SF Celebrates Rock N Roll With Alice Cooper

by Jennifer Hudspeth
October 10, 2012 10:49 PM


The city of Sioux Falls became the center of a rock concert on Wednesday. The Boys and Girls Club is celebrating a new addition to the organization, and they got a little help from a “rock legend.”

The speakers are blaring, kids are dancing, and the excitement outside of the Boys and Girls Club of the Sioux Empire is contagious.

“I just think this is the coolest thing to happen in Sioux Falls in a long time,” says Boy and Girls Club Chief Executive Officer Karen Fogas.
     
Not only is shock rock, heavy metal entertainer Alice Cooper on hand signing autographs and taking pictures, but he has a strong message to share.

Alice Cooper says, “Guns, gangs and drugs are in every single city now, and teenagers are the target. So, music is the answer I think.”

It's a new chapter for the Boys and Girls Club of the Sioux Empire. They're celebrating their very first program dedicated to music.  It's called the Brennan Rock and Roll Academy.

“The focus will be on rock ‘n’ roll so primarily it's going to be vocals, keyboard, guitar, electric acoustic, and drums,” says Fogas.

Not only will kids have the chance to learn to play instruments, but at the academy they'll receive one on one lessons and opportunities to perform. Alice Cooper started a similar organization in Phoenix, Arizona, and when sponsor Chuck Brennan said he wanted to open the Rock and Roll Academy in Sioux Falls, Cooper jumped at the chance to be involved.

Alice Cooper says, “Kids are like sponges, they come in here, they learn 2 or 3 chords and pretty soon they're writing their own songs, so just give them a chance to be creative and they'll be creative.”

It’s a new adventure for the Boys and Girls Club that's striking the right chord in the community.

Construction on the Brennan Rock and Roll Academy is expected to be finished in the spring of 2013.