Wednesday, August 13, 2003
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Wednesday, August 13, 2003 |
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Glen Campbell closes out first series at The Villages By MICHAEL
BOYLAN Fayette County's students are back in school and the summer is drawing to a close. The Villages Amphitheater in Fayetteville will conclude their inaugural summer concert series with a performance from country music superstar Glen Campbell. Campbell came from a very musical family and started playing guitar at the age of four. Ten years later he left home to pursue a music career, starting a band in Houston and then joining a Western band in New Mexico led by his uncle, Dick Bills. Within another 10 years, Campbell was a sought-after session musician in Los Angeles. He was soon signed to Capitol Records and released a bluegrass album. Campbell's career kicked into high gear in 1967 when "Gentle On My Mind" hit number 30 on the Billboard charts. Within a year Campbell scored even bigger hits with the songs "By The Time I Get To Phoenix," "I Wanna Live," and "The Dreams Of The Everyday Housewife," "Gentle On My Mind" began to climb the charts again. Late and in 1968 "Wichita Lineman" was released and it soared to number one on the country charts and number three on the pop charts. Early the next year the song "Galveston" enjoyed similar success. Campbell won a Grammy for "Gentle on My Mind" in the country category and "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" in the pop category in 1967. He has also won awards for Male Vocalist of the Year from both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music. Campbell later found success on both the pop and country charts with the songs "Rhinestone Cowboy" and "Southern Nights." Perhaps one of the biggest things that helped Campbell achieve fame was "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour," which introduced a number of famous recording artists to audiences, but also kept Campbell himself in the public eye. Campbell has sold 40 million records and had 27 Top 10 hits. He puts on an energetic and entertaining show that has audiences tapping their toes and singing along throughout. After more than 30 years as one of the most successful stars in the music business, Glen Campbell says it's not the stardom that drives him. "I'm a musician-a guitar player, and a singer," he explains. "And I love playing. That's the fun of it." Performing before Glen Campbell will be Frankie Pickard, a 10-year-old from Sharpsburg who recorded a CD as part of his wish with the Make-a-Wish foundation. He will play two songs before Timeless Highway opens the show. A limited number of reserved seating tickets are still available, according to Amphitheater manager Nancy Price. "We definitely expect this one to be sold out, so I wouldn't put off buying tickets if you are planning to attend." Tickets are available and may be purchased at Fayetteville City Hall, by calling 770-461-6029, or at any Ticketmaster outlet. Reserved seating tickets are $25 advance, $30 at the door, and lawn seats are $20 advanced and $25 at the door. For directions or further information visit www.fayetteville-ga-us.org.
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