1 The Meadville Tribune Friday, August 19, 2016 s MEADVILLETRIBUNE.COM: Relive your heartwarming memories of last year’s fair with our slideshows 2 The Meadville Tribune 2 Friday, August 19, 2016 CRAWFORD COUNTY FAIR Platten had to fight for her dream of being an entertainer By Jane Smith SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE You can go INSIDE: The Toyota Group sponsoring fair’s main music acts, Page 8 Rachel Platten, A Great Big World and WEST MEAD TOWNSHIP Larkin Poe perform Wednesday at — Pop-rock is the musical genre 7:30 p.m. on the stage in front of the of the Toyota dealer-sponsored grandstand at the Crawford County concert Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Fair. Ticket prices range from $17 to $38 depending on the location of the at the Crawford County Fair as seats. Those purchased in advance Rachel Platten takes the stage. of the show day also include the $8 Her opening acts are A Great Big admission fee to the fair. More informa- World adn Larkin Poe. tion: Go to crawfordcountyfairpa.com. Platten has come a long way from her days of toting her 80-pound key- She enrolled in college, studying board up five flights of stairs to her international relations with the goal apartment in New York City after of helping people communicate with performing in clubs around the city. each other. While studying abroad, Today she is living her dream she performed in front of 80,000 of singing and entertaining. people at the International Soca Patten grew up in Boston, loving Monarch Finals in Trinidad. Despite music and enjoying the sounds of the traditional butterflies most hip-hop. She played classical piano performers have when entertaining and knew she could sing. However, she had no model to follow. SEE PLATTEN, PAGE 18 Rachel Platten A Great Big World Contributed photos Let Us Help With Your Fair, TRACE AUCTION SERVICE Trail, Training & Horse Dan Trace / Auctioneer Show Needs! 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Tickets of the Crawford County Fair. purchased in advance of the day of “And it’s a lot of fun,” she added. the show also will admit ticket holders to the fair free of charge. If purchased Shannon, who is youth pastor at the day of the concert, an additional Trinity United Methodist Church $8 admission fee is charged for fair at Conneaut Lake, said she has admission. seen Casting Crowns in concerts at Casting Crowns Creation, a Christian festival in the and five others. eastern part of Pennsylvania. “First and foremost, the music,” She is among many who are Tucker said, explaining why he is so Contributed photos looking forward to the band’s local excited about the performance. He appearance, although she admits she said the music also is a form of will be pretty busy that day because worship and he hopes to be able to her daughters show animals at the worship as part of the concert. fair. But she’s hoping by the end of Tucker believes it is so important the day she can take in the concert. to support the Crawford County Doug Tucker, also of Conneaut 2016 Lake, already has tickets for himself SEE CHRISTIAN, PAGE 5 $ AUGUST 20-27, 2016 9- RIDRIDEE PAPASSSS 10 FAIR ROUTE $ OPERATES 40- RIDE SUPER 40 SAVER PASS EVERY DAY! $ 10- RIDE 6 ROUTE RUNS YOUTH PASS EVERYFROM 45 MINS $1.25 Adults 11:15 AM- 11:08 PM 75¢ Youth (6-17) FREE Children 5 & Under Seniors 65+ (With Senior ID Card) Allegheny College Students (with valid Allegheny College Issued Student ID) Building 429 Drivers do not carry change. McCartney's Feed & Hardware 1683 Airport Rd., Fredonia, PA 16124 FEED – SEED ANIMAL HEALTH HARDWARE FENCE SUPPLIES Phone 724-475-3215 WWW.CATABUS.ORG • 814-336-5600 4 The Meadville Tribune 4 Friday, August 19, 2016 CRAWFORD COUNTY FAIR ‘Whispering’ Bill Anderson going strong after 60 years in the country scene By Jean Shanley he said in a phone interview from He said although today’s more SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE Nashville. You can go positive messages have more Although he is known as “Whis- The “Whispering” Bill Anderson show, with opening act “Ultimate Tribute to appeal, he can still write and sing WEST MEAD TOWNSHIP Johnny Cash,” is free with paid admission to the Crawford County Fairgrounds –– It has been 60 years since Bill pering” Bill Anderson for his soft on Tuesday. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on the main stage. about life but he believes people re- Anderson hit the country scene and vocal style, he said he doesn’t just late to the more positive music. He he’s still going strong. “stand and sing, but entertains.” His Also known as a songwriter, consecutive decades, the only writer believes the positive music is large- Headlining the country music show includes a variety of songs, Anderson penned his first hit, “City to do so. ly responsible for the revitalization show Tuesday night at this year’s from sad to fun, he said. Lights,” at age 19 at his home in Among the most recent hits of country music in recent years. Crawford County Fair, Anderson Among his 29 top 10 singles Georgia. He moved to Nashville he has written or co-written are One other change over the years has one big goal — he wants the (including seven No. 1 songs) are and signed a recording contract with “Whiskey Lullaby,” sung by Brad is the way writers collaborate on the songs. He used to write virtually by audience to enjoy the show. such hits as “Still,” “Po’ Folks,” “8 Decca Records. Paisley and Allison Kraus, “A himself, pulling down the shades as When it’s over, he hopes the by 10,” “Mama Sang a Song,” and He not only performed, but also Lot of Things Different,” sung by he wrote. Today co-writers make reaction will be “boy, that was fun!” “The Tip of My Fingers.” became a well-known songwriter Kenny Chesney, “Give it Away” by who at age 23 was the young- George Strait and his latest, “Coun- appointments to write and then sit est writer to be named country’s try,” performed by Moe Bandy. down and collaborate. That started “Songwriter of the Year.” He held Anderson said the biggest change in the 1990s, he said, adding it is a that title until Taylor Swift won the he has seen in country music little more structured and is taken award at the age of 21. since he started are the songs with very seriously. He said he feels very Although he enjoys entertaining, positive themes being performed. fortunate to have experienced both Anderson said if he is to be remem- He explained that country used to types of songwriting. bered for anything, he’d like it to be all about “going in a bar and A highly successful songwriter, be for his songwriting because a getting drunk because your wife left Anderson said he gets his ideas performance is for one night but the and the dog left, too.” Today’s hits from everywhere —conversations, songs last a long time. are “much more positive music,” reading a book, life itself. “One As a songwriter, he holds the he said, and then laughed as he minute you’re looking at a blank distinction of having a song in the acknowledged that “Give It Away” piece of paper” and then “the good country music charts for seven wasn’t really all that positive. Lord” provides inspiration, he said. Need a helping hand? 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He was Bill Anderson is a highly version is scheduled to be released. successful songwriter who named to the Country Music Hall of says he gets his ideas He did the audio himself, believing Fame in 2001. from everywhere. the story is more meaningful being A six-time Songwriter of the read by the author who may laugh and Year award winner, Anderson was choke up emotionally at times.