THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 10, 1996 TAG: 9610100041
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 67 lines
THERE HAVE BEEN rumors and rumors of rumors. Now, it is official.
Pam Tillis and her dad, Mel, will work together.
``I'd like to record nine of my favorite songs of Dad's - something like Natalie Cole did on her father,'' she said.
The format will be similar - daughter singing dad's songs plus, said Pam, the oldest of five children, ``at least one duet.''
Pam is going through the multitudinous Mel Tillis songs to see which hits strike her fancy.
``I haven't finished the process of picking the favorites,'' she said during an interview from Nashville.
Pam has worked with her brother Mel Jr. They wrote ``Tequila Mockingbird,'' a Tex-Mex piece she performs in concert.
She will be in concert Friday at Town Point Park in Norfolk for a free performance as part of the Fleet Week celebration.
That will give you the opportunity to hear such hits as ``When You Walk in the Room,'' ``Mi Vida Loca,'' ``Maybe It Was Memphis'' and ``Don't Tell Me What to Do.''
The latter title works for Tillis. The platinum brunette produces her own albums.
Pam's current fun release could wind up as another No. 1 hit.
``Betty's Got a Bass Boat'' is almost autobiographical. Pam is probably the only gal country singer to have been profiled in Bassmaster magazine.
Fishing is another Pam and Mel joint enterprise.
``We were at the Strawberry Festival in Plant City (her Florida hometown) last year,'' she said. ``He played Friday, I played Saturday, we fished Sunday.''
Do they talk business?
``No, mostly family,'' said the affable performer whose music awards and gold records share wall space at home with a picture of a big fish.
For the curious, the biggest Pam Tillis bass so far is a 12-pounder, caught, she told the fish magazine, ``on a Carolina-rigged pumpkinseed lizard.''
She has reeled in enough hits for a best-of album, which, Pam said, ``we'll make in the next 24-month period.''
Also, look for another Pam Tillis release of new offerings, hopefully with more originals.
``I'm trying to do a lot of songwriting. I'd like to do more for the next album,'' she said. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by JIM McGUIRE
Pam Tillis
Graphic
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Pam Tillis. Part of Fleet Week celebration.
WHEN: After 1 p.m.cq
WHERE: Town Point Park, Norfolk.
The concert is free. For information call 424-1050. by CNB