primarily for the band’s use.  More than 10,000 have attended some park concerts.

The band has expanded its performing arena in recent years to include Washington Square Park, The Bluff overlooking Fairhope Pier, Dauphin Island, Cottage Hill Park, Cathedral Square Park, the Michael C. Dow Amphitheater for the Kids Day concert, Battleship Park Aircraft Pavilion and Fort Whiting for the Veterans Day celebration, and Cooper Riverside Park and USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park where the Fourth of July concert is held with attendance of over 18,000.

The Mobile Pops has been recognized by the City of Mobile on several occasions for their contributions to the arts and to the Mobile community. Most recently the Mobile Pops was selected from numerous community bands from across the United States to perform at the 2007 Association of Concert Bands convention in Pensacola, Fla.