DATE: Saturday, October 11, 1997            TAG: 9710100098

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   64 lines

COUNTRY STAR TAKES LIFE ONE SONG AT A TIME

HERE'S THE WAY the drill usually works: The ``celebrity'' is supposed to call at a certain time. The reporter waits by the phone. And waits and waits. When the phone finally does ring, there is an apology and it's on with the interview.

Neal McCoy was supposed to call one recent morning at 10 a.m. At 10:00:02 he was on the phone.

``Sure, I was prompt,'' he said. ``I ain't your typical ol' dumb hillbilly.''

``Who, in this business, fits that category,'' he was asked.

``Let's talk about my video,'' McCoy said, neatly sidestepping any name-calling. ``I'm in Nashville - was up all night shooting it.''

It will accompany his new single, ``If You Can't Be Good, Be Good at It.''

Wow!! What's that about?

``Use your imagination,'' said McCoy, who will be entertaining at Suffolk's Peanut Fest on Sunday. The new CD from whence the song emanates is called ``Be Good at It.''

``Every artist says the new album is the best he's done yet. We feel like this one is,'' the hyper performer said. ``There's nothing new, though. We've done a little bit of it all. This will be more of that - I hope more that's good.''

The really good stuff is on his ``Greatest Hits'' album, which has been parked in the top seven on the best-selling album chart for a looong time.

One of McCoy's greatest hits is his current top-selling single, ``The Shake,'' one of those happy, audience-join-in things.

He has the endearing personality of a happy-go-lucky, life-is-a-blast kid.

``That's what keeps me so energetic,'' McCoy said, that energy coming through the phone wires. ``I'm like a little kid. I enjoy what I do - being on stage - get me on that stage.''

McCoy, a Jacksonville, Texas, native, doesn't always stay on stage. If the mood strikes, he will climb above it or dash out into the audience.

He does have a serious side, though, working hard for the East Texas Angel Network, a foundation he and his wife, Melinda, started three years ago.

``It helps kids who have life-threatening diseases,'' McCoy said. ``We help with their expenses.''

An annual concert, involving many of his friends from the worlds of music and sports, brings in a good chunk of money - so far, about $400,000 for the children of East Texas.

The McCoys have been married 17 years and are the parents of 11-year-old MikiAla and 3-year-old Swayde.

Their daddy spent six years on the road with Charley Pride, and McCoy calls him a mentor and friend.

``I won a country music contest in 1981,'' he said. ``Janie Fricke was a judge. At the time, she opened for Charley. She said he'd like to hear me. He came out and he liked me.''

Since the late '80s, McCoy has had a successful time on his own with hits such as ``No Doubt About It,'' ``Wink,'' and ``You Gotta Love That.''

And, of course, there is the beat of the offbeat, such as the hillbilly rap piece combining the theme from ``Beverly Hillbillies'' with Harry Belafonte's ``The Banana Boat Song'' and Sugarhill Gang's ``Rapper's Delight.''

What is he going to sing here? With McCoy, you never know. There is no set agenda. He and the band, manic characters all, take it one song at a time.

More fun that way. ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo by Atlantic

Neal McCoy...

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu