THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 14, 1996 TAG: 9604110141
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
Manteo's music man, Andy Griffith, is right up there with Hootie and the Blowfish, Mariah Carey, Goo Goo Dolls and Boyz II Men.
Northport Marketing says Griffith's ``Precious Memories'' has sold 500,000 copies. The company, which markets Griffith's album, specializes in television advertised mail-order records (remember Slim Whitman, Boxcar Willie and pan flutist Zamfir?).
Although the Recording Industry Association of America doesn't officially recognize direct marketing album sales, Griffith's accomplishment is the equivalent of a ``gold'' record.
The album, featuring 33 of Griffith's favorite gospel songs, was recorded in Los Angeles last summer. Producer Steve Tyrell rounded up some of the city's best session men to back the North Carolina native, whose last record, a gospel album on Columbia Records, was released in 1972.
Griffith, who briefly considered the ministry before deciding on a majoring in music at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is now on tour promoting a slightly altered version of the hymn collection that arrived in record stores last week.
The differences between the retail version and the mail-order album are the title, ``I Love to Tell the Story,'' the song count, which is 25 instead of 33, and the cover photo.
Among the songs on the new album are ``How Great Thou Art,'' ``Shall We Gather at the River,'' ``Will the Circle be Unbroken,'' ``What a Friend We Have in Jesus,'' and Griffith's personal favorite, ``Amazing Grace.''
Griffith, who lives with wife, Cindy, on Roanoke Island, ended his weekly ``Matlock'' show last year. But the 70-year-old actor is hardly retired. He recently appeared as a villain in the NBC movie, ``Gramps.''
This summer, Griffith hits the big screen, again as a villain, in ``Spy Hard,'' a Leslie Nielson spoof. (What would Aunt Bee think of these menacing roles?)
And Griffith may have to get Ben Matlock's suit out of mothballs. He's negotiating with The Family Channel for a series of Matlock movies, where he'll be the good guy.
And speaking of good guys and bad guys, get ready to rumble.
Big-time professional wrestling is coming Friday to Cape Hatteras School.
World Wrestling Federation superstars Big Vader and Doink the Clown head the five-bout card. In the world of professional ``rasslin,'' players are either ``good guys'' or ``bad guys.''
As this column is being written, Vader is a bad guy and Doink is a good guy. But that could all change by Friday. Often in pro rasslin, the good guy/bad guy designation alternates from week to week.
Once, years ago during a television event, I saw a bad guy change to a good guy in mid-match. In the post-bout interview, the newly anointed good guy, explaining his sudden switch, said, ``My grandmother didn't like me.'' It brought tears to my eyes to see that 527-pound masked man in a cowboy outfit serve up a confession like that on national TV. Oprah could use a few such.
On Friday, the 455-pound Vader will fight Gorgeous George III in the night's main event. What's Vader's strategy for the match?
``He'll squash him,'' says Greg McLane, a Fayetteville-based promoter who books about 50 wrestling events a year.
In what is billed as a ``grudge match,'' Johnny Gunn takes on ``The Samoan Legend, King Kaluha.'' My guess on this match: These guys really don't like each other.
The other superstar on the card, Doink the Clown, meets James ``Poison'' Ivy. What's up with this ``Doink the Clown?''
``He's a clown that gets in the ring and wrestles,'' McLane says. ``The kids love him.'' P.T. Barnum would be proud.
``Pretty Boy'' Mike Justice takes on Timber the Lumberjack in a ``dog food'' match. The winner gets 500 dollars; the loser eats a can of dog food. No mention in the program as to the brand of dog food.
The final match of the night features all eight wrestlers in a ``King of the Ring'' match.
``The strongest will survive,'' McLane says. MEMO: John Harper covers Outer Banks entertainment for The Carolina Coast.
Send comments and questions to him at P.O. Box 10, Nags Head, N.C.
27959.
WHAT & WHEN
What: Professional wrestling
Where: Cape Hatteras School
When: Friday, 8 p.m. (Autograph session from 7 to 8 p.m.)
Tickets: $9 ringside, $8 general admission, $5 for children 10 and
under. Tickets on sale at several Hatteras supermarkets and convenience
stores. Also available at the door.
For more information: Call WYND or WNHW at 480-1500. ILLUSTRATION: File photo
Andy Griffith is on tour promoting a recording of his hymn
collection that arrived in record stores last week.
by CNB