KEY POINTS:
Mission Concert promoters may have snapped their biggest target with strong rumours that international music legend Paul Simon has been signed for the event in 2009.
Nothing has been confirmed by Sport and Entertainment Ltd's Garry Craft, but the concert's website says an announcement will be made soon.
Simon, who turns 67 next month and part of the superstar 1960's double-act Simon and Garfunkel, has been top of Missioners' wish lists since Kiwi diva Dame Kiri Te Kanawa performed at the first concert in 1993.
Simon has been an icon in the music world since the 1965 hit Sounds of Silence, with Art Garfunkel, from their second album - the first was Wednesday Morning 3AM.
Simon was already known as a solo performer having between the two albums released, also in 1965, the album Paul Simon Songbook.
The duo split in 1970 after a string of hits and, while both have had successful solo careers, it was Simon, starting with the 1972 hits Mother and Child Reunion and Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, who became one of the most revered stars in the world.
The annual hunt for first news of a Mission name for this season's concert started in October last year, six months ahead of the 2007-2008 concert which was to have starred John Mellencamp.
At the time of the Mellencamp announcement (he subsequently became unavailable and was replaced by Tom Jones), Mr Craft, the Australia- based executive of Mission Concert promoters Sport and Entertainment Ltd (SEL) indicated a signing for this season's act was already close and an early announcement could be expected.
He confirmed at that time that Canadian songstresses Celine Dion and Shania Twain had been among those sought for last season's show. Web-watchers became aware that Dion, for one, would have struggled to be available because of concerts in South Africa.
It started the rumour that Dion was a likely act for this year, and among other's who have been targeted in the guessing-game have been American rocker Bruce Springsteen, with British band The Shadows in the picture as a support act.
- HAWKES BAY TODAY
