THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 23, 1995 TAG: 9501230076
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Review
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
Crystal Gayle was bathed in blue - by her gown, by the spotlights and by many of her songs including, of course, her still lovely trademark, ``Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue?''
Her trio of Hampton Roads concerts - Thursday at Hampton Coliseum, Saturday at Chrysler Hall and Sunday at the Pavilion Convention Center - succeeded in pleasing those whose musical tastes are catholic.
The still very lovely, still very long-haired Gayle, was primarily known as a country singer, but during the past few years she has branched into the world of classic pop.
Her current tour has her performing with organizations like Virginia Symphony Pops which, for her presentations here, was conducted by Lt. Col. Lowell E. Graham, Commander/Conductor for the Air Combat Command Heritage of America Band at Langley Air Force Base.
Their Chrysler Hall audience was a mix of Virginia Symphony ``dressed-to-the nines'' ladies and gentlemen, and Saturday night ``down-at-the-honky-tonk.'' folks.
Gayle was dressed like the former, but these days caters to the latter as one of the regulars on The Statler Brothers Show, the most popular program on The Nashville Network.
Her country roots really sprouted in Hampton Roads when Gayle's sister, Peggy Sue, who has been in the business for several decades, joined for songs and jokes.
The ladies performed a song affiliated with yet another sister, Loretta Lynn - ``Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' With Lovin' On Your Mind.'' Gayle tackled another Lynn item, ``Coal Miner's Daughter.''
Another country staple is ``Rocky Top.'' This go-'round it, and ``Never Ending Love,'' was part country, part Dixie, part swing.
It was the kind of mix that made the concert successful, Gayle doing it all - rock 'n' roll, some Peter, Paul and Mary - there was blues, there was swing.
And there were highlights - a tear-stained medley of ``Cry'' and ``Cry Me a River.''
During the up-tempo numbers Gayle pranced around the stage like a pony. During the encore she got serious once more with one of her prettiest offerings, ``When I Dream.''
There were a few times when the orchestra overwhelmed her, but for the most part Gayle, ably abetted by her own group, proved the versatility that has created a star in a variety of musical categories.
One reason for that stardom is that she is one of the few singers who has a voice so unique, you need never ask - ``who sang that song?''
Familiar classical pieces were heard during the first half of the concert beginning with the curtain raiser-rouser, ``Poet and Peasant,'' ending with the always exciting, ``Orpheus in the Underworld.'' ILLUSTRATION: Crystal Gayle
by CNB