
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, December 10, 1993                   TAG: 9312100092
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PEOPLE

Dave Allen Hodges of Moneta says he fulfilled a lifelong dream Sunday by playing the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn.

Hodges, 40, was one of 101 acts that performed at the Star Born Jamboree sponsored by Don Reed Productions. Hodges, a maintenance electrician at Singer Furniture in Roanoke, performed an original song, titled "I'm the Lucky One."

The annual talent showcase gives amateur performers a change to audition for record company representatives who might be in the Opry audience looking for promising new singers. Hodges was accepted for the showcase after sending Don Reed Productions a demo tape. He also had to sell 40 tickets to the event - at $10 each.

Rather than selling the tickets, however, Hodges said he just paid the $400 out of pocket.

"It was well worth it to stand out there on stage where all the greats have stood," he said. "It was the highlight of my life."

by CNB