THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 15, 1996 TAG: 9608140121
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: COVER STORY
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 111 lines
The stars who will visit the fair were interviewed by phone. Jeff Carson was in Dublin, Va., and Bryan White in Point Pleasant, W.Va., both preparing for concerts. Stephanie Bentley was in her new home in Franklin - Tenn., that is.
JEFF CARSON
7 and 9 p.m. Friday. Hits: ``Not On Your Love,'' ``The Car,'' and ``Holdin' On To Something.''
Like many entertainers, he enjoys the great outdoors as a venue.
``I love fairs, unless the temperature is 110,'' Carson said. ``I've lucked out this summer. It's been uncomfortably hot only a few times.''
His video of ``The Car'' was hot this year, winning the Academy of Country Music award as best of the year.
``There's more work than you can imagine involved in those three-minute videos,'' Carson said. ``I enjoy them. I'd like to try acting.''
He tried music as a youngster in Gravette, Ark., a town so small ``I really had no chance to play music with anyone else.''
The first piece of music he remembers playing was ``Turkey in the Straw.'' The instrument was the harmonica which, Carson said, ``is no problem. You blow into it - it makes music.''
He still plays a bit on his self-titled initial MCG/Curb album.
Like many of his peers, Carson comes from a musical family and, like many of those peers, he first performed in church.
Professionally, he first played with Ozark Mountain Music, an Arkansas entertainment center. When it folded, he moved to Branson, playing bass with several groups, writing songs, and courting Kim Cooper - now Mrs. Carson.
She urged him to try Nashville. They moved there in 1989. He played with a local band, and made demonstration records - songs publishers pitch to the stars.
His own singing impressed MCG/Curb and they offered him a contract.
``The best thing is - when you play - you kick off a song. If it's popular enough for people to recognize - they sing,'' Carson said. ``It makes you think - they learned all the words - listening to me. It's so cool.''
Atlanta Braves fans listen to him often. The baseball enthusiast often sings the national anthem at their games.
BRYAN WHITE
7 and 9 p.m. Saturday. Hits: ``Rebecca Lynn,'' ``I'm Not Supposed To Love You Anymore,'' ``Eugene, You Genius,'' and ``Someone Else's Star.''
Bringing this young man to the fair was quite a coup. He was signed to appear before he became the star he is at the moment.
``So Much For Pretending'' jumped from 42 to 34 on the Billboard top 50 singles chart; his albums, ``Bryan White'' and ``Between Now And Forever,'' are top 40 in sales, according to that publication.
The singer/songwriter is seen in publications not usually involved in country music.
White, 22, one of the genre's youngest singers, has been profiled in such teen mags as Tiger Beat and 16, the latter referring to him as ``one of the nicest, as well as cutest, guys in the world.''
``This teen thing is really neat. It's the chance of a lifetime to influence young kids,'' he said. ``It's a good feeling knowing kids look up to you.''
Those kids are unable to visit the night clubs he plays.
``I noticed a lot of them waiting in the back of the buildings,'' White said, ``so I do early shows for them during the day if the clubs cooperate. We let everybody come in - no cost.''
And, no alcohol.
White credits all this good guy stuff to ``my mom, dad and grandparents.''
Want more purity?
``I'm on a Disney country album coming out soon. I sing `When You Wish Upon A Star,' '' White said. ``I don't know if I did it as well as Jiminy Cricket.''
Still more. He and Faith Hill joined several pop stars on a children's album. The proceeds benefit AIDS research.
A White concert raised $60,000 for scholarships for children injured or orphaned in last year's Oklahoma City bombing. He has participated in benefit performances to raise money to fight cerebral palsy and cystic fibrosis and for the Native American Clothing Drive, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
The nice guy plays drums on ``No More Nice Guy,'' a tongue-in-cheek album featuring his idol, Steve Wariner.
``I don't think I'll ever change,'' White said. ``I've gotten a long way just being who I am and being honest with people.''
STEPHANIE BENTLEY
6:30 and 9 p.m. Sunday. Hits: ``Who's That Girl?'' and ``Heart Half Empty'' (duet with Ty Herndon).
The critics like her initial album, ``Hopechest,'' a Billboard reviewer noting ``she could easily advance to the forefront of the current crop of female country singers.''
Singing in the 1940s would have been ideal for the Thomasville, Ga., performer, whose young sister, Camille, is one of her backup singers.
``I should have been born back then. It was so romantic,'' Bentley said. ``I like the nostalgic songs. I was in a group that sang songs like `You're Either Too Young Or Too Old,' `What'll I Do?' and `Skylark.' ''
Not surprisingly, she also likes old movies - ``like ``Breakfast At Tiffany's'' and ``Pillow Talk,'' said Bentley, who says she is a fan of singers like Barbra Streisand, Anne Murray and Linda Ronstadt.
Mostly, she loves country.
``It's real music, more down to earth,'' Bentley said. ``That's how I like to think of myself.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Jeff Carson, set for Friday, loves performing outdoors.
Stephanie Bentley will perform twice Sunday night.
Bryan White, one of the genre's youngest singers, will sing on
Saturday. by CNB