THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 6, 1994 TAG: 9410060199
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 158 lines
THE MAJOR ATTRACTIONS at the Suffolk Peanut Fest are the Mavericks, who will perform at 4:30 p.m. Sunday; the Marshall Tucker Band, at 9 p.m. Saturday; and Victoria Shaw, at 2:45 p.m. Sunday.
Other nationally known artists appearing this weekend are Poco, Firefall and Darryl & Don Ellis.
All will perform on the Main Stage. Craft-Work Sound and Budweiser sponsor both nights. Another Saturday sponsor is WAFX-FM; other Sunday sponsors are Starr Motors and WCMS.
Here are short sketches of the big three:
THE MAVERICKS
We just took it for granted. We seemed to hear ``O What a Thrill'' every half-hour, the video was on constant rotation. Words of praise were heaped upon the Mavericks by critics and the public.
Then Robert Reynolds - in a phone interview from the 18-acre Hendersonville, Tenn., home he shares with his wife, Trisha Yearwood - explained that ``O What a Thrill'' only hit 13th place on the Billboard charts.
The title tune from the album ``What a Crying Shame'' peaked at 24, staying on the charts 24 weeks.
``We haven't had a No. 1 single or a top-10, but we have sales of 500,000-plus. It's got the industry scratching heads - wondering,'' Reynolds said. ``The country music climate today is unpredictable - no rules.
``It surprises me - someone you feel has roots firmly planted in the music, yet they have trouble,'' said the group's lone long-haired member. ``It reminds you of your mortality.''
Pleasant reminders of Maverick talent were published recently in rave reviews in such prestigious publications as Rolling Stone, People and USA Today, the latter calling the group's album ``an extraordinary package.''
The Mavericks sound nothing like The Gatlin Brothers but, as that trio did in the '70s, they are offering a unique sound that can be fully appreciated even if you are not into country.
``We're doing things our way and succeeding,'' said Reynolds who lived on Chincoteague Island in 1985 - flying kites yet, for Kite Koop.
``I still have some good friends there,'' said the Kansas City native who describes Maverick music as ``creative, progressive, traditional, rockabilly, Patsy Cline-type ballads.
``I really believe that covers it,'' said Reynolds, adding ``we have a pure, honest love for Patsy, Ray Price, Johnny Cash, Buck Owens, Hank Williams Sr. They were the mavericks of their day.
``They were all very progressive for their time,'' he said. ``They shook 'em up.''
Today's Mavericks are doing the same, thanks in large part to lead vocalist Raul Malo, described by USA Today as ``one helluva singer.''
Reynolds describes the quartet as ``solid entertainers. The path we choose will work.''
MARSHALL TUCKER BAND
The Marshall Tucker Band has been around 20 years, and they've been through the not unfamiliar mill.
There were unreleased albums, faltering labels, the death of founding member Tommy Caldwell and the departure of his brother, Toy.
``Some of those problems caused us at one time to cut down from more than 180 days on the road to 60,'' said Doug Gray, one of the group's founders. ``Learn from our experience. Keep off the downhill road.''
Musically, the Marshall Tucker Band is on the straight-and-narrow.
``We don't try to put on airs onstage,'' Gray said. ``We don't try to fool people - people realize when they're taken for a ride. They recognize phony.''
They recognize the Marshall Tucker Band as country-rock pioneers who successfully fused rock, rhythm and blues, jazz, country and gospel.
The group has influenced the likes of The Kentucky Headhunters, Confederate Railroad and Travis Tritt.
``All those guys say we were one of their favorite bands,'' said Gray, his Southern accent coming through the telephone pure and clear. ``But we're not a country band. For that you need somebody who's 25 and wearing tight jeans. That was me 25 years ago.''
These days, he is a family man bragging about his 13-year-old daughter's version of ``White Christmas'' while trying to slip a video tape of Mickey Mouse sing-alongs in the VCR for his 2-year-old daughter.
Marshall Tucker - named after a piano tuner, yet - may not have the sales of Mickey and friends, ``but our records are still selling good,'' Gray said. ``The royalty checks show that.''
One reason for today's success story is Music City's open musical climate.
``There's more to life than barroom songs,'' Gray said. ``That's why Nashville is so succesful these days.''
So is the Marshall Tucker Band which, even minus radio play and chart songs, ``still draws up to 15,000 people,'' he said.
VICTORIA SHAW
What kind of country is this?
Victoria Shaw, who has written three No. 1 country music hits, is - gulp - New York City-born.
Her top-of-the-chart songs are Garth Brooks' ``The River'' - John Michael Montgomery's ``I Love the Way You Love Me'' and ``Too Busy Being in Love,'' a Doug Stone success.
``Within 18 months - a No. 1 dropped off the charts and the others came on,'' said Shaw, soon to be presented with a Triple Play Award from ASCAP.
``It amazes me,'' she said, during a phone interview from Manhattan, where she was visiting an aunt. ``I never wanted to be so presumptuous to think all my songs would go No. 1.
``I would have been happy if they went top-10.''
The next thing that will make her happy will be recognition as a singer.
``Hopefully, my next No. 1 will be my own.''
Her single, ``Cry Wolf'' lived on the charts for nine weeks. ``Tears Dry,'' her next release ``didn't do as well as we hoped,'' Shaw said, ``but it did open more doors.''
A few more doors slid open, thanks to a hit-home piece for many, ``A Day In the Life of a Single Mother'' which, the singer-songwriter notes, ``gets incredible reaction at concerts.''
Her mom, Carole Bennett, did some concert singing many years ago.
Daughter dear describes mom as ``doing the Doris Day type thing - bad timing, superb voice.''
Mom and pop are proud of daughter dear.
``My dad can't walk into a grocery store without telling 'em who I am.''
Another proud family member is hubby of ``two years and four months,'' Robert Locknar, an actor and singer who will be in Suffolk singing background.
Shaw explains her fascination with singing.
``I step onstage and the audience yells happily. That's what all the work is for. Audience reaction makes everything worthwhile. I never want that 60 minutes onstage to end. That's my party. Come to my party and have a good time.''
AND . . . THE OTHERS
Poco, which blends sweet country harmonies with a driving rock beat, has released 19 albums during a 24-year career.
Firefall, which mixes the songs of the '70s with those of the '90s, is a Colorado-based rock band that has sold more than five million records and has a platinum and three gold albums to its name. ``Messenger'' is the current release.
Darryl and Don Ellis, tall country hunks, 6-7 and 6-4 respectively, played Peanut Fest before. These brothers have been compared to the Everly Brothers and the Righteous Brothers. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
The Mavericks play creative, progressive, traditional, rockabilly,
and ballads. They are, from left: Robert Reynolds, Nick Kane, Paul
Deakin, and Raul Malo.
The Marshall Tucker Band is a group that fused rock, rhythm and
blues, jazz, country and gospel.
Victoria Shaw has written three No. 1 country music hits.
Staff photos by MICHAEL KESTNER
Khedive Temple clowns entertain crowds along West Washington Street
at last year's Peanut Fest parade in downtown Suffolk.
Tempie Hughson, left, and Marilyn Evans carry on a conversation
across P-Nutty, Mr. Peanut's country cousin.
Kim Lane holds Jason Mathias as they sit on the sidewalk watching
the parade go by.
KEYWORDS: SUFFOLK PEANUT FEST by CNB