Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 6, 1993 TAG: 9307060088
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MELANIE HATTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Maybe it was his smooth voice that did the trick, but the sun reappeared and shone for the rest of Sunday's stage show, sponsored by K92 WXLK (92.3 FM), at the Salem Fair.
The radio station had called it "Summerblast '93" and had brought Neville, Michael Damian, Freedom Williams (formerly of C&C Music Factory) and newcomers Wendy Moten and Boy Krazy, all of whom performed on the Midway stage.
Neville arrived at the fair around 2 p.m. in a black limousine. Wearing a T-shirt and jeans, he headed to his dressing room with little fanfare.
He's on tour with the Neville Brothers, yet he took time to appear at the Salem Fair. Why?
"I had the day off," he said. "I thought it would be a nice thing to do." Not to mention promote his new album, "The Grand Tour" (A&M), which features songs by Bob Dylan and George Jones.
He played some songs from the album, including a soulful version of the Stylistics' "Betcha By Golly Wow" and his hit "Don't Take Away My Heaven."
The New Orleans-based artist said he might tour on his own if he can find the time between projects that include an upcoming movie, as yet untitled, with Mickey Rourke and a possible country album.
He said his musical style has remained the same over the years, but he has watched the music industry change. "You don't know if it's a band or just one person anymore," he said of today's elaborate production and mixing.
But "you have to roll with it; that's how I look at it."
Neville had changed into a different pair of jeans and a denim vest for the free performance before an audience of about 1,500. Opening the show was "The Young and the Restless" star Michael Damian, who sang songs from his new album, "Reach Out To Me" (BMG), before heading to Florida for another appearance.
Damian recently finished 22 weeks of performances in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat" at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles. The production, which set a house record with a take of $128,790 one night in March, heads to San Francisco for eight weeks before hitting Broadway in the fall.
The daytime drama is working Damian's stage appearance into the show: His character, Danny, also will perform in "Joseph."
When he moves to New York for the play, he said, "I don't know yet what's gonna happen" to Danny. Damian has been with the soap 12 years and doesn't anticipate leaving.
He said he loves the theatre "more than anything. It's acting, singing, combining everything into one character. I just love it."
Guest host for the event was Freedom Williams, who was promoting his first solo album, "Freedom" (Columbia).
Although he wasn't scheduled to perform, he rounded out the afternoon with an impromptu rendition of three songs.
"I didn't come here for this," he shouted to the audience. "You made me do it 'cause you all are live!"
He doffed his neat shirt and tie as the hot afternoon wore on, and let his shoulder-length hair down.
Williams, who grew up in Queens, N.Y., left an award-winning dance group two years ago. "It was dead time for me," he said.
He has no regrets about the split, he said. "I learned more in that two years than ever before." He has no plans to rejoin the group and he hopes to sell enough records on his own that he won't have to.
Williams is thinking about a tour. "Maybe in a month. I'll look at the climate" of the music industry, he said. "You have to let it birth itself" at the right moment.
Wendy Moten's performance included her hit single "Come In Out Of The Rain." Later, with Williams, she signed autographs for about 50 people.
"They're forever your fans because you took the time to spend with them," she said. Moten, of Memphis, Tenn., was studying to be a corporate lawyer until she was spotted singing with a band, she said.
Boy Krazy - Kimberly Blake, Josselyne Jones and Ruth Ann Roberts - went through some vocal exercises in their dressing room to settle their nerves before heading for the stage.
The group is down to a threesome after Johnna Cummings left a month ago. She won't be replaced, they said. The extensive touring took a toll on her health, Jones said. The group has been on the road since February.
K92 promotions director Sammy Simpson spent a month preparing for the event, which he thought was the largest the radio station had ever sponsored.
"I feel great now. It's all over," he said.
And it didn't rain.
by CNB