This Sunday, put on your cowboy boots and start whistling Dixie because The Tarnished Six will be playing their 40th anniversary show at 1 p.m. Sunday at the State Theatre, 130 W. College Ave.
The Tarnished Six, a State College-based Dixieland and jazz band, is just another institution in this town, only a bit overshadowed by football and dollar-slice pizza. It formed 40 years ago when the band The Gilded Seven broke up but some members wanted to keep playing music. The remaining members formed the band and got their start playing at The Phyrst, 111 E. Beaver Ave., every Friday night for about 10 years.
Joe Apfelbaum, programming manager at the State Theatre, said he is excited that an act that is so ingrained in State College will be playing at the State Theatre.
"They are part of the fabric of the community here," he said.
Over the years, members have come and gone, while two remain from the beginning. For the 40th anniversary concert, the current line up will share the stage with previous members of the band. Band leader John Kovalchik said the first set will feature the current members and the second half of the performance will feature previous members playing as well.
"The State Theatre is a really nice venue, and it'll be great to have alumni from the band back playing this show," Kovalchik said.
While the Tarnished Six has played all over the world, from St. Louis to Scotland, it is still special for the band to play in State College, Kovalchik said.
It has been playing at Hi-Way Pizza, 428 Westerly Parkway, for more than 20 years now. Currently, the band does not play there as much as it did in the past, but during football season you can find the band playing at the local eatery after Penn State or State College Area High School football games.
In addition to playing at Hi-Way Pizza, the band has been featured in the Nittany Valley and the Altoona Symphony Orchestras and performed a concert for the Student Foundation for the Performing Arts at Penn State in addition to a number of other local events.
