Willie Nelson

Danny Faircloth does CD with Willie Nelson By DAVE McMILLION / Staff Writer MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Danny Faircloth has consistently worked at the art of being a songwriter, and some people in the music industry believe he is hitting his stride. After all, sharing space on a compact disc with Willie Nelson is nothing to sneeze at, his supporters say. Last June, Faircloth competed with 160 other performers at a Star Search competition in Hagerstown. His performance of his song "Hand-in-Hand" led to Faircloth being selected to have the song included on a new compilation CD called "Nashville Music Express.

By KIMBERLY YAKOWSKI / Staff Writer photo: KEVIN G. GILBERT / staff photographer Former truck driver Chuck Porter knows exactly what Willie Nelson means when he sings about being "On the Road Again. " For 30 years Porter, of Middletown, traveled the country's highways hauling industrial gases while listening to Nelson's music. He said he has come to identify with a lot of the artist's lyrics. "We put in a lot of miles together," he said of his favorite artist.

With his long hair and bandanna, 66-year-old Willie Nelson is not your typical heartthrob, pretty-boy country singer in a cowboy hat and spangled shirt. [cont. from lifestyle ] His fans range from kids to octogenarians. He's made recordings with performers outside the country-music circle, including Ray Charles, Neil Young, Julio Iglesias and Carlos Santana. He recorded George Gershwin's "Summertime" with Leon Russell. Nelson has more than 200 albums. "Teatro," his most recent, was recorded in a California studio that at one time was a Mexican movie theater.

Beck, "Modern Guilt" (Interscope Records). Great Big Sea, "Fortune's Favour" (Suma Records). Kerli, "Love Is Dead" (Island). Melvins, "Nude With Boots" (Ipecac Recordings). Willie Nelson/Wynton Marsalis, "Two Men With the Blues" (Blue Note Records). Ratatat, "Lp3" (Beggars XL Recording). Soundtrack, "Mamma Mia!" (Decca). Features the music of ABBA.

David Allan Coe 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17 Cancun Cantina West, 901 Dual Highway, Hagerstown Tickets cost $20. Coe's song-writing hits have included "Take This Job and Shove It. " He has written songs for Willie Nelson, Kid Rock, The Oak Ridge Boys and Tanya Tucker. For tickets, stop by Cancun Cantina West. For more information, call 301-797-4422. Must be 21 or older. Exile Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8 Kepler Theater, Hagerstown Community College, 11400 Robinwood Drive, east of Hagerstown Tickets cost $15 Tori Anderson & Possum Holler will open for Exile.

Rivers Edge to play Farm Aid By BOB PARTLOW / Staff Writer, Martinsburg MARTINSBURG, W. Va. - A local band may get the big break it is looking for when it appears on stage Sunday with some big names as part of the Farm Aid 2000 concert. The six members of Rivers Edge are eager for their 15 minutes of fame that will occur at Nissan Pavilion in Bristow, Va., from 5:11 to 5:26 p.m. Sunday. "It's awesome," said Ray Jones, lead guitar player and songwriter, who lives near Martinsburg.

Nightclub 9:30 Go to www.930.com for more information. Candlebox with Driveblind Tuesday, July 25 $25 Steel Pulse with Dr. Dubenstein, Lionize and Zedicus Wednesday, July 26 $25 Breaking Benjamin with Dropping Daylight Friday, July 28 $25 MN8 Presents Eric Roberson Saturday, July 29 $15 Merriweather Post Pavilion Go to www.merriweathermusic.com...

Toby Keith's guitarist appears at Kahuna's Rich Ekhardt, lead guitar player for country music artist Toby Keith, appeared at Kahuna's Nite Club in Hagerstown Nov. 23 with local classic rock band Sister Mary Elephant. Ekhardt was in Maryland visiting family on the Eastern Shore, including his brother Paul, who is the bass player for Sister Mary Elephant. Ekhardt is originally from Prince George's County, Md. He appears in the Toby Keith movie "Broken Bridges" as a guitarist backing up Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, and other cast members.

It's before 10 a.m. in Hawaii when Lukas Nelson answers the phone for his interview. It's early for the 22-year-old who has been criss-crossing the United States as Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real. But this stop in Hawaii isn't for business - it's for pleasure. “I'm here for my mom's birthday,” Nelson said in between yawns during a phone interview. Mom is Annie D'Angelo, the fourth wife to country music legend Willie Nelson. He'll be back on the mainland soon.

"I believe those politicians who were approached about the robocalls and did not notify the election board are guilty also, and shouldn't be allowed to take office until this matter is settled. "  - Hagerstown "I'm really looking forward to the delegates' meeting at South High next month. All these people calling in to Mail Call, I'm sure they'll all be there and I'm sure they'll all sign up to speak. I'm there every year, I always sign up and speak about something - not necessarily a complaint, but sometimes suggestions.

Even a country star has to eat. Before country artist Pat Green has even a chance to get started with his telephone interview with The Herald-Mail, the doorbell to his Los Angeles, Calif., hotel room rings. It's room service with his breakfast (it's 8 a.m. on the West Coast). "I'm a starvin' Marvin," he says later as he politely takes a bite between answers. But Green can tell you that being busy is good, especially when it comes to making music. He's currently on tour promoting his latest album "What I'm For," which was released earlier this year.

Beck, "Modern Guilt" (Interscope Records). Great Big Sea, "Fortune's Favour" (Suma Records). Kerli, "Love Is Dead" (Island). Melvins, "Nude With Boots" (Ipecac Recordings). Willie Nelson/Wynton Marsalis, "Two Men With the Blues" (Blue Note Records). Ratatat, "Lp3" (Beggars XL Recording). Soundtrack, "Mamma Mia!" (Decca). Features the music of ABBA.

David Allan Coe 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17 Cancun Cantina West, 901 Dual Highway, Hagerstown Tickets cost $20. Coe's song-writing hits have included "Take This Job and Shove It. " He has written songs for Willie Nelson, Kid Rock, The Oak Ridge Boys and Tanya Tucker. For tickets, stop by Cancun Cantina West. For more information, call 301-797-4422. Must be 21 or older. Exile Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8 Kepler Theater, Hagerstown Community College, 11400 Robinwood Drive, east of Hagerstown Tickets cost $15 Tori Anderson & Possum Holler will open for Exile.

Toby Keith's guitarist appears at Kahuna's Rich Ekhardt, lead guitar player for country music artist Toby Keith, appeared at Kahuna's Nite Club in Hagerstown Nov. 23 with local classic rock band Sister Mary Elephant. Ekhardt was in Maryland visiting family on the Eastern Shore, including his brother Paul, who is the bass player for Sister Mary Elephant. Ekhardt is originally from Prince George's County, Md. He appears in the Toby Keith movie "Broken Bridges" as a guitarist backing up Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, and other cast members.

"To Clear Spring, who was complaining about everybody being mean to poor little Hillary: Get over it. She is running for a position where she will need to be tough. What she has been dealt is nothing compared to what she has dealt this administration. If she can't stand the heat, she needs to get out of the kitchen. " "In response to Hagerstown's idea of taking the worst bridges in the country and naming it after George W. Bush: What a perfectly stupid idea. " "Good idea, I suppose to detain the hard-core child molesters.

Nightclub 9:30 Go to www.930.com for more information. Candlebox with Driveblind Tuesday, July 25 $25 Steel Pulse with Dr. Dubenstein, Lionize and Zedicus Wednesday, July 26 $25 Breaking Benjamin with Dropping Daylight Friday, July 28 $25 MN8 Presents Eric Roberson Saturday, July 29 $15 Merriweather Post Pavilion Go to www.merriweathermusic.com...