HUNTINGTON, W.Va. —The Huntington Symphony Orchestra will present “Picnic with the Pops” June 13 at Harris Riverfront Park in Huntington, W.Va.

Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by phone at 304-781-8343 or online at www.huntingsymphony.org.

The HSO has announced the special guest artists and pre-concert entertainment for the upcoming June 13 concert.

Bob Schad and Jazzou Jones have performed as a duo since 1981, when they were paired as a banjo-ragtime piano act for the Great Steamboat Race between the Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen.

Both these talented and engaging entertainers had worked previously as solo performers for the Delta Queen Steamboat Company, and from the moment they appeared together in the Paddlewheel Lounge, they were a hit.

In the years since, they have both served as cruise director for the Delta Queen steamboats, each directing entertainment and performing their solo shows aboard these magnificent paddlewheelers.

Bob Schad has entertained on USO tours to Asia and Europe, and has appeared frequently in Florida at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Cypress Gardens, and Rosie O’Grady’s.

He is also a veteran cruise director and entertainer on deep sea vessels.

Jazzou Jones has tickled the ivories from a young age, entertaining regularly in concert at clubs and festivals from coast to coast, as well as playing locally in Cincinnati for ten years on day excursions with BB Riverboats.

Specializing in American style river music, Schad and Jones declare West Virginia as one of their favorite places to play, having visited often in Huntington aboard the Delta Queen, as well as having appeared regularly aboard the sternwheeler P.A. Denny and other riverboats in connection with the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta.

Bob and Jazzou’s unique blending of vocals, banjo and piano have thrilled audiences on many occasions throughout the Mountaineer State.

One song they will be sure to perform with the Huntington Symphony on June 13 is their own composition “The P.A. Denny Song,” a rollicking ode to the glories of West Virginia and one of her most famous riverboats.

Pre-concert entertainment will be provided by rambling fiddler Jake Krack.

Jake Krack, Calhoun County fiddler, was awarded the Red Foley Memorial Music Award at Berea College April 27, 2006. The Red Foley Award, established in 1970, recognizes talented Berea students for their musical contribution to the social life of the campus community. It is also intended to help the recipient in a professional music career, if he or she so desires. This award is intended to promote the kind of music associated with Red Foley’s career- such as folk, country, bluegrass, gospel and popular music. It was established in memory of country music star Red Foley, who attended the Berea Academy School.

It was initiated by E.E. Siman, Jr., Foley’s long-time friend and manager. Jake is now an Alumni of Berea College.

In January 2006 he completed an internship at the Smithsonian Folklife Archives in Washington DC. Jake participated in producing a traditional fiddle CD on the Smithsonian Folkways label and will be listed as co-producer along with Jeff Place as producer on the project.

Also while in DC he attended the Alan Lomax Symposium held at the Library of Congress for scholars and music archivists.

Jake Krack and the “Whoopin Hollar Stringband” won the 69th annual Galax Fiddlers Convention in Galax Virginia. Jake Krack-fiddle, Dennis Hall-guitar, Dallas Hall-mandolin, Peco Watson-banjo, and Eddie Bond-bass.

The “Whoopin Hollar Stringband” also placed second at the Appalachian Stringband Festival in Clifftop West Virginia. Again with Jake on fiddle, Dennis on guitar, Dallas on mandolin, Peco on banjo, and this time Jesse Morris on Bass.

Jake has won the 33rd Annual 2004 Mt. Airy, NC Fiddlers Convention-Old Time Fiddle Contest. This will be the second time Jake has won the fiddle contest at Mt. Airy in the past three years.

Jake has won the 68th annual Galax, Virginia 2003 fiddle contest. Jake won first place out of 163 registered fiddlers. Jake also received the best all around performer award.