Bruce Channel to perform at the 2008 SOSU Arts Gala

DURANT, Okla. ­ Bruce Channel, best known for his 1962 mega pop hit "Hey Baby," will perform at the 2008 Southeastern Oklahoma State University Arts Gala, scheduled for Friday, March 7, 2008, at the Visual and Performing Arts Center at SOSU.

The SOSU Arts Gala presents an opportunity to hear outstanding artists while providing scholarship assistance for deserving students.

Channel first began singing and entertaining at local dances in his early teens in Texas, where he entered a recording studio to make a simple demonstration recording of a couple of new songs he had written. At the last minute, he substituted a brand new song he had just finished called "Hey Baby." Six months later, he watched in awe as this recording soared to number one in the pop charts and stayed there for three weeks.

Thus began a long and fascinating touring and recording career in the U.S. and England. Later, hits on "Goin' Back To Louisiana," "Mr. Bus Driver," and "Keep On," kept Channel at the forefront of the pop scene for many years.

At the height of his popularity in England, he headlined a show featuring a relatively unknown recording group, "The Beatles."

After more than a decade of touring and recording, Channel grew tired of the road and the music business. He returned to Fort Worth, Texas, to settle down with his wife Christine, whom he had met in England, and left the music scene for a while.

Channel received an award from BMI for two million radio performances of "Hey Baby." His original record of "Hey Baby" is featured in the hit movie, "Dirty Dancing," and on the international sound track album, listed in Billboard¹s Pop Album for more than three months with sales of more than 12 million units.

Channel resides in Nashville and is actively involved in songwriting and music publishing.

This is the 12th year of the Arts Gala program, which brings top talent to the SOSU campus. The series began in 1997 with the Rhythm and Brass Ensemble of Dallas, Texas. Previous performers have included Gail Farrell, the Platters, Gene McFall in the "Witty World of Will Rogers," The Five Americans, Guy Lombardo's Royal Canadians with Al Pierson, The Four Freshmen, The River City Ramblers, and Aurora Consort.

Cindy Kirkpatrick is serving as chair of the 2008 Arts Gala.

Tickets for the dinner/concert at the Visual and Performing Arts Center are priced at $100 each with proceeds going to the scholarship fund. Dinner begins at 7 p.m., followed by the concert at 8 p.m.