BAINBRIDGE – Although still months away, Rock in the Park organizers are enthusiastically preparing for this year’s concert to benefit Chenango County’s Toys for Tots and are proud to announce a big-name headliner, 2006 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, as well as one of the last living members of Ronnie Van Zant’s Lynryd Skynyrd, Artimus Pyle.

Pyle joined Lynryd Skynyrd in 1974 and is one of the only members to have survived the fateful plane crash of 1977, which killed three of the original band members, including Van Zant. Pyle’s band, The Artimus Pyle Band, is described as a tribute band to Lynryd Skynyrd and they will be flying in from North Carolina August to headline Bainbridge’s second annual Rock in the Park fundraiser on Aug. 10. Opening for Pyle’s band will be the Woodshed Prophets, returning for the second year due to popular demand adding a bit of local flavor to the concert.

“We’re already getting pretty excited about the whole thing,” said Jason Hall, who along with his wife Erica Pearsall Hall organize the event.

Last year a little under 1,000 people showed up for the Rock in the Park, collectively donating $3,742 along with 12 large bags worth of toys. The collections and money were all donated to the local Toys for Tots, benefiting children in the area.

“We are selling tickets in advance this year and are hoping for an even bigger turnout,” said Hall. “The average crowd The Artimus Pyle Band usually draws is around 2,000 to 3,000 people, so it could be out of this world.”

Hall got in contact with Pyle through a Tioga Downs’ promoter who represents Pyle and his band. Though Hall looked around at other bands, when Pyle was told the event was a fundraiser for Toys for Tots, he immediately reduced his fee making his selection a possibility.