This Saturday night, August 19, Grammy Award-winner Crystal Gayle will bring her rich vocals and trademark long hair to the Villages Amphitheater.

Born Brenda Gail Webb in Paintsville, Kentucky in January of 1951, Gayle was the youngest of eight children. The coal miner’s daughter developed a love for country, pop, folk, rock ‘n roll, gospel and Broadway show tunes early on an began performing and recording in the early 1970’s.

It was Gayle’s fourth album, “We Must Believe in Magic” (1977), which featured the hit single “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” and broadened her audience. “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” reached number one on the U.S. country music charts and also became the number two pop single. The album became a best seller and Gayle became the first female country artist to reach Gold Album status. She won a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for the single, and in 1977 and 1978 she was chosen the Country Music Association's "Female Vocalist of the Year."

Gayle has performed to sold out crowds internationally and, on a trip to China with Bob Hope, she became the first person to tape a performance on the Great Wall of China. She has appeared in her own specials on CBS, to critical acclaim and very high ratings, which led to her "Christmas in Sweden" special, as well.

She continued to achieve success on the country charts, with such songs as "Why Have You Left the One You Left Me For." Gayle achieved several hits on the pop charts including "Talking in Your Sleep," "Half the Way" and a duet with Eddie Rabbitt, "You and I," all three of which made the Pop Top 20 and Adult Contemporary Top 10. The success of these records helped break down barriers for crossover artists, paving the way for others that followed in her footsteps such as Shania Twain, LeAnn Rimes and Faith Hill.

Gayle’s world-wide appeal and versatility as a songstress led to a string of 18 number one hit songs. Her trademark song, "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue," was named one of the top ten most played songs of the 20th Century. Her album “True Love” was the first non-greatest hits album to yield four number one singles.

Gayle continues to record and perform, packing halls from Louisville to Leningrad. On June 9, 2005, she took the stage at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee for a live reprise of "You and I" after it was named the number seven all-time best/favorite Country Music Duet during a countdown and concert that listed the "Top 100 Greatest Country Duets" of all time. That performance also yielded a Crystal Gayle in Concert DVD.

Limited advanced seating is available for both $30 reserved seats and $25 lawn seats. Tickets for the 2006 Summer Concert Series are on sale at www.villagesamphitheater.com or may be purchased at the Historic Train Depot and Welcome Center on 250 Lanier Ave. East or by calling Main Street at 770-719-4173. Gates for the performance will open at 7 p.m., the opening act will go on at 8 p.m. and Crystal Gayle will take the stage at 9 p.m.

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