When Joe Huber's Barnyard Bash arranges for a headliner with fifteen number one hits and twenty-five top ten singles, you suspect you're in for a special performance. John Conlee's concert on Friday evening, June 22, certainly met that expectation.
Wearing his trademark rose colored glasses, Conlee opened the show with hit song "I'm Only In It For The Love" which immediately brought fans to their feet welcoming him with whistles, cheers and much applause.
It was his following song, however, that laid the ground work for much of the rest of the evening. He performed a song he said paid tribute to a financial situtation everyone could relate to, "Busted."
Without prompting, fans familiar with John Conlee concerts immediately responded to this tune by lining up to drop dollar bills into a hat placed on stage and to shake Conlee's hand. Why? To help Feed the Children.
Since last November, Conlee has managed to collect ten thousand dollars for this worthy cause. Only two days before this concert, Conlee appeared on Nashville Now and presented Larry Jones, President of Feed the Children, with a check for that amount, while making a commitment to start raising a "second ten thousand."
In keeping with that promise, Conlee announced at the Starlight concert that he would accept donations and shake contributors hands throughout the evening. And that he did.
During such mega hits as "Miss Emily's Picture", "Common Man", "The Old School," "Backside of Thirty," and naturally, "Rose Colored Glasses", fans came forward to help make a difference in a needy child's life. (One man's donation will make a hundred dollars difference.)
Speaking of "Rose Colored Glasses," Conlee fans ALSO know that during his concerts and personal appearances, he selects someone to receive the pair he is wearing at the time. Eleven year old Jill got the honors; she gave the right answer when asked who her favorite country music singer was.
Of course Conlee had singled her from the crowd, but had he asked most anyone there that evening the same question, the odds are good he would have received the same response.
Conlee's distinctive vocal style, successful combination of "down home appeal" and slick Nasville professionalism, and perfect execution of such classics as "Rose Colored Glasses" make him a winner.
Those same qualities, along with his deep sense of responsiblity, will perhaps help make children who might not have the chance otherwise, winners too.
Opening for John Conlee were Robin Brown & Wilder Days. Cover tunes recorded by Kathy Mattea, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill and Patsy Cline were handled nicely, but the highlight was Robin's rendition of k. d. lang's "Pullin' Back The Reins."
Bob Trinkle Productions, responsible for all shows at the Bash, promises yet another evening of song, music and fun when the Alabama wild-man Jerry Reed appears on June 29th.