March 19, 2008
The renowned Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers will headline
the Will Rogers Heritage Festival in a performance on Saturday
evening, June 7, lakeside at the Bill Moore Field in
Guntersville. The festival has been moved to Civitan Park this
year and is scheduled for June 5-8, with most activities taking
place on Saturday and Sunday.
Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers are back on tour, by
popular demand, and will perform in Guntersville as part of the
selected dates in the “The Gatlin Brothers Never Ending Reunion
Tour.” Larry, Steve and Rudy Gatlin lit up major marquees and
packed concert halls across America throughout the 70’s and
80’s. They stopped touring in 1992.
The brothers scored more than a dozen Top 10 hits and have been
inducted into the Grand Old Opry. They have also won Album of
the Year and Single of the Year honors. Their hits include
“Denver (Means I’m One Day Closer to You)” and others. Steve and
Rudy wrote songs for Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Barbra
Streisand, Tom Jones and Elvis Presley.
Over their four decade career, the Texan trio has performed at
the White House, on Broadway and earned Grammy awards at the top
of the country charts. They were raised on Gospel music and
appeared on radio and TV when they were 2, 4 and 6 years old.
Ticket availability will be announced soon through the Chamber
of Commerce and Ticketmaster. VIP tickets will include
down-front seats and a BBQ with the Gatlin Brothers. Additional
tickets will be available for in-field seating and out-field
seating.
Festival chairman Milla Sachs said the festival has been named a
Top Ten Event in Alabama for June. Special events throughout the
weekend will include performances of the Will Rogers Follies at
the Whole Backstage, an antique vehicle show downtown on
Saturday, a Will Rogers memorabilia exhibit at the Guntersville
Museum and more.
The festival is free with the exception of the Will Rogers
Follies and the Saturday night Main Stage entertainment.
A new feature this year is 34-year-old Johnny Lonestar, a trick
roper from Branson, Missouri. He has performed in Las Vegas,
Pigeon Forge, Atlantic City and Branson. He was among the top 20
finalists in the TV series “America’s Got Talent.”
He’s been a trick roper since age 15. At 17, he won the “Will
Rogers Rookie of the Year” award. He will be on stage during the
weekend and also will appear in the Will Rogers Follies at the
Whole Backstage.
The festival will also include the state finals for a Quick Draw
competition, along with an authentic “horse whisperer.”
Additional lineup includes a western parade; Gene McFall, a
nationally known Will Rogers impersonator; an Indian encampment;
Rusty’s Chuckwagon and The Fair Play Cattle Company; Arts
Council Song Writers Competition; arts and crafts show; western
craft demonstrations; local music stage; equestrian events;
historic walking tours; farmers market and demonstration stage;
children’s activities including an RSVP puppet show; pony rides;
carriage rides; aviation fly-in and aerobatics at the
Guntersville Airport; Guntersville Depot tours; Alabama quilt
show; pooch parade; and food vendors.
Mrs. Sachs said that the festival is in need of sponsors and
volunteers. For continuing information about the festival, check
out the festival website at
www.willrogersheritagefestival.com. Information about the
Will Rogers Follies is on the web at
www.wholebackstage.com.
