
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 18, 1993                   TAG: 9308260262
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE                                 LENGTH: Short

SLEDGE IS THE OPENING ACT IN WYTHEVILLE

Percy Sledge, whose singing career was launched by the tune ``When A Man Loves A Woman,'' will be the main performer during the opening day of the ninth annual Wytheville Chautauqua Festival on Saturday.

He will perform at 9 p.m. with the Hot Ash Blues Band in the Elizabeth Brown Memorial Park.

r= The 52-year-old Alabama native began his singing career in his teens. That first recording hit was released in 1966 and went to the top of the charts, to be followed by such tunes as ``Warm and Tender Love,'' ``Take Time to Know Her'' and ``I'll Be Your Everything.''

The first day of the nine-day town-wide festival will start with hot-air balloon launches at 7 a.m. from Wytheville Community College.

The rest of the day will include tennis, chess, the start of a chili cook-off, art and craft show and sale, photography exhibit, a science program, clogging, puppets and the presentation of the Miss Chautauqua winners.

by CNB