Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 13, 1990 TAG: 9004130364
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Kenny Rogers can be seen peddling Dole raisins in television commercials with his wife, Marianne, and their son, Christopher.
He's also been promoting his last release, "Something Inside So Strong." And a movie based on one of the album's songs, "Planet Texas," is in the works.
Then there's his photography. Already, he has published two books of photography, both of which were successful. And he endorses and helps design his own line of sportswear for J.C. Penney.
Meanwhile, Dolly Parton is hot off her critically acclaimed role as Truvy Jones, the owner of a Southern beauty salon, in the hit film "Steel Magnolias."
This will likely make her a bankable commodity again in Hollywood after her ill-fated "Dolly" television variety show on ABC and the box-office flops "Rhinestone" and "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas."
She's also been promoting her own release, "White Limozeen," which was produced by Ricky Skaggs. The album is a return to her country roots after years of flirting with more pop-oriented music.
Plus, there's always Dollywood to look after. The country theme park near Pigeon Forge, Tenn., located near where she was born, recently launched a $10 million expansion project, including the purchase of a radio station that will be moved to the 6 1 DUO Duo park.
And if that weren't enough, Kenny and Dolly are performing together on a 70-city tour. They will appear Sunday night at 7 at the Roanoke Civic Center coliseum.
Neither artist was available for a telephone interview to promote the event. Perhaps their schedules are just too hectic.
Or perhaps, this being Roanoke, they felt that shameless self-promotion wasn't really necessary. Country music has always been popular in these parts.
And since more than 6,000 of the 8,000 available tickets have been sold at $18.50, it's not surprising the duo would decline interviews.
Fortunately, however, there is a wonderful creation known as the press packet, which includes everything anyone would ever want to know about the two entertainers - and more.
For example, highly trained and competent public relations folks tell us in the press information that "Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, two of the most history-making individual entertainers in the world, will join forces with the power of colliding supernovas."
Whoa. Bring an extra pair of sunglasses.
And what history they've made! Wasn't it Kenny and Dolly who were directly responsible for bringing down the Berlin Wall?
Of course not. That was somebody else.
The history referred to in the press release is probably country music history, not world history. After all, Kenny and Dolly have a load of Grammy, People's Choice, American Music and Country Music Association awards between them, plus dozens of No. 1 platinum and gold records.
The publicity packet goes on to say that "a whole new stage has been built for an incredible state-of-the-art multimedia extravaganza using seven video screens and a stage production never seen before at a country music concert."
Fair enough, but does it microwave?
"The fast-paced show spins through three separate segments, unleashing one surprise and special effect after another on the audience," the release continues.
Whew! Run for your lives!
Here's the kicker: "Dolly's flamboyant beauty and Kenny's laid back savoir faire come together like fire and air on stage, blazing into a fireworks display of entertainment such as the concert halls have rarely witnessed."
Like fire and air? Does this mean that Kenny and Dolly will sound like a bunch of hot air - or is it just their PR people who do?
Now all you devoted fans out there, don't get me wrong. Kenny and Dolly are terrific entertainers for a couple of crazy, colliding supernovas. But even a diehard fan has to chuckle over some of the stuff their publicists say about them.
Valerie Hansen of North American Tours in Nashville, which is promoting the concert, wrote the press release. She said there is always a certain amount of hype involved in this sort of thing.
"I think it's designed to create excitement," she said. "And I don't think that there's anything in there that's not truthful. We're not talking about Peter Noone here. Kenny and Dolly is a big event."
Kenny and Dolly were last scheduled to appear in Roanoke in 1985, but Dolly canceled because of health problems. She was replaced on the bill by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
Each of the next two years, Kenny canceled concerts in Roanoke because of throat surgery and then because he was busy in the studio. He hasn't been back since.
Dolly last performed here in 1979. This time around, both are expected to show. Hansen said the pair stays on stage together for most of the two-hour show, with one leaving only when the other performs a signature solo song, like Kenny does with "The Gambler," "Lady" and "She Believes in Me," and like Dolly does with her latest, "Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That?"
Otherwise, they will perform mostly duets, like their hit "Islands in the Stream," along with material they have recorded with other artists.
Collectively, they have worked with Porter Wagoner, Dottie West, Smokey Robinson, Emmylou Harris, Lionel Ritchie, Linda Ronstadt, Sheena Easton, Kim Carnes, James Ingram, Gladys Knight, Holly Dunn, Anne Murray, Ronnie Milsap and others.
"Together they have a repertoire of hits that would take two days to perform, so they've taken the best of the best for this once-in-a-lifetime tour," Hansen writes in her press release.
Happy Easter, y'all.
Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton will appear Sunday night at 7 at the Roanoke Civic Center coliseum. Call 981-1201 for more information.
by CNB