THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 5, 1996 TAG: 9610050202
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Music Review
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 70 lines
About 10,000 people piled in to Harbor Park Friday night - but not to see baseball.
The Tides did not come in. The enticement was the 14-year-old country music phenomenon, LeAnn Rimes.
``This is the largest headline crowd I've ever played to,'' she said, looking at the audience from the dugout.
Ten thousand people. ``Does that make you nervous?''
``No, I don't get nervous anymore,'' Rimes said before her performance. ``I concentrate on the show.''
Before the show she concentrated on television interviews, answering questions comfortably - a 14-year-old pro.
Rimes is comfortable because the same questions are asked time and again, like ``How are you coping - at your age?'' and ``Do you date?''
She is coping well, and she has no time for dates.
Her father, Wilbur Rimes, a tall Texan, watches the interview.
``She's been asked those same questions thousands of times,'' he said.
After the abbreviated inquisition, she joined her band and her parents for dinner at Hits At the Park, somebody's clever name for a ballpark restaurant.
At the dinner table - everywhere she goes, actually - Rimes is relaxed, friendly, a girl-next-door type.
This girl next door, though, is swiftly becoming a major country star.
``Blue'' did it. The story is that the song was written for Patsy Cline, who was killed in an airplane crash before she was able to record it.
Years later, the Texas teen recorded it. A star is born. Yes, just like that.
Rimes is not a temperamental star. Talk to Blue Country - her band - and you hear love and praise.
Junior Knight, her steel guitarist, who has known the youngster since she was 7, said, ``I've been in the music business for more than 30 years. The good Lord blessed this little lady with so much talent. Her cup runneth over.''
What's it like to have a 14-year-old boss?
``We're the only band with a curfew,'' said bass guitarist Curtis Randall.
There was no curfew for the youngsters in the audience. It was a late night for those children, many of whom look up to Rimes. They have the attitude that ``if she can do it, maybe I can.''
Like Danielle Rose, 11, of Norfolk, who would like to be a country star one day and complimented Rimes' singing.
Her heroine has a powerful, well-controlled voice - exciting on record, more so in person, sounding beautiful at Harbor Park.
Rimes started her set with a swinging, updated version of the bluegrass classic, ``Blue Moon of Kentucky.''
Another offering was her next single, ``Come Talk to Me.''
Fans came to Harbor Park as early as 5:30 for the 8:30 show.
Ed Buday of Chesapeake was an early arrival.
``What will make her big is being able to sing like Patsy,'' he said. ``I like the way she sings - period.''
There is a lot of Patsy Cline in the Rimes voice, but there is also a lot of individuality. She will be recognized for her own talent, not for any imitative style.
Rimes took an appreciative look at a gift from the Tides, presented by Eagle-97: a T-shirt with her name and, appropriately, the number 1.
Rimes debut album, ``Blue,'' entered the Billboard country charts in that position. Eleven weeks later, it is still there.
The Harbor Park concert illustrated the reason.
LeAnn Rimes hit a home run at the ballpark, not with a swingin' bat, but with some swingin' songs, along with some lush ballads.
It was a chilly night - but no one seemed to care. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by John H. Sheally/The Virginian-Pilot by CNB