Branson shows real music still alive, well

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It was something I never thought would happen. In the course of one month, I took in two shows in Branson. |ret||ret||tab|

This from a guy who once proclaimed that I had been to Branson, I didn't lose anything there and saw no reason to go back to look for it. Twice in one month? Amazing! Actually, my wife and I, along with some friends, once took in Andy Wil-liams' Christmas show. |ret||ret||tab|

I was surprised and impressed then with the quality of the production and said so in a column. Apparently, I wasn't impressed enough to go back until recently. My recent Branson odyssey began when my wife, who would be a regular Branson visitor if I would cooperate, re-minded me that my favorite comedian, Jeff Foxworthy, was to appear for one night only at the Grand Palace in Branson. |ret||ret||tab|

If you aren't familiar with Jeff Foxworthy, he is known for his "You might be a redneck " routine. He does a lot of other material that anyone with a family should find hilarious. After seeing his HBO concert awhile back, I became an instant fan. Besides being genuinely funny, his routine was one that adults and children could comfortably watch. Translation: no four-letter words, no bathroom humor. |ret||ret||tab|

Other cable TV "comedy" concerts are chock-full of language that should be labeled "unfit for human consumption." Truth be told, other than Foxworthy's TV concert, I've never stuck with one from beginning to end. Close-ups of men and women laughing their fool heads off at vulgar displays of grossness is a real turnoff, which is what I do to them. Jeff Foxworthy was refreshingly wholesome and funny. I gladly agreed to catch his one-night stand. |ret||ret||tab|

Accompanied by friends, we were off for Branson. Foxwor-thy played to a sold-out crowd. With nary a tour bus in the parking lot, the audience was a nice mix of people of all ages. I recall a similarly diverse crowd at a standing-room-only Neil Diamond concert at Kemper Arena in Kansas City. Both crowds were prototypes of the audiences Branson wants to begin attracting. I'll bet that Neil Diamond would also play to full houses in Branson. |ret||ret||tab|

Leaving the Foxworthy show, I casually mentioned that I wouldn't mind seeing Andy Williams and Glen Campbell at Andy Williams' theater. It was like I had said, "I DEMAND that we go to that show, and I won't take no for an answer!" Sure enough, the four of us were soon front and center to see Andy and Glen. I have always admired both entertainers. |ret||ret||tab|

Granted, when Andy Wil-liams was turning out hit after hit after hit, I was such a jazz fan that I wouldn't have considered buying any recording not passing muster as good jazz. I didn't buy his albums, but I enjoyed his silky smooth voice on the radio and TV. He was and remains a major talent. And he is doing his thing just a few miles up the road. Along with Tony Bennett, he is a national treasure, a reminder of a time when music was music, not noise.|ret||ret||tab|

Glen Campbell is a fine guitarist who sings a great ballad. At the zenith of his career, he made excellent choices of songs to sing. |ret||ret||tab|

An example is his biggest hit, a haunting ballad about a foolish man who left his lady love without saying good-bye. From the plaintive mood established as he sings "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," we know he alrea-dy misses her. Glen Campbell had a long string of big hit songs. |ret||ret||tab|

Neither of the two old pros disappointed me. They know how to entertain. |ret||ret||tab|

It's good that an audience still exists for well-produced musical numbers with talented performers singing lyrics that adults might want to listen to, and playing melodies that can please without the aid of screaming dissonance. |ret||ret||tab|

Do you know what? I'll bet there are a lot of other good shows in Branson. |ret||ret||tab|

So, I am more of a Branson fan than I once was. I'm not so far gone that I swap tales with others about the inspirational restrooms at the Shoji Tabuchi Theater, but there are a few other shows I would like to see. I'll refrain from mentioning which ones, otherwise, my wife will have the tickets before the sun goes down. |ret||ret||tab|

Now that Highway 65 is a smooth-as-silk four lanes between Springfield and Bran-son, I can no longer complain about road construction delays. Now, if they could just do something about the bumper-to-bum-per traffic in Branson itself. ... |ret||ret||tab|

(Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury Un-iversity.)[[In-content Ad]]