Crystal Gale coming to Red Skelton Gala

Grammy-winning Crystal Gayle coming to Red Skelton center


1/20/2008 1:20:00 AM

CRYSTAL GAYLEGrammy-winning Crystal Gayle coming to Red Skelton centerGrammy-winning performer Crystal Gayle will be the headline event for this year's Red Skelton Gala.The third annual event will begin at 7 p.m. on June 14 at the Red Skelton Performing Arts Center, 20 Portland Ave.The event, which will benefit the Red Skelton Museum, will feature a "sweets" reception of 1,800 desserts, ranging from chocolate truffle entremets to fresh fruit tarts with a sneak-preview of the yet-unfinished museum following the show."We're going to do very exquisite desserts," said Nancy Hensel, a member of the Red Skelton Festival committee. "We think this is going to be a really nice evening, a really nice event."Hensel said tickets will go on sale March 12 at the Red Skelton Performing Arts Center."We want people to be aware that she's (Gayle) coming so that they can save the date," Hensel said.Gayle rose to stardom in the late 1970s and in the 1980s as a country singer whose songs crossed over onto the pop charts.Her number one hits included "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue," "It's Like We Never Said Goodbye," "Talking in Your Sleep," "I'll Get Over You" and "Half the Way."CMA's "Female Vocalist Of The Year" for two consecutive years, Gayle became a Grammy Award Winner for "Best Female Vocal Performance," for "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue," Gayle earned three Academy Of Country Music Awards for "Top Female Vocalist" and is the recipient of three "American Music Awards," voted by the nation as America's "Favorite Female Artist."Famous for her nearly floor-length hair, Gayle was voted one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world in 1983.In 2007, she was chosen to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Crystal will be awarded her star in Hollywood in early 2008.Gayle was born Brenda Gail Webb on Jan. 9, 1951, in Paintsville, Ky. She was the youngest daughter of Melvin "Ted" and Clara Marie (Ramey) Webb, who raised eight children on a meager coal miner's salary. By the time Gayle was born, her sister Loretta Lynn, 19 years older, had married and moved away. She is also a distant cousin, through her mother, of singer Patty Loveless.The family moved to Wabash, Ind., when Gayle was 4, and she started singing along with country and pop songs on the radio at a young age.In 1999 "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" was recognized by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers as one being one of the 10 most performed songs of the 20th century. - Vincennes Sun-Commercial

My thoughts...
Not happy. The programmers of this event know that I want to promote Red Skelton in Vincennes. They did not share this information with me before the announcement. They did not involve me with the selection of the performer. I do not believe the Gayle is a good representative of the mission of the center (if there is a mission). I do not see the connection to Red Skelton or to American Comedy. Gayle is a fine performer and see may attract people but not the target audience that would come to a honor Red or comedy. This is upsetting.

Your thoughts.