Canton Color Tour's Jazz Delights Crowd

Singer Sheila Landis, backed by the band Brazilian Love Affair, opened the fifth Canton Concert Series and found an enthusiastic audience at the New Towne Center / Kohl's parking lot.

The concerts, which continue weekly through August 26, are a joint venture of Canton's Downtown Development Authority, the Canton Chamber of Commerce and Canton Leisure Services.

Landria and Alfred Green of Belleville had planned on shopping at Pier 1, then taking in a movie, but made a brief detour when they spotted the signs along Ford Road promoting the show.

"We had no idea this was going on," said Landria Green.

"I like the idea of the (downtown) development authority doing this," Alfred Green said, adding that he would like to see such events in Belleville as well.

Sisters Brittany and Kim Schmidt moved through the crowd selling candy as part of a fundraiser for their brother Shaun Schmidt's upcoming trip to New Orleans for an AAU Junior Olympics bowling competition.Brittany Schmidt, 20, said it will cost about $1,000 for her brother's trip. Kim Schmidt said the candy sales will benefit each member of the bowling team.

Mary Rachal of Canton and Penny Woolfolk of Brownstown, MI, pulled out their wallets for the Schmidt sisters. Rachal and Woolfolk were at the concert with Charles Monroe of Garden City — like many, the music alternated between being a focal point and being a backdrop for desultory conversation among friends.

James Griffin of Southfield listened while his grandson, Grant Clark, 6, sat on his lap, though the boy also spent time with his dad, Gil Clark of Detroit. Griffin and the Clarks were invited to Friday's show by a cousin, WC Moore, a 17-year Canton resident.

Joanna Schulz of Romulus and her daughter Sharon Roush of Canton enjoyed time together as they watched the concert. Schulz said it was her first Color Tour concert and she liked it very much.

Karen and Gregory Bryant of Westland sat in lawn chairs a short distance from the crowd, shaded by a tree.

"I love it. I love her sound, the band. It's just real smooth," Gregory Bryant said, as Karen Bryant nodded in agreement.

Judy Smyczynski of Canton, who attends live outdoor concerts throughout the summer with friends, left about 15 minutes before the music ended. The music was great, she said, laughing, but she didn't want to get stuck in a traffic jam.

Next week's concert, 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, features John E. Lawrence and is at the Centre Village at Kroger in the Yellow District.