The delightful salute to the holidays that has become an annual Sandhills tradition is being presented by the local Knights of Columbus No. 11103 Council, of Pinehurst, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16. The Holiday Music Show, an afternoon of family entertainment, is in its sixth year raising funds for youth in Moore County public schools who have special needs.

This year's lineup of talent includes The Bluegrass Tarheels, saxophonist Jerry D, and the Swing Street Band, with bandleader Tom Bernett acting as master of ceremonies. The nine-member Swing Street band are repeating their last year's performance that got a tremendous response from the audience.

Producing the 2008 Holiday Music Show is jeweler John James, who came up with the idea for the first show to benefit the L.A.M.B. project when he held the position of Grand Knight of the local council. The program, whose acronym stands for "Least Among My Brothers," assists students in classes at Pinehurst Elementary School, and at the county middle schools as well as at area high schools.

All of the proceeds of the Holiday Music Show are dedicated to L.A.M.B, and James notes that the performers of this year's show will donate their services, as has been done in the past.

"Their generosity makes it possible for the Knights of Columbus Council 11103 to continue to provide funds to help mentally and physically challenged Moore County youth," says James.

The Bluegrass Tarheels is a well-known area group, playing music with the bluegrass rhythm and sound. They have pleased audiences with their performances over a wide geographical area, from their home base in Moore County to as far away as Canada. The three-man group, playing the five-string banjo, mandolin, dobro guitar, fiddle, guitar and bass, also contribute to the vocals. The Bluegrass Tarheels specialize in taking requests from their enthusiastic audiences.

Jerry D, a recent transplant to Southern Pines from the Nashville area, is a recording artist. His music career started in the fourth grade when his mother, a fan of the legendary Boots Randolph, presented him with a saxophone. In later years after developing his talent, and with a nod to his mother's love of Randolph's "Yakety-Sax," Jerry decided to become the "saxy voice of 21st century music." His latest CD, "Deseo," features the Grammy award-winning icon, Dolly Parton, as Jerry accompanies her singing her number one all-time country love song, "I Will Always Love You."

The tuneful show will continue after a short intermission with a performance by the Swing Street Band. Led by Tom Bernett, who after more than 25 years of club dates, corporate shows, dinner theater and studio work in Chicago and Minneapolis, relocated to Southern Pines in 2002, the Swing Street Band is composed of great central Carolina musicians. Collectively, the band members range from professional symphony orchestra musicians to Broadway, from backing Tiny Tim to touring with Elvis Presley, from teaching beginning music students to running college music departments.

Bernett, in addition to being vocalist, drummer and leader of the Swing Street nine, works with other jazz groups in the region, including being the drummer for the well-known Raleigh Jazz Orchestra. He and his fellow Swing Street musicians will top off the afternoon with a toe-tapping, finger-snapping good time.

Because of the past popularity of the Holiday Music Show, this year's performance will be held in the auditorium of the Pinehurst Elementary School on Dundee Road.

"We were restricted to the number of people the Sacred Heart church hall could hold," James says, "so we have moved the event to the school auditorium that can seat 550 in order to satisfy the public demand for tickets.

The event is open to everyone who wants to start the holiday season with an afternoon of terrific entertainment and good music."

Tickets are $15 per person and may be purchased at the door or in advance at Heavenly Pines Jewelry at 45 Dowd Circle in Pinehurst during store hours between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.; at King's Collectibles in the Pinehurst Theatre Building, or from any member of the Knights of Columbus.

For information, call (910) 235-9086.