THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 25, 1996 TAG: 9607240121
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: FRANK ROBERTS
LENGTH: 70 lines
Over the past couple of decades, I've judged many country music competitions, and the one thing that always fascinates me is that many of the contestants have a professional sound and look.
Some of the performers enter for kicks - they prefer their own back yard to the one in Nashville. But some are thirsting for fame and the accompanying fortune.
Competitions have been sponsored by Winston , Wrangler Jeans, Jack Daniels and Dodge Trucks. At one time or another, I've judged all of them.
The 15th annual True Value/ Jimmy Dean Country Showdown, in its second year locally, was sponsored by radio station WLQM in Franklin.
Overall, the competition this year, with a few blatant exceptions, was more exciting than the 1995 to-do, which I also had the pleasure of judging.
Performers compete locally, then regionally, then nationally. Thousands compete, but only one can achieve any measure of fame. Usually, it is a small measure - that 15 minutes in the spotlight Andy Warhol talked about.
The top national Showdown winners get a hefty $50,000, plus a recording contract. Over the years, a couple of acts may have been able to claw their way up, with the help of an adoring public and conscientious behind-the-scenes promoters, but most of them wind up back home.
Still, the idea of ``beating the competition'' is appealing, good for the ego, looks nice on the public relations sheet and means more prestigious jobs, locally.
I judged the local Showdown preliminaries, in the heat, July 14 at the Southampton Agri-Civic Center and Fairgrounds. The top 10 went at it there last Sunday.
The next showdown will be at that locale Aug. 18, during the Franklin/Southampton County Fair. The competition is a feather in the cap of WLQM since it will feature the Maryland and Virginia winners.
Next is the regional showdown in Wheeling, then the biggie at Walt Disney World for that $50,000 and the recording contract.
The prelim judging is the most comfortable. You get to pick the top 10 contestants, so you have fewer losers sneering at you.
Most of the talent can be described as sandwiched between excellent and outstanding.
There were some powerful voices, one of the best belonging to ShaneWarner, a New Zealander, who went on to win the number one spot last Sunday, moving him to the next level.
One of the things that helped him win was the fact that he sang an original song - you get extra points for that. His self-penned piece is ``Just a Little More Love.''
He also performed ``Statue Of A Fool,'' prompting someone to note, ``that's even better than Ricky Van Shelton's record.''
``I have 32 days left in the Navy,'' he said, ``and I already have a job lined up. I'm an operating room technician,'' Warner said, adding that the operating room is in Nashville.
His Sunday win put him just a point above another military person, S/Sgt. Mercy Truelove, a Philippines born powerhouse performer.
The other finalists, following the Sunday performances are 32 South, Johnny Blankenship and Ray ``Two Beer'' Jones.
It is the New Zealand country singer who is climbing the competition ladder. If I may indulge in some crystal ball gazing, I predict he will wind up in the Florida finals. He is that good.
As they did last year, Hole Shot provided backup on both occasions, not an easy task since the singers have so many different styles, but they did an excellent job.
One of the band members explained why they work so hard: ``We come down to look at the girls.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by FRANK ROBERTS
Mercy Truelove is a finalist in the 15th annual True Value/ Jimmy
Dean Country Showdown. by CNB