Local Weather Forecast
Today: Current:69	Tuesday: 84/70	Wednesday: 80/64
Complete Forecast for  May 13 2008

By PATRICK BUTLER
Staff Writer

When Jim Patton was a kid in Southern California he had the persona of a fighter pilot - bucking the odds, fearless, committed and ready to rumble.

Patton raced cars on the local track against tough competitors, taking chances and winning. Often.

His wall is lined with photos of him holding trophies and getting smooches from the racing queens.

And he played lead guitar in a band that performed at dances throughout the county. He found he could rip on the lead runs, just like racing. He pushed the envelope and found he was good at arranging music.

Taking more chances, he gave up racing. He was being groomed to play music and later, he recorded in Los Angeles.

This soon led to the realization he was good at producing. He won gold, then platinum albums. They hang on the wall next to the racing photos.

Still risk-taking, Patton traveled to Soviet bloc countries to play his music. He'd go anywhere and "any-when" his gigs would take him and his singing/songwriting wife Dee, taking chances all the way, every day.

And on Saturday this daredevil-type-of-a-guy, Jim Patton and his wife Dee - now joined by their two grown daughters Elfin and Bree who form Bongo and the Point - will perform a 70-minute rock opera they have worked on for the past three years.

It will be a concert to bring attention to, and to benefit, the Summer Youth Program of the Tyler Corps of the Salvation Army. The Pattons will not be paid for their performance.

"The Selfish Giant (his latest CD) has been a labor of pure love," said Patton. "We wanted the performances of it to go to a good cause."

The four family members, who perform under the name "Bongo and the Point" chose the Salvation Army Summer Youth Program because it's "all about the kids."

"At our stage in life, after all we've done and accomplished, this kind of concert is what gives us the greatest satisfaction," said Patton. "We don't need another gold record hanging on the wall. We've been there and done that. We want people to open up their hearts."

"Bongo and the Point gets nothing from the concert except the pleasure of bringing attention to what the Army wants to do with kids in Tyler," said Dee Patton.

The Pattons will donate the entire admission fee from the rock opera - $5 and a can of food - to the Salvation Army.

But there will be "better donation opportunities" concert-goers can take to support the youth program than a ticket price, Patton said.

"Selfish Giant CDs will be given free to anyone who makes a financial donation of any size to the Summer Youth Program, Patton said.

"Any size at all," said Dee Patton. "Whatever you can give, give. That's the point. Look at what's in your hand to give and watch spring return to your soul. We're hoping people will simply - without a lot of hype - open their hearts and their checkbooks to help kids in this city during the summer," she said.

"The Army is ready to serve. All they need is the funding for the staff. These are kids in Tyler we're talking about, those who are our 'garden.' "

The concert will also feature folksinger Rabbi Neal Katz of People Attempting To Help. The Del Alma Guitar Duo will play classical and Flamenco pieces.

Copies of PATH'S "Rise Up" CD featuring a variety of local folk singers including Katz, will also be made available for a financial donation of any size to the Salvation Army Youth Program.