THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, December 6, 1994              TAG: 9412060077
SECTION: DAILY BREAK              PAGE: E15  EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   62 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** A photo of singers Debbie and Cathey Mann, which ran in Tuesday's Daily Break, was taken by Keith Lanpher of Norfolk. His name was wrong in the photo credit. Correction published Friday, December 9, 1994. ***************************************************************** MANN SISTERS READY FOR PRESIDENTIAL GIG

THE NEXT GIG for The Mann Sisters is today in Washington, D.C., at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. - a prestigious engagement for the country duo from Chesapeake.

Debbie and Cathey Mann will provide some of the entertainment at the White House, performing for congressional staff members as well as several ambassadors and their families.

A copy of their new CD, ``It Ain't One Way,'' was sent to the White House press office.

``The day after they received it they called and invited them,'' said Kim I. Plyler, owner of the Manns' management company, Image Promotions in Virginia Beach.

If all goes well, the White House dignitaries will hear several numbers from the album, including the single ``I've Had Enough,'' which has made plenty of impressive debuts: No. 96 on Airplay International's Top 100, a national chart pairing major and independent labels; No. 26 on the Airplay International Top 30, spotlighting independent labels; and No. 10 on Nashville MAC Country's Top 10 Independent Tracker.

The Mann Sisters have been center stage since their preschool days, starting, as so many country performers have, by singing gospel in church. As youngsters, they traveled to churches in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Debbie and Cathey also performed with the Indian River High chorus. Later, Debbie performed with Midnight Fury and Thunder Road, while Cathey sang with Boots & Lace.

For the past year, the Manns have been performing to rave reviews - opening for such acts as Porter Wagoner, The Mavericks, Restless Heart, Dan Seals, Tracy Lawrence and Faith Hill.

In a 180-degree turn from today's gig, they performed for Pat Robertson at the opening of the CBN Law Library.

Serenading the Democrats is nothing new. They were part of Jimmy Carter's campaign tour.

The Mann Sisters also were featured in the Dodge-Wrangler Country Showdown and made it to the finals in The Nashville Network's now defunct series ``You Can Be a Star.''

That, of course, remains their goal. ILLUSTRATION: KATHY LANFER

Chesapeake natives Debbie Mann, left, and her sister, Cathey, will

perform at the White House today.

by CNB