Scottsburg
Courtfest
Country
music star Crystal Gayle
to take the stage in Scottsburg
By
Levi King
Staff Writer
SCOTTSBURG, Ind. (September 2005) Crystal Gayle, the talent
behind such hits as Ill Get Over You and Dont
It Make My Brown Eyes Blue, is busier than ever. Gayle released
a CD of Hoagy Carmichael covers in early 2000, and on last years
album, All My Tomorrows, she took on American standards
such as Sentimental Journey and It Had to be You.
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Photo
provided
Crystal
Gayle was born
in Kentucky and
raised in Indiana.
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In an August telephone interview, Gayle noted that early
successes allowed her to explore such musical styles outside of pure
country. Gayle followed All My Tomorrows with a DVD, titled
Crystal Gayle in Concert. The video features Gayle performing
her classics live in a 1982 concert.
Following a recent concert tour through the British Isles, Gayle is
now entertaining audiences across the United States.
I really enjoy traveling and performing live, Gayle said.
I had a great time in England and Ireland. Im so blessed
to get to tour abroad. I remember the first time I went to London, I
was walking down the street and I heard my music playing in a store
I couldnt believe it.
Gayle will perform Sept. 10 at the 25th annual Scottsburg CourtFest.
The festival will begin at 10 a.m. and feature live entertainment and
activities throughout the day. Opening act Shirley and Tony will take
the stage at 6:30 p.m. Gayles free concert, set for 7 p.m. at
the Courthouse Square, will feature a complete lineup of bass, drums,
guitar, piano and saxophone. Gayles sister, Peggy Sue Wells, who
co-wrote the hit Dont Come Home A Drinkin (With Lovin
on your Mind), will share the stage.
Gayle, who grew up in Wabash, Ind., said she is excited to return to
the Hoosier state for a small town performance. I just love Indiana.
We try to get back as often as we can, said Gayle. I still
think of it as home.
On her last trip to the state, Gayle was honored at an Indiana Historical
Society gala. The celebration recognized Gayle with the Living Legend
Award, placing her in the ranks of past Hoosier honorees such as NBA
great Larry Bird and author Kurt Vonnegut.
Gayle was born in Paintsville, Ky., but moved with her family to Wabash
as a young girl. The mines were all closing in Kentucky,
said Gayle. Gayles mother completed a correspondence program in
nursing while she worked at a Wabash restaurant, then took a nursing
position at a childrens home to support the family.
Gayles father died shortly after the move. At that time, Gayles
sister, Loretta Lynn, was gaining success as a recording artist in Nashville,
Tenn. Gayle had similar aspirations and practiced at every opportunity.
I grew up singing all different styles in the choir,
in my brothers bands wherever I could sing,
Gayle said.
During her senior year in high school, Gayle traveled to Nashville to
record her first song with renowned producer Owen Bradley, who had a
string of hits with teenage sensation Brenda Lee and produced many of
Lynns recordings. Gayles single, Ive Cried the
Blue Right out of my Eyes, was written by Lynn and reached the
top 20 on the country charts. Gayle recorded three more singles with
Bradley in the early 1970s, building on her first success.
While having Lynn as a guide through the Nashville scene was an initial
advantage, escaping her shadow proved challenging. Lynn advised Gayle
to pursue her own style.
She knew that I would only be compared to her if I copied her
sound, said Gayle. She told me One Loretta is enough.
The advice was good, and in the recordings that followed, Gayle
forged her own distinctive identity.
Gayles first full-length album, produced by Allen Reynolds, yielded
her first top 10 debut, Wrong Road Again, and her first
number one, Ill Get Over You.
We Must Believe in Magic, released in 1977, was Gayles
fourth LP. The album was a breakthrough, largely on the success of the
track, Dont It Make My Brown Eyes Blue. The song made
Crystal Gayle a Grammy winner, a household name, and the first female
country artist to reach platinum status. The single was a crossover
hit, reaching fans outside the usual realm of country music.
Ive been very fortunate to have successful crossover material,
said Gayle. It opened a lot of doors for me and for all of country
music. At that time, country wasnt the preferred style.
Brown Eyes launched Gayle on television appearances and
worldwide tours. Gayles CBS special in the mid-1970s introduced
the nation to her warm vocals and ankle-length hair. She appeared with
Bob Hope in the TV special On the Road to China, a feat
she considers a career highlight to this day. It was such an honor
to travel there and work with Bob Hope, Gayle recalled.
Gayle said she hopes to return to the studio later this year to finish
recording an acoustic album. She said that while she has enjoyed recording
standards lately, she wants her new project to show a personal side
of her background, from her fathers Scots-Irish ancestry to her
mothers Cherokee heritage.
Country is my roots, said Gayle. I dont want
anyone to forget what country is about.
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