Southern Arkansas University’s eighth-annual free spring concert will feature singer, songwriter, and actor Jesse McCartney with Cupid opening, at the SAU Story Arena on Tuesday, April 19, 2016.
The concert is free and the public is invited to attend. No bags or backpacks will be allowed.
“Jesse McCarthy and Cupid are both such big musical acts, we are dubbing this SAU Spring Concert as a double feature,” said Kandice Herron, assistant dean of campus activities. “We are excited to be able to offer this caliber of a concert for free for SAU’s current and prospective students, as well as the community.”
Doors will open at the Story Arena, located on U.S. 82 on the north side of Magnolia, at 6:30 p.m. Cupid’s opening act will be at 7:30 p.m., and McCartney will take the stage at 10 p.m.
McCartney, born April 9, 1987, is an American singer, songwriter and actor who began his career performing in local community theatre at age seven. As a child, he launched his career on Broadway appearing in the musicals The King and I and A Christmas Carol. From the ages of 11 to 13, McCartney simultaneously acted on ABC’s All My Children and recorded with the group Dream Street, whose debut album went gold. Continuing with his career in music, he released his first solo album, Beautiful Soul, which sold more than 1.8 million copies. In 2008, he co-wrote the smash hit “Bleeding Love” with Ryan Tedder of One Republic for singer Leona Lewis. The song was a #1 hit in 34 countries – the only song in over a decade to achieve this. “Bleeding Love” was nominated for a Grammy Award, and in 2009 won ASCAP’s song of the year. His single “Leavin,” from his third album, Departure, was #1 for five weeks and was Top 40 Radio’s most played song of that year.
Not only is McCartney an accomplished musician, but he also has made a name for himself in both film and television being twice nominated for an Emmy for his work in All My Children. McCartney’s film credits include the teen cult classic, Keith, which won five international film festival awards, Beware The Gonzo, and Chernobyl Diaries, produced by Oren Peli, creator of the Paranormal Activity franchise. McCartney has also voiced characters for animated films, video games and television series, including all three Alvin and the Chipmunks films, Horton Hears a Who, Kingdom Hearts and Young Justice. On 
television, McCartney starred in the series Summerland, the highest rated show on the WB during its two-year run, and guest starred on Greek, Law & Order SVU and CSI: Las Vegas. In early 2013, McCartney starred as Private Tim Truman in the final season of Army Wives.
Along with his television schedule, McCartney continues to write and record music with and for some of the biggest names in pop music. In 2013, McCartney wrote with Hot Chelle Rae for their album and his own, including McCartney’s single “Back Together.” McCartney also spent most of his time in 2013 working with a group of New York producers, The Elev3n. Together, they produced his EP “In Technicolor Part 1” and his full-length, fifth studio album, “In Technicolor.”
Cupid, born October 10, 1982, as Bryson Bernard, is an R&B singer born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana. He has released four albums, and is best known for the single “Cupid Shuffle.”
The spring concert series at SAU began during the University’s 2009 centennial celebration. Previous performers have included former SAU student and country music star Tracy Lawrence, Eric Hutchison, Sean Kingston, Thompson Square a, pop duo Karmin, DJ Pauly D and the Casey Donahew Band.
For more information on the concert, contact the Office of Student Activities at (870) 235-4925.
