THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 26, 1994 TAG: 9406270116
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: FRANK ROBERTS, MUSIC CRITIC
DATELINE: 940626 LENGTH: CHESAPEAKE
Plus he fills the nightclub air with gospel.
{REST} On Friday, he held all the cards at Double Deuce, capturing an audience far more familiar with the likes of other country newcomers such as John Michael Montgomery, Sammy Kershaw, Doug Supernaw, etc., etc.
There is one area where Norwood has 'em all beat - audience rapport. He seems to spend as much time offstage as on, joining the crowd and having the crowd join him. Twice, he picked a couple of men from the audience to sing and dance. When he wasn't bringing the audience up, he was getting down and into the audience, strolling amongst the fans as he sang - at one point climbing atop a table to survey the kingdom.
Even when Norwood just talks to the folks in his folksy Texas way, he ingratiates himself by lightly kidding them, then smilingly, humbly apologizing.
In short, he knows how to work a crowd better than almost anyone in the business. He spent half the night getting his fans to clap along and sing along.
They did both as he milked his biggest hit, ``If It Wasn't For Her,'' noting happily that most of the fans knew most of the words.
Norwood paid tribute to pioneer chart makers - like Conway Twitty and George Jones - in a well-arranged song about their ``Sad Songs.''
His love of country was expressed in several ways. For awhile, Norwood was sporting a shirt with several U.S. flags on it, he paid tribute to the military - always the proper thing to do around here - and he sang ``U.S.A.,'' which includes the Pledge of Allegiance.
As mentioned, he covers all bases. One base is church-based. Norwood is entitled. His background includes a lot of singing with his gospel-singing family.
The roots have not died. ``Will the Circle Be Unbroken?'' and ``How Great Thou Art'' are part of his act - yes, even in a club.
The prettiest picture of the night was a medley of songs with Norwood, by his lonesome, at the keyboard. That was the spot where he really shined vocally.
His band was with him the rest of the time, doing some good jamming.
Incidentally, they are called Tahoka - that's Norwood's Texas home. He even wears his old number 10 Tahoka football jersey. by CNB