THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 8, 1995 TAG: 9506070172
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Here they come, the choir boy and the redneck.
No, not Pat Boone and Jeff Foxworthy, but Tony Ambrose and Chuck Willman.
In deference to Peggy Blythe, who joined them last year, the guys opted for a different name: Crosswinds.
The trio will sing some of their 75 or so songs at 8 p.m. Friday on a stage in front of the Smithfield Times office, 228 Main St.
The Summer Concert Series entertainers are listed as a folk rock trio also playing popular Christian music, but they go beyond that.
``We play a wide variety of music,'' Ambrose said, but basically it's folk, country, Southern gospel, easy listening, acoustic adult contemporary.
The men provide guitar accompaniment, and Blythe is on the keyboard.
``We try to perform somewhere at least once a month - clubs,'' Willman said. ``At weddings, we play `Another One Bites the Dust.' ''
He's just kidding.
Crosswinds plays according to the dictates of the crowd.
Friday it will be mostly adult contemporary.
``At Smithfield Station, there's a wide variety of people,'' Willman said, ``so we play a wider variety of music.''
When the men, best friends for many years, began performing about six years ago, they wound up with the nickname of the choir boy and the redneck.
As they explain: Chuck sings like a choir boy, Tony like a redneck.
The mustachioed gents, who add a sense of humor to the music, offer as their philosophy, ``have fun, enjoy life.''
Obviously, they both enjoy music, but it is not their life.
``It's my hobby, not a way of life,'' Ambrose said. ``Most important to me, in this order, are marriage, my job and my music.''
His wife, Kay Stephenson, is the group's sound person and manager.
Ambrose is regional cash services manager for Brink's Inc. Willman is a house painter, Blythe is a fourth grade teacher at Isle of Wight Academy.
The guys began as a duo six years ago after meeting at Windsor Christian Church, when Blythe was choir director.
``We met at a class for membership,'' Ambrose said. ``We found we both played guitar and started working together.'' MEMO: Friday's concert is free. Call 357-3288.
ILLUSTRATION: Crosswinds, a folk rock trio, will perform at 8 p.m. Friday.
by CNB