Jay Smar opens concert season at art center Jan. 28

Locally renowned entertainer Jay Smar will open the concert season at the Tamaqua Community Art Center from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 28.

Smar entertains his audiences using two guitars and a claw-hammer banjo while singing baritone vocals. He also keeps their hands clapping and feet tapping while he's flat footin,' a type of clog dancing.

In addition to the coal mining songs of northeast Pennsylvania, which are local favorites, he also serves up a collection of traditional American and original folk, old-time mountain music, bluegrass and gospel tunes.

Since the start of his professional career in 1976 with the band "The Classics Four," Smar has toured Scotland twice; performed at the Philadelphia Folk Festival; has recorded music for the Welsh BBC documentary, "The Welsh in America;" and played at Penn's Peak, The Dietrich Theatre, The Bottle Works and The Sordoni Theatre at WVIA.

Smar has been recognized by the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives for preserving coal mine history, and is on the roster for the Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour and the Pennsylvania Humanities Council.

The art center is located at 125 Pine St., Tamaqua.

For more information or tickets, call 570-668-1192 or visit the center's website at www.tamaquaArts.org.