Patterson Shares the Joy of Sax

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PATTERSON SHARES THE JOY OF SAX

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State, The (Columbia, SC)-March 15, 2008

Author: BILL ROBINSON

One lucky student-musician at J.V. Martin Junior High in Dillon will soon be tooting a cool tenor sax previously owned by a senior South Carolina lawmaker.

State Sen. Kay Patterson, DRichland, is among the donors who contributed to "Music Replay," a Batesburg-LeesvilleHigh School project to find instruments for students who can't afford to rent or buy their own.

"I want to do all I can to help those children in the I-95 corridor," Patterson said of the school in the heart of a region where school districts have united to sue the state for more money. The retired educator, who has served in the Legislature since 1975, purchased the sax for his grandson, Eric H. Patterson Jr. He hoped young Eric might embrace the same instrument he grew up playing at old Lincoln High in Sumter in the late 1940s.

"He lost interest in it" after high school, Patterson, 77, said. "He wants to be a guitar man."

The sax was in the attic of Patterson's Gavilan Avenue home until a week ago when he read a State newspaper article reporting the used-instrument drive was winding down.

"I wanted to give it to a young person who has an interest in the tenor sax and would appreciate having it," he said.

Patterson's sax is among 80 reconditioned instruments that J.V. Martin Junior High will receive April 15. B-L High's 38- member orchestra also will play a concert in Dillon that day.

The high school's band boosters organized the instrument-donation project after some in the group saw Gary Hyatt playing a crumpled tuba in a photo published in the Dec. 4 edition of The State.

Music teacher Kevin McLellan said he did not have enough instruments to loan all the students interested in his class.

That message resonated with the Batesburg-Leesville community, where band boosters saw an opportunity for a community-service project students and adults could work on together.

Over a 50-day period, the "Music Replay" campaign brought people like Patterson forward with used or unwanted instruments -- and in some instances, cash donations.

Robin Cocklin, a band booster, estimated Patterson's instrument could be worth $1,500.

"We appreciate his support for what we're trying to do," she said. "It was a wonderful gesture."

Reach Robinson at (803) 771-8482.

(1) - Patterson

Edition: FINAL

Section: FRONT

Page: A1

Record Number: 0803310731