Actually, the singers were under the cover of the Negaunee Band Shell in the park, but the audience was drenched by rain that started right about the same time as the music.

But the hundreds of people in attendance at the Rocking-n-Rolling Through the Ages concert — which was held to raise funds to repair the roof at the Historic Vista Theater — didn’t seem to mind. They applauded loudly as act after act took to the stage, including the Negaunee High School Marching Band, The Julie Williams Project, Ally Bellanger and Jeff Jennings, just to name a few.

Negaunee native Jennings, now a music teacher in Green Bay, Wisconsin, was one of the instigators of the evening of music.

“I wanted to do something the first day, when the roof collapsed,” Jennings said.

The roof of the theater, which has been a fixture on Negaunee’s Iron Street since 1926, fell in under the weight of thousands of pounds of rainwater last August.

Plans to fix the roof are being made, but more funds are still needed.

Saturday’s rainy weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the musicians nor the audience, most of whom sat in the rain for the entire nearly three-hour show.

“Even with the rain, people stayed. It says something about the kind of community this is,” Jennings said. “The support was amazing.”

Rusty Bowers, president of the Peninsula Arts Appreciation Council board, which runs the theater, agreed.

“I want to praise everyone who participated in the event (Saturday) night. Everyone did a great job,” he said. “And so much thanks to the hardcore Vista fans that braved the weather to show their support. They were hungry for some ‘live’ entertainment and showed their love for this building and our group of fine performers.

“And so many businesses in the area have shown their support in this stressful time,” he said. “Still lots of Vista love to spread around in this community.”

In addition to those already mentioned, other artists performing Saturday evening included Megan Good from Green Bay; and Upper Peninsula performers Gerry Pirkola, the NHS Dance Team, Arnie Spickerman, Whiskey Ryan and Catfish Kennedy, Leslie Parkkonen, Bonnie and Marissa Symons, Dean and the Jello Shooters, Lisa Bowers, Rusty Bowers, Jack Bowers and Marcia Hicks.

For more information, visit the Historic Vista Theater/PAAC Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ paacvistatheater or visit the Vista’s official website at www.vistatheater.org.

Renee Prusi can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 240. Her email address is rprusi@miningjournal.net.