He may not be Santa Claus, but someone just as popular will be coming to town.

Friday, November 24, 2000

He may not be Santa Claus, but someone just as popular will be coming to town.

Martin Zellar, Austin native and national recording artist, is coming home for a Paramount Theatre benefit concert. Zellar and the Hardways will perform the benefit concert at the Paramount 7 p.m. Saturday night.

Zellar and his bass player, Nick Ciola, are both Austin natives.

A spring tour through the theater prompted the former Gear Daddies front man to perform here.

"He and his wife went through the building earlier this year and he was so impressed with the renovations and the work the community is putting into the restoration effort," Joann Stevens Orcutt, Paramount’s director, said. "He has a lot of happy memories of the Paramount while he was growing up in Austin."

Zellar and his band play to sell-out crowds throughout the nation and recently completed a new CD, "Live, Two Guitars, Bass and Drums."

Zellar was also the leader of the popular country rock band, the Gear Daddies.

The group has appeared on "The David Letterman Show," and Zellar’s "Zamboni" appears on two movie soundtracks, "Mystery Alaska" and "The Mighty Ducks."

Zellar’s original song, "Falling Sky," was used in the film "The Spitfire Grill."

Zellar’s music has been described as powerful guitar-based rock and roll.

Tickets for Saturday’s performance will be on sale at Nemitz’s Book Store in downtown Austin.

Tickets are also available through the Paramount Theatre by calling 434-0934 or at the door Saturday night.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. All seats are general admission.