NEWS
George Hamilton IV, age 77, died the afternoon of September 17. He had been in critical condition at St Thomas Midtown Hospital in Nashville since suffering a heart attack four days earlier. George was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on July 19, 1937. He moved to Nashville in 1959 and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1960. He was known as “the international ambassador of country music.” His hits included “Abilene,” “Break My Mind,” and “Early Morning Rain.” (more…)

CONCERT REVIEW – MARK CHESNUTT
We sang happy birthday to Mark Chesnutt (age 51) Saturday night during his show at the University of Sioux Falls. He sang his hits for ninety minutes and joked with his two guitarists and the audience. Although I was disappointed he didn’t have his band, the tradeoff was the personal touch where he could talk to the audience and take requests. Several requests were for 20-year-old album cuts he didn’t know. He promised to learn the words now that individual songs can be downloaded. Someone asked for “Friends in Low Places,” and he sang that one, although insisting he didn’t like the song. (more…)