314 performers, new face book 39 years, 1 stage undreds of country artists have graced the New Faces stage. Some of them twice. An accounting of every one sounds like an enormous Requests Htask...until you actually do it and realize the word “enormous” doesn’t quite measure up. 3 friend requests Still, the Country Aircheck team dug in and tracked down as many as possible. We asked a few for their memories of the experience. For others, we were barely able to find biographical information. And we skipped the from his home in Nashville. for Nestea, Miller Beer, Pizza Hut and “The New Faces Show had Union 76, among others. details on artists who are still active. (If you need us to explain George Strait, all those radio people, and for instance, you’re probably reading the wrong publication.) Enjoy. I made a lot of friends. I do Jeanne Pruett: Alabama native Pruett remember they had me use enjoyed a solid string of hits from the early the staff band, and I was ’70s right into the ’80s including the No. resides in Nashville, still tours and will suffering some anxiety over not being able 1 smash, “Satin Sheets.” Pruett is based receive a star in the Hollywood Walk of to use my band.” outside of Nashville and is still active as a 1970 Fame in October, 2009. performer and as a member of the Grand Jack Barlow: He charted with Ole Opry. hits like “Baby, Ain’t That Love” Bobby Harden: Starting out with his two 1972 and “Birmingham Blues,” but by sisters as the pop-singing Harden Trio, Connie Eaton: The Nashville native started Mel Street: West Virginian Street racked the mid-’70s Barlow had become the nationally Harden cracked the country Top 50 back her country career as a teenager and hit the up a long string of hits throughout the ’70s, famous voice of Big Red chewing gum. He in 1975 with “One Step” before going on to country Top 40 with her cover of the Merilee including the classic, “Borrowed Angel,” went on to do countless jingles and voiceovers write many hits, including Mark Chesnutt’s Rush pop hit, “Angel Of The Morning.” before taking his own life in 1978. for Dollar General, Bob Evans, Kraft and even “Too Cold at Home.” Harden passed away Eaton retired from the industry in the late Billy Beer. These days the Ohio native is living in 2006. He was 70. ’70s and succumbed to cancer in 1999. She in Linden, TN. was 49. 1973 Murry Kellum: The Jackson, TN native’s O.B. McClinton: He used to call himself the Jamie Kaye: Kaye was still in high school highest-charting country effort was a 1971 Jerry Foster: He charted four singles as “Chocolate Cowboy,” but the groundbreaking when she performed at New Faces. After cover of Three Dog Night’s “Joy to the an artist, but Foster’s biggest contribution African-American artist got his start as a signing with Mercury and failing to chart, World.” In 1990, the 47-year-old singer was has been his songwriting. With partner songwriter on the R&B side of the fence. she resurfaced as a member of Dave & killed in a plane crash. Bill Rice, this Songwriters Hall of Fame When he appeared at New Faces, the Sugar in 1979 and left the group in late 1980. member wrote hits for countless country Mississippi native was riding high with “Don’t Peggy Little: Raised in Waco, TX, Little is artists. He’s still writing and performing Let the Green Grass Fool You.” McClinton Karen Kelly: “Let Me Go, Lover” on Capitol best known for her sophomore single from in Nashville. Among the hits he wrote are died of cancer in 1987. was her only charting single, peaking in 1970. 1969, “Sweet Baby Girl.” “Here Comes the Hurt Again,” “I’ll Think of Something” and “When Your Good Love Pat Roberts: Seattle native Roberts Wayne Kemp: His biggest hit as an artist was Bill Rice: Before he teamed Was Mine.” enjoyed a Top 40 single with his debut, a 1973’s “Honky Tonk Wine,” but Kemp, who’s still up with Jerry Foster to write remake of the pop hit, “Rhythm of the Rain.” going strong, went on to become a Songwriters the long string of hits that Dicky Lee: A longtime familiar face along Hall of Fame member, writing classics including would land them both in the Music Row, Lee’s artist career took off with Johnny Rodriguez: Texan Rodriguez George Strait’s “The Fireman” and Johnny Songwriters Hall of Fame, melodramatic teenage love song “Patches” enjoyed six No. 1 singles over the course Paycheck’s “The Only Hell (My Momma Ever Bill Rice broke through to the Top 40 with and had huge Country hits with “Rocky” and of his long career, including “Ridin’ My Raised).” He lives in Lafayette, TN. “Travelin’ Minstrel Man.” These days, Rice “9,999,999 Tears.” The Songwriters Hall Thumb To Mexico.” He’s still in Texas lives in Cocoa Beach, FL and travels to of Fame member wrote the George Jones recording and touring. Lynda K. Lance: She toured Vietnam and the Nashville regularly. Among the hists he classic, “She Thinks I Still Care.” late, great Dottie West was her maid of honor, wrote are “Someone To Give My Love To,” Johnny Russell: Singer/ but the Pennsylvania native only managed to “I’m Not That Lonely Yet” and “’Til A Tear Jim Mundy: Oklahoma’s songwriter/comedian/ reach the lower regions of the chart. Becomes A Rose.” Mundy went all the way No. entertainer Russell wrote 13 with his debut single, “Act Naturally,” recorded LaWanda Lindsey: Florida native Lindsey Bobby G. Rice: Rice is best known for his “The River’s Too Wide,” by Buck Owens and the began recording at 14 and was only 17 1972 Top 5 single, “You Lay So Easy On but it was all downhill for Beatles, and became a fan favorite, a when she performed at New Faces. That My Mind.” the rest of his chart run. Grand Ole Opry fixture and a member of same year, she enjoyed her biggest hit, He went on to big success, however, the Songwriters Hall of Fame before his “Pickin’ Wild Mountain Berries.” She retired Earl Richards: By the time he hit the New writing and singing commercial jingles passing in 2001. from the business in 1979. Faces stage back in 1971, Texas native Richards had already played with Bob Wills Little David Wilkins Dee Mullins: The Texas native responded and the Texas Playboys and the late, great to Jeannie C. Riley’s biggest hit with “The Buddy Holly. Continuing Story Of Harper Valley PTA.” Known around Nashville as “Snake” She passed away in 1991. Richards, the singer/songwriter was one busy guy back in the late ’60s and early ’70s, writing Norro Wilson: Long before hit songs, working on his own major label he started writing timeless career, acting in TV dramas like Cheyenne, country songs like “The Most Sugarfoot and Surfside Six, and starring in Beautiful Girl” and “The Grand B movies like The Girl From Tobacco Row. Tour” and producing hits for everyone These days the 69-year-old is enjoying from John Anderson to Kenny Chesney, semi-retirement with his wife, children and Wilson had his heart set on being a star. grandchildren in Goodlettsville, TN. And as the first artist on the bill at the “I’ve always been as much of a homebody first-ever New Faces Show back in 1970, as I could be, especially raising kids,” Richards Wilson was the star. “I was the first one, says. “I’m still involved in the publishing and and I was chosen to be the favorite that the writers. I started a song this week called first year,” Wilson recalls. “When I did that ’Dreams Never Die.’ To still be enjoying life this show I’d already been on Hickory Records, much, what greater attribute could there be. Monument Records, Decca, MGM, Smash, Life is good in Goodlettsville.” Capitol and RCA, damn near every label in the city.” Little David Wilkins: As the writer of Now semi-retired and living in Nashville, Brenda Lee’s “Coming On Strong,” portly the much-loved Music Row figure offers piano-pounding powerhouse Wilkins the kind of perspective that only time can already had a big hit under his belt when provide. “After having been a producer he performed as a Playboy recording over the years, I realized I didn’t have that artist at New Faces. Over the course of fabulous vocal sound or that unique vocal his career, the Tennessee native enjoyed quality,” he says. “Then again, I don’t think a few hits of own, including “One Monkey it’s ever been about the artists; it’s always Don’t Stop No Show” and “Butter Beans,” been about the hits.” while his songs were cut by hit artists including Percy Sledge, Barbara Mandrell and Charley Pride. He was inducted into 1971 the International Rockabilly Hall of Fame Crystal Gayle: She was a regular in 2007. “We didn’t have the Internet back presence on Country – and pop – radio then, so radio was the only way we could from the ’70s right through the ’80s. Gayle get the music out there,” Wilkins recalls 03 0927 new face book Red Steagall: These days The Pilgrim, his critically acclaimed debut. six singles during the ’70s, the most successful a straightforward feminist spin to her he’s known as “America’s These days, the Austin, TX resident has of which was “Here We Go Again.” country career.