An audience with 'The King'

The man himself has been gone for a while, but his music and legend will never disappear.

Come and celebrate Elvis Presley's 75th birthday this Sunday, Jan. 10, at the "Still the King" benefit at John Barleycorn in Schaumburg.

The fundraiser for the Prairie Center Arts Foundation will begin at 6 p.m. with an appetizer reception, followed at 7 p.m. by a performance by Rick Saucedo and the EAS Band.

Saucedo was voted "Best in the Burbs" by Suburban Nitelife magazine and is considered the region's favorite Elvis performer.

Tickets cost $20 each, half of which is a tax-deductible donation. There will be door prizes, a split-the-pot raffle and lots of fun. Tickets are available by calling (847) 895-3600 or at prairiecenter.org or johnbarleycorn.com/events.

The event at 1100 American Lane in Schaumburg is not just a celebration of The King, but a musical party for the new year and the new decade.

The Prairie Center Arts Foundation makes theater tickets available to people in need in the community. Despite the commitment of Schaumburg's Prairie Center for the Arts to keep tickets at affordable levels, there are always people that cannot afford them, as well as people whose special needs make it more difficult for them to have access to the arts and culture.

Last month, the foundation donated 185 tickets to "The Nutcracker" and "Presto!" holiday concert to community agencies including WINGS, Ups for Downs, Kenneth Young Center, the Learning for Life program and the Senior Barn.

The foundation also provided 881 tickets to bilingual students in Schaumburg and the surrounding area to attend Center Stage performances at the Prairie Center.