Barry Gibb finalmente foi aproveitar por alguns dias sua nova propriedade. Trata-se da casa em Hendersonville, Nashville, que pertenceu ao falecido casal Johnny e June Carter Cash, estrelas da música country norte-americana, e que foi comprada por ele em janeiro.
Barry disse que pretende passar os verões lá e que vai precisar de um ano para reformar a casa.
Em entrevista, ele anunciou que pretende aproveitar as boas energias da casa para fazer um álbum country por lá, usando estúdios de Nashville, músicos de Nashville, produtores de Nashville e engenheiros de Nashville.
Aproveitando a viagem, Barry participou de dois importantes eventos locais.
Durante a cerimônia, que contou com a presença da viúva de Roy Orbison, Barbara, Barry disse que provavelmente ele e os irmãos não tivessem feitos discos se não tivessem conhecido a música de Roy Orbison. Citou também Crying, o primeiro compacto que comprou em sua vida.
Barry foi o convidado surpresa do evento, que foi realizado no ginásio da Hendersonville High School. Ele cantou To love somebody e Words, e fez um dueto com a organizadora do evento, Kelly Lang, para Islands in the Stream.
Sobre este momento, Barry disse que se sente parte da situação porque tem uma casa na região agora e, portanto, é um membro da comunidade. Disse que se sentia orgulhoso por participar do show, que era uma boa oportunidade de dizer “alô” aos novos vizinhos.
Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees got his first look this week at his latest big purchase, the Hendersonville home of the late Johnny and June Carter Cash.
His first reaction?
"This is wonderful. But boy, does this need a lot of work," he told me Monday at a local Roy Orbison tribute. (More on that later.)
Barry, 59, also was quick to point out the good vibes he felt in Johnny's songwriting room and in the couple's bedroom.
Barry says he's going to live there this summer and take up to a year to renovate it. But it's not just the house he's tending to. Barry says he wants to be a good neighbor.
To that end, Barry showed at the Orbison tribute and was expected to be at a fundraiser show Monday night for Sumner County tornado victims.
"What a wonderful way to meet people in the community," Barry said.
Another one: Make a country album here, which Barry said he'll do, using Nashville studios, Nashville musicians, Nashville producers and Nashville engineers.
And he'll do that after being here and doing some songwriting here.
"The only way to make a country album," he says, "is to be in the middle of it."
Ronnie honor Roy
Some 200 fans and Music Row movers and shakers showed Monday for the presentation of a Roy Orbison tribute proclamation from Mayor Bill Purcell, who looked particularly natty is his Roy Orbison replica sunglasses.
Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees said he and his brothers were huge Orbison fans when they lived in Australia, adding that Orbison was so influential that his music motivated them to make their own music.
So Barry was particularly pleased to be there at historic RCA Studio B, where Roy cut so many of his songs.
"To me," Barry said, "this is one of the greatest moments of my life."
Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn said, "It influenced a lot of us who sing high," which drew some giggles.
Ronnie lowered his sunglasses and looked at the crowd: "I mean high voices."
NASHVILLE, TN -- Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell today recognized the life and legacy of singer/songwriter Roy Orbison by presenting a proclamation to his widow Barbara Orbison in front of RCA Studio B, where Roy recorded most of his biggest hits. The proclamation says that Roy Orbison “has made a significant cultural impact to the city of Nashville, the state of Tennessee and the entire world through his artistry as a singer and a songwriter.” Over 200 fans and Nashville music industry luminaries attended the mid-day ceremony, including speakers Barry Gibb and Ronnie Dunn.
“Roy Orbison is a Music City legend, and today we celebrate his legacy,” said Mayor Purcell. “This frankly is the perfect place to honor a legend who is an inspiration to so many others, and not just here in Music City but around the world.”
“I think he would be thrilled,” said Barbara. “At my company Still Working Music I don’t think there’s a day that goes by that somebody doesn’t say something about Roy, or at a recording studio when somebody quotes something that Roy has done. And that is the best gift I think that you can give somebody, a timeless gift of remembering what they did really, really well.”
Ronnie Dunn, of the smash country duo Brooks & Dunn, called Orbison “a very stylized artist, a superstar.” And Barry Gibb, of the world famous Bee Gees, said, “I don’t think my brothers and I would have really made records if it hadn’t been for listening to Roy Orbison.” He recognized how far Orbison’s music traveled, relating that he first heard crying in Brisbane, Australia. “Every record that this man recorded since that day has touched my heart and I know touched millions of hearts all over the world.”
Mayor Purcell’s proclamation is one of many events this year celebrating Roy Orbison, who would have turned 70 on April 23, 2006. A new career-spanning anthology is out on Legacy Recordings. An Orbison exhibit has just opened at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. And more than 15,000 people, including Bono, Olivia Harrison, Gregg Allman, Pete Fountain, George Clinton, Dwight Yoakam, George Jones and Loretta Lynn, have signed a petition to have Orbison honored with a commemorative U.S. postage stamp.
By Tena Lee
Hendersonville Star News
Some of the biggest names in country music did what they do best Monday night for those affected by a tornado that ripped through Sumner County last month.
From 10-time Grammy award-winner Ricky Skaggs and Grand Ole Opry legends The Whites, Connie Smith and Lorrie Morgan to country music’s latest heartthrob, Gary Allan, the United Way of Sumner County fundraiser that raised $60,000 for tornado victims shared two things in common: a local address and a desire to help their neighbors.
“The questions we have now he’ll have the answers for some day,” said Smith, inviting those directly hit by the tornado to light candles on the Hendersonville High School football field while she sang “Amazing Grace.”
Smith’s was one of the few somber moments in a night billed by local musician and organizer Kelly Lang as, “A Night of Healing.”
One of Hendersonville’s newest residents – known best for creating the disco craze of the 1970’s – lended his talents as well. Producer and songwriter Barry Gibb, who purchased the home of Johnny and June Carter Cash in January said he received a letter from Lang inviting him to perform.
Gibb, best known as one-third of the Bee Gees, one of the biggest-selling pop trios of all time, sang his hits “To Love Somebody” and “Words” before inviting Lang to sing “Islands in the Stream” with him. Gibb produced the song made famous by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.
Gibb had been billed as simply “a special guest,” but rumors about his appearance had been swirling around town for almost a week. Other performers included The Del McCoury Band, Tommy Cash, T. G. Sheppard and The Oak Ridge Boys.
The entertainers weren’t the only ones wanting to help their neighbors.
“I came for the support,” said Gallatin resident Barbara Lambert who lives in the Villages of Plantation condos. “The tornado struck right behind me and it was just heartbreaking to see.”
Lambert, 68, admitted she also came to see the Oak Ridge Boys. “I know most of them and I’m just crazy about them,” she added.
Ellen Edwards, assistant cafeteria manager at T.W. Hunter Middle School said she came to support the 10 or 11 families affected by the tornado at her school.
“I want to show support for every one of them,” she said. “That we care about them and want them to get back on their feet.”
Before the concert, Edwards, 37, had heard that Gibb might perform. “I love country music, but I’m a big Bee Gees fan too,” she said.
“I think it’s great of him to support his new community.”
“We’re pleased,” said United Way of Sumner County President Mike McClanahan toward the end of the night. “We thought we might have had a larger turn-out but we’re thrilled with those who did come. To raise $60,000 in one night; it’s just tremendous.”
