THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 11, 1996 TAG: 9607100121
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: COURTLAND LENGTH: 42 lines
Could the next Garth Brooks or Reba McEntire come from this area?
Sure it's a long shot, but several country stars got their first taste of fame by winning competitions like the True Value/Jimmy Dean Country Showdown.
Initial judging in the local version of the world's largest music talent contest will take place 3 p.m. Sunday at the Southampton Agri-Civic Center. Four bands and 20 solo performers have signed up.
The top 10 will compete at the same location at 3 p.m. July 21. This is the second year of participation by Franklin radio station WLQM.
While 13-year-old Troy Hedspeth, a well-known area performer, won last year, contestants this year must be at least 18.
``We got some flak over letting kids participate,'' said Pete Clark, WLQM owner/general manager.
Winners of the Virginia and Maryland showdowns will face off during the Southampton County Fair, from Aug. 14 to 18. The date of the competition is not set.
The finalist from that event will join finalists from around the country in the fall for the televised national final at Epcot Center in Walt Disney World. The grand prize is $50,000 and a recording contract.
``The True Value/Jimmy Dean Country Showdown is one of the most anticipated events in country music,'' said Johnny Hart, general sales and promotions manager at WLQM. ``It is an exciting community event which promotes a greater appreciation of country music.''
The event draws people from many locales. There will be contestants from the local area as well as Virginia Beach, northern Virginia and North Carolina.
The nearest such competition will be in Roanoke Rapids, N.C.
Three people will judge the local event, with a different set of judges for the finals.
Last year, the same judges were used in both events, but ``some people felt that the same judges liked the same performers in both competitions,'' Clark said.
This year's Showdown will be on a larger scale than the initial event, he said. by CNB