"Open up, you're like a turtle... come out of your shell" encouraged Singer Connie James, right, with Zykia Thrower, 17, Wednesday morning in the Columbia High auditorium. James returned to Columbia High, her alma mater, to listen to students sing and give them pointers. James will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Koger Center in a show titled "Connie James Coming Home with the Sandlapper Singers" and she'll play some of her songbook additions. For part of her performance, James, who will sing with the Sandlapper Singers and the Dick Goodwin Quintet, will also play with core members of her working band.

C Michael Bergen — mbergen@thestate.comBuy Photo