Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 20, 1991 TAG: 9103200328
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
For proof, look no further than Bandy's 1988 hit record, "Americana," a song that heralded the impor tance of patriotism and the love Americans should feel for our country.
The song was picked-up as George Bush's presidential campaign theme song and could have been used as the theme for American troops in the Persian Gulf.
So, it seems fitting that the man responsible for such a song would come to honor someone who was by all accounts the embodiment of that spirit.
And then there is Bandy himself, who said in a telephone interview from Nashville how honored he felt to be playing the Plunk benefit.
"It's kind of a touchy thing when we do something like this. It's kind of a sad occasion because we lost someone, but at the same time, we want to make people happy and put on a happy show."
It's for a good cause and that's what counts, he said. Proceeds from the 7 p.m. concert at the Lancerlot Sports Complex in Vinton will go to the Terry Plunk Scholarship Fund. 5 1 BANDY Bandy
A native Texan, Bandy broke into country music in 1974 with "I Just Started Hatin' Cheatin' Songs Today," a song he was only able to record after pawning his furniture to pay for the $900 recording session.
It landed him a record deal with Columbia Records, which in turn led to his five-year association with label mate Joe Stampley.
Together, they recorded five albums, including their debut, "Just Good Ole Boys," that helped them win vocal duo of the year awards in 1980 from both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
Bandy has since gone on to score solo successes with "Till I'm Too Old to Die Young," "You Haven't Heard The Last of Me" and "Americana," a song that was not only adopted for the Bush campaign, but also led to a friendship between the two men.
In fact, Bandy said he spent the weekend with Bush and his family at Camp David three weeks ago, at about the height of the war.
He sang two hymns for the first family during a Sunday worship service, and Bandy and the president played horseshoes and took walks in the woods and tried to relax.
"We talked about my career and things I was doing and country music. It was like being around a friend," he said.
Naturally, the war was weighing heavily on Bush's mind, but Bandy said the president seemed confident that he made the right decision. The singer shares that confidence.
"I felt we definitely did the right thing," he said. "I feel that we will definitely benefit from it in the future as far as peace goes in the Middle East. I think it will save lives in the long run."
Bandy hopes to say a few words maybe about the war or Plunk, but he wants to wait until after he meets Plunk's family.
"It just depends on if it's the right and the appropriate thing to do. It's one of those things you just have to wait and see when you get there," he said.
But at least he can perform "Americana," which he said he'll save until the end of the show.
"It'll be an appropriate ending because it's a patriotic song and this is going to be a patriotic show."
MOE BANDY: 7 p.m. Tonight at the Lancerlot in Vinton. $12.50. 343-4747.
by CNB