THE BELLAMY BROTHERS ROCK THE PRINCESS!

Prior to the Brother's concert, Roane Street was filled with cars...as it should be!  

The lights on the marquee burned brightly and the auditorium waited its audience!

 Finally, it was time to open the doors!

Then, it was time to meet The Brothers, The Bellamy Brothers, David Milton Bellamy and Homer Howard Bellamy Darby, Florida.  The duo had considerable musical success in the 1970s and 1980s, starting with the release of their crossover hit "Let Your Love Flow" in 1976, a Number One single on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Brothers Band supported their front men well, and won over some fans on their own.  Especially prominent were Randy Hiebert on guitar, Walley Dentz on rhythm guitar and harp, and Gregg Stocki on drums.

Gregg Stocki was born in Virginia and raised in Texas. He is a Grammy award winning musician whose distinctive style has resulted in extensive studio and live experience. Gregg has called Nashville home for the past 18 years when not touring with an extensive list of chart topping artists. He has appeared on national and international television shows, movie soundtracks and recorded with Dwight Yoakum, Willie Nelson, Travis Tritt, Marty Stuart, Steve Earle, EmmyLou Harris and Sheryl Crow to name a few.

Randy Hiebert is the lead guitarist for the Bellamy Brothers.  "The first time I joined the Bellamy's was in '93.  Dannie Jones( Steel Guitar) had moved to WPG. and I met the brothers after Dannie and I had become friends.  After 6 years and 5 albums, I returned home for 5 years. I've recently rejoined the Bellamy Bro's and it's great to be "back in the saddle"!!!"

Wally (Waldemar Dentz) joined the Bellamy Brother's band in 1983. He plays bass guitar and harmonica. He also functions as the Bellamy's road manager. Also known as the 3rd Bellamy Brother, Wally Played on "Two and Only", "When we Were Boys", "Strong Weakness", "Sons of Beaches", "Over the Line", "Reggae Cowboys", and "Lonely Planet" albums.

They each have big personalities and quickly garnered whistles and applause from new fans!

(L-R) Arlis Brkhard, Chris Marsalis, Paul Mashburn, Kenneth Humphrey, Nathan Hammons, and Bill Radice.

Backstage, there was a reunion of sorts going own.  The Princess Foundation A-Team (missing a few) was once again together.  We always have a great time and love supporting the Princess when we can.

Jimbo Duncan was back from heart surgery, and it was good to see him out and about!

As for me, well, wearing my back surgery brace, I still got to meet the Bellamy Brothers and snap these photos!  

It was good to be back again, although I didn't last long.

The Bellamy Brothers gave the Princess audience their money's worth; standing nearly in one place, without a break, or a sip of water, they played for an hour and forty minutes!  

After the performance, they stayed until the last fan was finished getting an autograph, buying a CD, or just exchanging a few words.  They really seem to love their fans!

It was a good evening's entertainment, and a very memorable experience for some!

MARSHALL TUCKER PLAYS THE PRINCESS!

There's nothing bad I can think of to say about Saturday night's Marshall Tucker concert at the Princess Theatre in Harriman, TN; except that there wasn't enough seats for everyone that wanted to attend.  However, the band was impressed with our Princess, the welcome we gave them, and the service provided them back stage.  

A group that included my son Corey, Johnny Stout, Jimbo Duncan, Chris Ahler, Mayor Mason, Gary Baker, others, worked until 1AM unloading and loading the equipment that arrived on two trucks!  It was a lot of hard work, but a dream come true for some who have always wanted to be on the road with a "rock'n roll" band!

I visited the auditorium frequently and found everyone rocking to both Bill Shannon's Group and Marshall Tucker.  Some said they liked Bill just as well, so the mix of entertainers must have been good!

Speaking of mix, I never dreamed there would 4 sound boards at a Princess concert!  That's right...and except of one or two squeaks, the sound, and the lighting was great!

Doug Gray, lead singer, turned out to be a real gentleman, and very personable, as was the entire group.  He loved talking to the Princess audience and the feedback he got from them.  The group played all their old hits and a few new things they have published recently.  The Princess audience impressed the band by singing the lyrics to all their old favorites!  We know how to have a good time!

Back stage the group greeted special ticket holders and posed for photos and autographs.  There were Marshall Tucker and Marshall Tucker/Princess t-shirts on sale in the lobby, and people also bought Marshall Tucker and Bill Shannon CDs.

The band marveled at the acoustics in the Princess and complemented the audience for having such a lovely facility.  The impression I got was that Marshall Tucker will come back again one day, and that they would spread the word.  They liked what that saw and felt at the Princess!

Doug Gray (lead singer) and B. B. Borden (drummer) both said that there seems to be a revival of small town theaters across the country, giving performers, like them, a lot more choices in scheduling their tour dates.  They even said the Princess Theatre was "just the right size"!  We need to spread the word that the Princess is primed, pumped, and ready to make such groups, and other performers welcome.

Okay, enough talking again on my part, so on with the photos from last night.  They run pretty much in order, from the beginning until the end!

Megan Anderson, Princess Manager, watches as the lighting goes up!

The equipment for the concert arrives!

Hours before the band arrives, the band's equipment people arrive to assemble instruments.

Bill Shannon takes the sage at the Princess!  Standing room only crowd anticipates a great evening!

Marshall Tucker Band arrives in Harriman Saturday night!

As Ken Mynatt, Johnny Stout, and Nathan Hammons look on, Chris Hicks, of Marshall Tucker arrives in "Rock'n Roll" style!  We knew it was "game on"!

Rick Willis leaves the bus and heads for the Princess for the first time!

Rick Willis and Pat Elwood look over the Princess for the first time!

Bill Shannon's Group received high praise Saturday after warming up the audience for Marshall Tucker.

B. B. Borden (BB) takes a few practice licks on his thighs prior to taking the stage!

Rick Willis loved what he saw at the Princess!

No one enjoyed themselves any more than Chris Hicks!

"That's right!  I'm at the Princess in Harriman!"

"Southern Boy" Chris Hicks came to play!

Doug Gray still having a good time even after 39 years!

All good things must end, and so did the Marshall Tucker concert Saturday!  Marcus Henderson gets an "atta boy" punch on the arm Saturday after the show!

Doug Gray thanks Mayor Mason for his hospitality and praises the Princess Theatre!

 The Marshall Tucker band is:

Doug Gray – Lead Vocals

Pat Elwood– Bass

Rick Willis– Guitar, Vocals

B.B. Borden – Drums

Marcus Henderson – Keyboards, Saxophone, Flute, Vocals

Chris Hicks - Guitar, Vocals

Muse Watson and Gary Baker celebrated their dream come true after the end of a week that included the Grand Opening and the Marshall Tucker Band concert!  Thanks guys!

Doug Gray, of Marshall Tucker, congratulated Gary Baker and Muse Watson Saturday after the concert.

This my friends, and fellow Princess lovers, is just the first of many great "nights on the town" in Downtown Harriman, Tennessee!