Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 21, 1995 TAG: 9507220003
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS BANKS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Twenty years ago, his rock 'n' roll band - Little David and the Giants - was opening for such acts as Styx, Chuck Berry and Cheech and Chong.
Now, Huff is a little older and a little wiser, but he's not calling himself "little" any more. He is, however, still leading a driving band.
His son, Lance, is the drummer for David and the Giants.
"Lance is all the time telling people that his dad was in the studio when the Rolling Stones recorded 'Brown Sugar,'" Huff said. "What matters to him is that our music has never changed. What matters to us is that our lives have."
"We are all ministers," Huff has said of his band. "No matter where we go, our focus is winning souls.... The Bible says that whatever we do, in word or deed, we must do all to the glory of God. That's as pure as it gets. It's all inclusive, and for a born-again Christian, there are no exemptions."
Huff's band, which also includes his brother, Rayborn, who plays keyboards and bass player Dennon Dearman, has produced 16 albums. First, there was "Song of Songs" in 1977, followed by titles such as "Riders in the Sky," "Magnificat," "Distant Journey" and "Giant Hits." The newest album produced earlier this year, "Angels Unaware," features song titles like "I Was Made for You," "Light the Fire" and "Can't Stop the Music":
"Can't stop the music,
It's out of control.
I wanna tell you, it'll never grow old.
The Lord is coming,
Let us rejoice.
Can't stop the music,
I've made it my choice."
David and the Giants will perform tonight, starting at 7:30, at Christiansburg High School. Straight Street Youth Center is sponsoring the appearance as part of its annual "Youth Rally of the Valley."
The rally starts with an open gym from 5 to 7 p.m. at the high school. Youths may participate in basketball, volleyball and a slam dunk contest. Admission is a $1 door donation. For $4 more, you can stay for the concert.
Admission for the concert only is $5 at the door.
For more information, call Straight Street at 381-1006.
NASHVILLE CATS: Shelor Chevrolet in Christiansburg is bringing not one but two Nashville cats to town this weekend.
Grand Ole Opry star John Conlee will perform in concert Sunday at Shelor's. The silver-tongued baritone has produced 29 single releases since he hit it big with "Backside of Thirty" in 1976. Twenty-six of his songs have made it to the top 20 and eight reached the No. 1 spot on the national country music charts.
Conlee's hit list includes "Rose Colored Glasses," "Common Man," "Hit the Ground Runnin'" and "Busted."
In Nashville, Conlee is known as one of the good guys. Born and raised on a farm in Kentucky, the singer doesn't go in for the glitter and hype associated with the entertainment industry. When he's not performing, he works his 32-acre farm on the outskirts of Nashville and devotes his attention to his hobbies: woodworking and gunsmithing.
Joining the country music star for Sunday's concert is wannabe country music star Joey Journell of Ripplemead. Before moving to Nashville several years ago, Journell performed locally with Broken Reins.
Journell describes his sound as "mainstream '90s country" but says he leans more toward the traditional side of country music. He has opened shows for big acts such as The Gibson Miller Band and Marty Stuart.
At Sunday's concert, he will rejoin his buddies from Broken Reins.
Journell and Broken Reins will perform from 1:30 to 2:30 and again from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Conlee is scheduled to take the stage from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
The show is part of Shelor Chevrolet's "Customer Appreciation Day." Admission is free.
AT THE BOOKSTORE: University Volume Two Bookstore in Blacksburg's University Mall has a couple of events on the way.
Storyteller Cat White will entertain youngsters Saturday. He will start spinning his yarns at 11 a.m. in the children's area at the bookstore.
On Thursday, writer Michael DePasquale will be available from 6 to 8 p.m. to autograph copies of his books.
DePasquale, who has achieved his fifth degree black belt level in Hakko-Ryu jujitsu and also has advanced black belts in karate and judo, has written several self-defense books. "Streetwise Safety for Women" and "Streetwise Safety for Children" are in print now. Two more are forthcoming: "Streetwise Safety for the Elderly" and "Streetwise Safety for the Disabled."
DePasquale also is the publisher of Karate International Magazine.
Admission to both events is free. University Volume Two Bookstore is in the mall next to Kroger on University City Boulevard.
SOUTHERN CHARM: Walter Hyatt's got it.
Hyatt, who grew up in Spartanburg, S.C., first learned to love the popular music of the '30s and '40s from his father's piano playing and record collection. Later, he turned to country standards, folk music and Elvis Presley tunes.
He formed Uncle Walt's Band with guitarist Champ Hood and bass player David Ball while he was still in high school. The trio, with Hyatt's baritone leading the three-part harmony, moved to Nashville in the early '70s and then to Austin in 1973. A cult favorite in Texas, Uncle Walt's Band recorded three independent albums.
After Uncle Walt's Band disbanded for good in 1983, Hyatt pursued a solo career. Lyle Lovett, a fan of Uncle Walt's Band in the early '80s, co-produced Hyatt's debut album, "King Tears."
"Music Town" is Hyatt's second solo album. It was released in 1993 on the Sugar Hill label.
Both solos have received fine reviews, and they deserve it. Hyatt's music - a mix of swing, jazz, honky-tonk and blues - is fresh and original. It's not the kind of sound you hear everyday.
You can hear it this weekend, though. Hyatt is performing tonight and Saturday at Maxwell's in Blacksburg. He will give two shows at 9 and 10:45 each night.
Maxwell's is at 1204 N. Main St. The lounge cover charge is $2.
by CNB