Tracy native and songwriter Gary Rue was the featured performer at the “Tracy’s Got Talent” variety show on Sunday. Rue performed songs from a variety of artists and bands that influenced his career.

TRACY — There were singers, musicians – and even ice cream sundaes. But the main focus of the gathering at The Caboose on Sunday was the Tracy community.

“It’s amazing how everyone came together,” said Melissa Sahlstrom, one of the local performers taking part in the “Tracy’s Got Talent” variety show. More than 100 people attended the variety show and a silent auction, to help fundraise for a new community center in Tracy.

“The community center is a progressive idea, and it’s a good thing to do. It gives everybody focus,” said Tracy native Gary Rue. “I think it’s a really good thing. It’s a powerful thing.”

Rue, a songwriter and member of the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, returned to his hometown as a featured performer at the variety show. Rue said seeing Tracy area residents coming together to support their community was a powerful experience. It was also important to help keep rural Minnesota communities together, he said.

Rue said he had changed his plans for the music he would play for the crowd Sunday.

“I’m not going to do any of my own music today. I’m going to play music form people I’ve been involved with in my career,” he said. The list of performers that influenced and shaped Rue’s career included Gene Pitney, Buddy Holly and Bobby Vee. He also planned to feature music from the Sleepers, the area band Rue was part of in the 1960s. “I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. We’ll see how it goes.”

The performances at Sunday’s show spanned genres of music from jazz to country and rock. There were some musical performances by families like the Sahlstroms, and even instrumental performances by keyboardist Allen Pearson and cellist Sam Obel. Justin Lessman gave a high-energy performance of songs by Jerry Lee Lewis.

Proceeds from the variety show and a silent auction will go to the Tracy Community Center Project Fund, event organizers said.

“I think our turnout has been pretty decent,” said Becky Averill, one of the variety show’s organizers. Averill said it was also “amazing” to see all the community volunteers who made the show possible.

Organizers said it was good to see people come out to support the community center project. After Tracy’s former Multi-Purpose Center closed during the COVID pandemic, a group of local residents has been working to build a new community gathering space.