"COAST TO COAST" HAS EM' DANCING IN THE STREETS....LITERALLY
First Alive After Five in three months

By Jon Mayhew
Publisher

LINCOLNTON -- It was music, dancing, laughter and just plain fun last Thursday in downtown Lincolnton.

Lincolnton-based "Coast to Coast" beach, blues and boogie band performed at the monthly "Alive After Five" concert series.

Not only was it the first time in three months Mother Nature cooperated where an Alive Afte Five wasn't rained out, the band featured many local performers including Lincolnton businessman Cain Leonard, Jim Beard and new lead singer Madison "Maddog" Roper.

Roper has been lead singer of the band since March and said he heard of Coast to Coast while he was lead singer of The Extrordinaries.

"I decide to take some time off," said Roper. "We were playing so much. In fact in 2006, we played more than 50 times. It was a little too much for me."

He heard of the Lincolnton-based band through a good friend, Lincolnton fire fighter and well-known local radio personality John "Johnny B." Barkley.

"I thought the band would be a good fit for Maddog," said Barkley.

For Roper, the opportunity came at a time when he was working to put another band together. And until he ran into his friend Alan Knight, Roper said that would have been the plan.

"When he told me that Coast to Coast was looking for a lead singer, I knew it was a God thing," said Roper. "I thought I should give them a call."

Roper agreed with his friend, Johnny B.: Coast to Coast was a perfect fit.

"It was like they built the band for me," said Roper. "It's the most fabulous experience of my life."