Crystal Gayle performed under the tall pines in the natural amphitheater at the Wildflower Festival recently with her backup band and her sister, Peggy Sue Wright, as her special guest.
Peggy Sue Wright is another talented sister from the Webb clan who co-wrote a country favorite, “Don’t come home a drinkin’ with luvin’ on your mind” which both Gayle and Loretta Lynn have performed. Lynn’s biography was depicted in the Academy Award winning movie, “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”
Gayle, whose long black hair extended to her ankles, wore a tight bodiced print top and black leggings and high heels. She looked fit and young, although she is now a grandmother. But Gayle proved she is no granny in a rocking chair in one of her many stops in her Summer Tour.
The crowd sitting in lawn chairs and sipping beverages clapped enthusiastically at each rendition in the intimate setting.
The country atmosphere fit well Gayle’s songs and her background as she commented, “It’s nice to be in White Mills. In fact, it reminds me of where I’m from, except the roads are paved here,” she joked. “It’s the winding roads.”
With a break from the summer heat, the breezy night was a great change from Nashville where she and her family currently live, the family mentioned.
Gayle appears to enjoy her fans.
She has a friendly open manner while singing and often waves and smiles at the crowd. Since the White Mills setting allows for that as opposed to the distance created by a professional stage or theater, the concert was more of a summer extended family country outing.
Her small entourage is also friendly. Her husband, Bill Gatzimos, came up and introduced himself while her blond six-year-old grand-son, Elijah, tried to help with my camera and even offered to lend me one of theirs.
She sang her most well-known songs as the evening progressed, “Don’t It Make Your Brown Eyes Blue” as well as some popular and folksy country favorites.
At intermission she signed her CD which is impossible in such settings as the Grande Ole Opry because of the distance and large crowds, as well as stronger security.
Since Gayle has performed many cross-over songs, specifically country to pop in more formal wear, she obviously geared the evening to the more informal. She arrived with her band in two gold SUV’s, climbing on the small stage which also blended into the grass and floral setting. Her official blue tour bus was parked nearby.
Gayle will be performing at the Grande Ole Opry this month and will be at Hurricane Mills, Loretta Lynn’s ranch for two consecutive nights. Hurricane Mills is about 60 miles from Nashville.
The Wildflower Festival continues until Saturday, Aug. 21.
Each performance begins at 6 p.m. For more information, call (570)253-5500. It
is located at the Dorflinger-Suydam Wildlife Sanctuary on Long Ridge Road in
