|
Home
Up
Country Cuts
MKOC Reviews the Stars
Allison Moorer
Anne Murray
BRC
Carl Smith
Cyndi Thomson
Dale Watson
Eddy Arnold
Ernie Ashworth
G. Watson
Kitty Wells
Wade
Gents 1
Gents 2
Gents3
Gents 4
Gents 5
Gents 6
Ladies 1
Ladies 2
Ladies 3
Ladies 4
Legends
Gone
| |
DALE WATSON’S VISIT TO MALTA
Submitted to MKOC By Vince Laus
October 4, 2001 |
Believe it or not, it
was the first time ever that here, in Malta we had a country singer and his group from
America. As I’ve been saying all along, the Country Music Appreciation Society is a
non-profit making one and has to rely on other sources to get somebody big from the
States. This happened on September 29th when honky tonk star, DALE WATSON & HIS
LONESTARS visited our tiny island for what everybody called the "BIG COUNTRY
NIGHT!!"
It was some time ago that Mr. Michael Macy from the
American Embassy promised me he’d do something about getting country singers from
abroad. That dream came true when Dale & his group were booked for the 29th September
show. Arrangements were made, flights, hotel and booking. The society is grateful to Mr.
Michael Macy, the American Embassy and Air Malta who supplied the flight tickets. |
|
Daphne and I together with Mr. Macy met Dale Watson and
his Lonestars at the airport on Friday night/Saturday morning (00.30am) and had them
transported to their hotel. We had coffee and a chat and met up again on Saturday morning
for lunch and a sound check. The 500 who attended the country night held by the Country
Music Appreciation Society (sorry, we couldn’t get anymore in), seemed anxious to see
and hear one of country music’s most loved stars.
Ricky Davis,
Lonestars' Steel
Guitar Player
|
The evening opened with local band The J.M.Cash Band
who did a 55 minute spot followed by one Malta’s leading female singers, Marisa. Then
the curtain opened for the guest of that night’s show, DALE WATSON & HIS
LONESTARS who performed some real country music, old and new. The honky tonk sound of Dale
could be heard by all. Starting off with Cash’s “Ring Of Fire”, he
continued with some of his own songs, brilliantly sung and interpreted, backed by three
guys who knew exactly what they were doing. Scott on drums gave us a great performance,
James on bass guitar seemed very easy going and Ricky on the steel guitar was excellent.
You see, we never had a steel guitarist here so we were thrilled to see and hear the sound
of country music. |
Dale seemed to know what those present
wanted to hear apart from his vast repertoire. He went into some real golden oldies with
“When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again”, “Behind Closed Doors”,
“Devil Woman”, “Return To Sender”, “Mama Tried” and many
more. His first hour came to a halt and we had some dancing from the Ace Line Dance
Company (Steve, Marie Angie, Denise & Lauren not forgetting their singer Manuel). Then
came Dale’s second hour of good solid country music right up until 30 minutes past
midnight. What a brilliant show. A country night to remember.
We found the singer and his group very friendly, chatty
and pleasant to talk to. I mustn’t forget the road manager, Donnie, who made sure
that everything went well during the evening and the next morning when we all met for
lunch together with Mr. Macy and his wife Meg and Mr. John Saliba and his wife of Air
Malta. Then it was back to the airport at 2.00pm for Dale Watson & His Lonestars to
catch the plane back to Paris. It was a memorable event for us. Good luck to all of you.
Vince Laus
vincelaus@onvol.net
Dale's coin coated guitar
Dale
Watson Official Site
|
