ROCK COUNTY 2019
Fair
4-H
JULY 23-28
Published by
Rock Valley Publishing LLC
Flock to the Fair, We’ll See Ewe There
Our Mission: To Provide Learning and Leadership Opportunities For The Youth Of Rock County
Page 2
ROCK COUNTY FAIR
2019
Rock County 4-H Fair Admission Tickets 2019 Season Passes
Ticket Prices:
1 single ticket is $1.50 20 tickets is $25 50 tickets is $60
Adult Season (Age 13 & up) May 1- July 12 - $25 July 13 - 28 - $35 Youth (7-12) May 1 - July 28 - $15
TUESDAY $2 Per Ride Per Person - 1 ticket each (2 to 10 p.m.)
2019 Daily Tickets
Adult Daily (Age 13 & up) Two for One Tuesday (July 23) - $10 (Two daily tickets for the price of one for all ages) May 1 - July 12 - $8 July 13 - 28 - $10
Discount Gate and Carnival Package
Friday, July 26 Includes one gate admission and one carnival wristband for $20. Youth (Ages 7-12) May 1 - July 28 - $5 Senior Citizen Day (Thursday, 62 & up) - $5 Children age 6 and under are always free! Purchase online tickets on the web site.
Rock County 4-H Fair
Rock County 4-H Fair Carnival Tickets, Specials
WEDNESDAY Ride Survival Wristband $27 (Noon to 11 p.m.) THURSDAY Ride Survival II Wristband $27 (Noon to 11 p.m.) FRIDAY Friday Special - Admission/Rides Package $20 (Noon to 11 p.m.) Package includes Gate Admission and Carnival wristband. SATURDAY Regular prices for rides SUNDAY Last Blast Wristband $25 (Noon to 8 p.m.) Carnival is provided by North American Midway Entertainment. They are responsible for setting the prices of rides.
FILE PHOTO Rock County 4-H Fair
Youngsters always enjoy the Midway rides at the Rock County 4-H Fair! ON THE COVER: Thrill seekers will find excitement on the rides provided by North American Midway Entertainment. Top left: Courtney Jass smiled for the camera with her sheep at a past Rock County 4-H Fair.
FILE PHOTOS Rock County 4-H Fair
Have fun at the Rock County Fair!
Trackside Mobil 1109 1st Center Avenue • Brodhead, WI 608-897-2202
Evansville Gas N Go 350 Union Street, Evansville, WI • 608-882-9943
AlbAny Mini MArt
Rock County 4-H Fair Special Events Tuesday, July 23 Royalty Presentation
Friday, July 26
8:30 p.m. ������� Meat Animal Sale
Saturday, July 27
10 a.m. ����������� Fur & Feather
Sunday, July 28
10 a.m. ����������� 4-H Fair Alumni Meeting 10:30 a.m. ������ Little Britches & Old Timers Showmanship 1 p.m. ������������ Dairy Youth Auction 2:30 p.m. ������� Master Showmanship
Hwy. 59 (next to Sugar River Bike Trail) • 608-862-3303
FILE PHOTO Rock County 4-H Fair
Little britches 4-Her Bryce Ligman showed Delilah during the 2015 Rock County 4-H Fair.
Course Now Open
Olin’s Juda Oasis
KRUEGER HASKELL GOLF COURSE
Restaurant • Mini Mart • Fuel
“A Refreshing Change of Pace” •608-934-5588
FOOTVILLE MINI MART 509 S. Gilbert •Footville, WI • 608-876-6175
Visit Our Website For Dynamic Pricing
350105
BELOIT, WISCONSIN
1611 Hackett St., Beloit, WI 608-362-6503 • www.kruegerhaskellgolf.com VISIT US ON FACEBOOK • Follow us on Twitter
350019
KRUEGER HASKELL GOLF COURSE
Monroe Northsider 180 18th Avenue N. • Monroe, WI 608-325-2725
Purchase Your 2019 Season Pass
2019
ROCK COUNTY FAIR
Page 3
Rock County 4-H Fair Judging Schedule Saturday, July 13
7:30 a.m. �������� Air Powered Rocket Launch/Small Engines Rocket Launch/Spot Landing 9 a.m. ������������� Horse Show 11:30 a.m. ������ Small Engine
Sunday, July 14
9 a.m. ������������� Pony Show
Saturday, July 20
8:30 a.m. �������� Bicycle Tour
Tuesday, July 23
8:30 a.m. �������� Cake Decorating Visual Arts 9 a.m. ������������� Home Environment Home Environment Floral Jr. & Sr. & Family Clothing Revue Mechanical Science Mini Aircrafts Photography 10 a.m. ����������� Mechancial Science Noon �������������� Cloverbuds Field Crops Garden & Fruit Model Aircraft Spot Landing Naturespace 1 p.m. ������������ Computers Electricity Knitting & Crocheting 5 p.m. ������������ Swine Showmanship
Wednesday, July 24
8 a.m. ������������� Barrow Show 8:30 a.m. �������� Clothing Foods & Nutrition/ Baking with Honey Rabbit Showmanship 9 a.m. ������������� Exploring Sheep Show Tractor Operators Contest 11 a.m. ����������� Drawing & Painting Noon �������������� Woodworking 1 p.m. ������������ Family & Child Development Flowers & Home Grounds Youth Leadership 5 p.m. ������������ Rabbit Show
Thursday, July 25
8:30 a.m. �������� Beef Food Preservation Poultry Veterinary Science 9 a.m. ������������� Dairy Goats Houseplants
Friday, July 26
9 a.m. ������������� Dairy 5 p.m. ������������ Dairy Goat Showmanship
Saturday, July 27
8 a.m. ������������� Dog Agility Show 9 a.m. ������������� Dairy
Meat Animal Sale The Meat Animal sale will take place on Friday, July 27 at 8:30 p.m. FILE PHOTO Rock County 4-H Fair
Rock County 4-H Fair daytime entertainment Tuesday, July 23
Noon �������������� Division BMX Show Wandering Stilt Performer 12:30 p.m. ����� Cincinnati Circus Show 2 p.m. ������������ Lumberjack Show 3:30 p.m. ������� Division BMX Show 4 p.m. ������������ Pig & Duck Races 5 p.m. ������������ Lumberjack Show 5:30 p.m. ������� Interactive Lumberjack Camp Ken Curtis Performance 6 p.m. ������������ Pig & Duck Races 6:30 p.m. ������� Cincinnati Circus Show
Wednesday, July 24
11 a.m. ����������� Pig & Duck Races Noon �������������� Division BMX Show Wandering Stilt Performer 12:30 p.m. ����� Cincinnati Circus Show 1 p.m. ������������ Pig & Duck Races 2 p.m. ������������ Lumberjack Show 3:30 p.m. ������� Division BMX Show Zac Matthews Band 4 p.m. ������������ Pig & Duck Races 5 p.m. ������������ Lumberjack Show 5:30 p.m. ������� Interactive Lumberjack Camp Talent Contest 6 p.m. ������������ Pig & Duck Races 6:30 p.m. ������� Cincinnati Circus Show
Thursday, July 25
11 a.m. ����������� Heatwave Performance Pig & Duck Races Noon �������������� Division BMX Show Pies in the Pavilion Wandering Stilt Performer 12:30 p.m. ����� Cincinnati Circus Show 1 p.m. ������������ Heatwave Performane Pig & Duck Races 2 p.m. ������������ Lumberjack Show
2:30 p.m. ������� Pig & Duck Races 3 p.m. ������������ Steve Meisner Polka Band 3:30 p.m. ������� Division BMX Show 4 p.m. ������������ Pig & Duck Races 5 p.m. ������������ Lumberjack Show 5:30 p.m. ������� Duane Worden Performance Interactive Lumberjack Camp 6 p.m. ������������ Pig & Duck Races 6:30 p.m. ������� Cincinnati Circus Show
Friday, July 26
11 a.m. ����������� Heatwave Performance Pig & Duck Races Noon �������������� Division BMX Show Hoo’s Woods Wandering Stilt Performer 12:30 p.m. ����� Cincinnati Circus Show 1 p.m. ������������ Heatwave Performane Pig & Duck Races 1:30 p.m. ������� JPAC Kids Choir 2 p.m. ������������ Lumberjack Show 2:30 p.m. ������� JPAC Kids Choir Pig & Duck Races 3:30 p.m. ������� Division BMX Show Hoo’s Woods 4 p.m. ������������ Pig & Duck Races 4:30 p.m. ������� Renegades 4-H Music & Drama 5 p.m. ������������ Lumberjack Show 5:30 p.m. ������� Folk Service Interactive Lumberjack Camp 6 p.m. ������������ Pig & Duck Races 6:30 p.m. ������� Cincinnati Circus Show
Saturday, July 27
11 a.m. ����������� Heatwave Performance Pig & Duck Races 11:30 a.m. ������ Lumberjack Show Noon �������������� Division BMX Show
Wandering Stilt Performer 12:30 p.m. ����� Cincinnati Circus Show 1 p.m. ������������ Cookies & Crafts with Fair Royalty Heatwave Performane Pig & Duck Races 2 p.m. ������������ Lumberjack Show 2:30 p.m. ������� Pig & Duck Races 3 p.m. ������������ Kindschi Pedal Pull 3:30 p.m. ������� Division BMX Show 4 p.m. ������������ Pig & Duck Races Rainbow Bridge Performance 5 p.m. ������������ Lumberjack Show 5:30 p.m. ������� A Tad of Saracha Performance Interactive Lumberjack Camp 6 p.m. ������������ Pig & Duck Races 6:30 p.m. Cincinnati Circus Show Flock to the Fair, We’ll See Ewe There
Rock County 4-H Fair Grandstand Entertainment All shows are free with paid gate admission. Michael Ray Wednesday, July 24 - 8 p.m. Russell Dickerson Thursday, July 25 - 8 p.m. Pure Prairie League and Fire Fall Friday, July 26 - 8 p.m. Joe Nichols Saturday, July 27 - 8 p.m. Division BMX Stunt Team Show Sunday, July 28 - 4 p.m.
Page 4
ROCK COUNTY FAIR
2019
Russell Dickerson to headline at the fair on Thursday, July 25
Country singer Michael Ray a Lakeland DJ for WPCV-97 will be the first to take the Rock Country put his music into County 4-H Fair grandstand stage regular rotation. at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24. Soon Ray was headlining Florida’s Michael Ray has the Orlando House of Blues a resonant voice and a knack and selling out shows all for crafting vibrant, upbeat over Florida. In 2010, his contemporary country-rock. independently released debut Although he built a strong caught the ear of veteran grassroots fan base in Southern music industry manager Tony Florida, Ray also gained Conway, who began helping prominence as the winner of the Ray take his career to a national CW network’s reality television audience. Michael Ray vocal competition The Next: In 2012, Ray appeared on the Fame Is at Your Doorstep in 2012. CW talent competition The Next, where he A native of Eustis, Florida, Ray was first was mentored by Big & Rich’s John Rich. introduced to music via his grandfather. Ray was an audience favorite on the show A local country and gospel musician, and ultimately took home the top prize. Ray’s grandfather taught him how to play After the show, Ray signed a publishing guitar and gave him his first performance deal with Warner/Chappell, and in 2014 experience, letting him tag along for released the hit single “Kiss You in the shows at various assisted-living homes and Morning.” community centers. His full-length major-label debut, Initially inspired by such classic country Michael Ray, followed in 2015 on Warner artists as Porter Wagoner, Merle Haggard, Music Nashville. Well-received, the album and Waylon Jennings, by his teens Ray made it to number four on the Country was expanding his taste, listening to more Albums chart, and spawned two more modern artists like Garth Brooks, as well as singles with “Real Men Love Jesus” and imbibing the eclectic influence of modern “Think a Little Less.” radio sounds from rock to hip-hop. By the Over the next several years, Ray toured time Ray graduated high school in 2006, extensively before returning to the studio he had decided to pursue his passion for alongside producer Scott Hendricks (Blake country music. Shelton, Brooks & Dunn, Trace Adkins). In Forgoing a move to Nashville, Ray 2018, he delivered his sophomore album, instead formed a band and began playing a Amos, which included the Top 20 country constant grind of shows all around Southern single “Get to You.” Amos debuted at five Florida. He slowly built a loyal following, on Billboard’s Country Albums charts upon a fan base that widened considerably after its June release
Hailing from Nashville, Dickerson, including a stripped Tenn., Russell Dickerson will down wedding version of the share his love of life through title track “Yours.” country songs sure to please the Boosted by the power of audience at the Rock County his hit single, he landed on Fair. the iTunes Best of 2015 yearSincere, energetic and always end list, TheKnot.com’s Best smiling: All words that have Wedding Songs of 2016, and been used to describe emerging Spotify’s #SpotifySpotlight country music star, Russell 2016. Dickerson, by his fans and peers In just a short amount of time, Dickerson’s fans solidified alike. His infectious personality him unanimously as the next radiates in everything he does, Russell Dickerson big thing. Over 30 million whether he’s writing a song, streams on Spotify, three million views on singing in the studio or meeting fans. YouTube and skyrocketing social media He’s constantly making people laugh and followers have come pouring in. everyone he meets is quick to become part He quickly found himself touring of the “RD Fam.” He asserts, “I just love with the likes of Canaan Smith and Billy life. Every day is a great day!” Currington, as well as joining Florida Lately there’s been plenty to smile Georgia Line on their cruise for the second about. He has had an incredible reaction year in a row in addition to headlining to his current single, “Yours.” The power his own dates. Dickerson also got to have ballad was selected for Sirius XM’s The that moment every artist dreams about – Highway Find program, which showcases making his debut at the Grand Ole Opry. new, and often times unsigned, artists to “Since day one, all I’ve ever known country music fans across the country. is music. I love touring, I love playing In the blink of an eye, Dickerson the shows…I love connecting with every found himself competing with artists single person.” The multi-instrumentalist such as Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan and successful songwriter is busy on the satellite station’s weekly Hot 45 recording his next project, and he’s countdown, successfully reaching #3.Soon characteristically optimistic that his fans after, Dickerson released his EP, “Yours,” will embrace the album just as much as which debuted at #2 in the iTunes country they have him. store and #8 in all genres. “At the end of the day, it’s all about The album also premiered at #1 on the fans. I want them to leave my shows Billboard’s Heat Seeker chart and #14 on feeling changed. I live to make them Billboard’s Top Country Album chart. The smile.” album features five songs co-written by 350692
Michael Ray to kick off 2019 grandstand entertainment Wednesday
Your Full Service Grocery Store
A Cut Above the Rest
W8896 County Hwy. A, Delavan (608) 883-2100
Family Owned & Operated Since 1974
Check out our hours at www.stallerestate.com
Stop in to enjoy Complimentary Wine Tasting
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK: 6 am-10 pm
Relax with a glass of wine and a cheese platter in our sunroom and gazebo looking out at the vineyard.
Enjoy a Picnic Overlooking the Vineyard OPENING SOON e New Win Cave
Rent ouR facility foR:
Conveniently Located!
DELAVAN
Thank you for voting us your Readers Choice winery!
• Birthday Parties • Bridal Showers • Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties • Group Outings • Family Gatherings Groups and Buses Welcome TO GET ALL OF OUR UP TO DATE EVENT INFO
1414 E. Geneva St. in the Shopko Shopping Center
262-728-2638
Stinebrink’s Liquor Store (Next Door) Largest Liquor Store in the Area
ENJOY THE FAIR! 350041
Wines • Food Options Wine Flights • Delicious Picnic Platters Wine & Chocolate Pairings
262-740-0541
LAKE GENEVA
100 East Geneva Square in the Geneva Square Shopping Center
262-248-8798
2019
ROCK COUNTY FAIR
Page 5
Morgan Peterson, with Delilah, won a third in showmanship during a past Rock County 4-H Fair.
Sawyer Douglas was hanging out with his turkeys 
during a past Rock County 4-H Fair.
Kolton and Kinlee Knutson played in the corn box at the Rock County 4-H Fair.
Scenes from past Rock County 4-H Fair
Brooke Neal and Olivia Isenberger posed with their calves in one of the cow barns at the 2013 Rock County 4-H Fair.
Dalton Ryan showed Red in the 2013 Rock County Fair.
Page 6
ROCK COUNTY FAIR
2019
A B C
FIRE & SAFETY, INC.
2581 PARK AVENUE BELOIT, WI 53511 608-362-1634 SERVING YOU FOR OVER 50 YEARS 350208
CLINTON
FOODS OPEN 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Gilbank
350040
350103
Good Luck at the Fair! Hwy 140 & Peck Ave., Clinton, WI • 608-676-4606
CONSTRUCTION, INC
General Contractor 301 Scot Drive Clinton, WI (608) 676 2261
Good Luck to all the 4-H & FFA Members!
Country singer Joe Nichols to perform Saturday night Grab your cowboy hat and boots and kick up your heels Saturday night at 8 p.m. when Joe Nichols takes the stage at the Rock County 4-H Fair. As Joe Nichols began work on a brand new batch of old-school country music, he found himself looking back for inspiration. Back to his early career, back to true friends and the simple perfection of pure country music … back to things that never get old. “Full circle is the term I would use,” the Arkansas native says about his new project, fittingly titled Never Gets Old. “The whole theme of the record is ‘Let’s get back to where it all began for me. Let’s get back to where my passion for music began.’” From 2002’s Man With a Memory on, Nichols harnessed that passion as a steady hit maker, racking up six Number Ones and eight Top 10s, including chart-topping modern classics like “Brokenheartsville” and “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off.” He’s a three-time Grammy nominee, an ACM, Billboard, CMA, and CMT Award winner, and his last album offering, Crickets, kept the success going, sending both “Yeah” and “Sunny and 75” to Platinum-certified Number One status. But then four years went by – the longest span between releases of his career – as Nichols dug in to reconnect with his calling. In Never Gets Old, he’s done just that. “Instead of us making something that’s built for instant success, the idea was ‘Let’s make something we’re gonna be proud of 30 years from now,’” Nichols explains. “I’m thinking less about what will work, and more about what I love.” What Nichols loves has always been obvious. Growing up around friends who were into anything but country, he was different. Nichols was pulled in by the realness of singers like Merle Haggard and Marty Robbins, Don Williams, Keith Whitley and George Strait, and that connection would form his whole career. Even now with Never Gets Old, he’s happy to go against the grain. “Hopefully the stuff we’re doing lasts a lot longer than today’s typical country record,” he says. “But I think the irony is that retro sounds are actually what’s fresh and new right now. All we had to do was what felt natural.” Doing what felt natural has never been
Enjoy the Rock County Fair! Full Retail Counter of Fresh Meats Homemade Sausage & much more
On-Site Processing to ensure Quality & Freshness
REGIST ER TO WIN A MONTH LY $25 DRA WING
$75.00 All Beef Box $50.00 Variety Box of Beef and Pork Watch for Luke’s Specials – Saturday Creations Custom Butchering by Appointment Only. Monday-Friday 8am-5pm, Saturday 8am-4pm N4290 US HWY 14 • Darien, WI 53114 Quest 1-262-724-5554 Wisconsin Illinois Link 1-262-724-3364 Sorg’s Gift Cards
350245
OPEN
Joe Nichols
easier, as Nichols returned to the approach of his early albums. Working with Crickets producer Mickey Jack Cones and longtime collaborator and friend Brent Rowan– fiddles and steel guitar tempered tasteful modern sounds on nearly every mix, while that understated (but unmistakeable) baritone felt “better than it’s been in 10 years.” Saying his goal was to sing with the most feeling possible and let whatever came out of his soul land on the record, Nichols ended up with 12 tracks that bound between spirit and sentiment, courage and cleverness, romance and rowdy fun, all wrapped in the throwback style he’s spent a lifetime pursuing. Lead single and title track “Never Gets Old” points the way. Written by Connie Harrington and Steve Moakler, Nichols says it reminds him of the mid-’80s country era, a song that “wasn’t necessarily deep, but it was meaningful.” With a swaying front-porch groove, it features laid-back acoustic guitars and accordions that waft in with the breeze, as Nichols ponders the moments that keep love fresh – like watching his wife laugh, holding her hand, and ending each day in a tender embrace. Nichols says he knew it was special when all three of his kids started singing along the first time they heard it. Tracks like “This Side of the River,” “Billy Graham’s Bible,” and “We All Carry Something” are charged with soul-stirring power, while “Diamonds Make Babies” and “So You’re Saying” inject the project with heartwarming fun. But it’s a bit of carefree craziness adapted from his live show which is sure to leave
listeners with the biggest smile – an honestto-goodness country cover of Sir Mix-a-Lot’s hip-hop favorite, “Baby Got Back.” What began as a joke between Nichols and his band years ago went on to become a beloved moment onstage, and now it caps off Never Gets Old, proving that whatever this veteran song stylist sings, it’s gonna sound country. Nichols and his team invited comedian Darren Knight and his “Southern Momma” character to revamp the iconic spoken-word parts, and what came out in the studio was so much fun it had to be included on the album. “Everybody was laughing that day,” he says. “It was out-of-the-blue and we never thought we’d put it on a record. But when it was done I was like ‘This is nuts, but this actually kind of feels like it should have been a country record ... a goofy one, but still.’” When Joe Nichols released his debut album, he was barely 20 years old and trying to put his youth behind him. Looking back now, he laughs at that thought, but some things never change. Back then he was scrappy and defiant about his quest to revive traditional country, and that drive remains. In fact, he says it’s one of those things that never gets old. “I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be,” he says. “With my first album, there was this apprehension of ‘Is country music ready for a traditional country record?’ It was a little bit scary, but we went for it, and with Never Gets Old I still feel the exact same passion – it’s like ‘Let’s give it to them anyway.’ Now, I think country music is ready.”
2019
ROCK COUNTY FAIR
Page 7
1970s favorites to play Friday night on the grandstand stage Two legendary bands who rose to fame in the 1970s, Firefall and Pure Prairie League will perform at the Rock County 4-H Fair at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 26.
Firefall
The mellow, easy country-rock sounds of Firefall, coupled with the group’s penchant for pop melodies and high-pitched harmonies, produced a series of successful LPs in the late ‘70s and a series of chart singles, including the Top Ten hit “You Are the Woman.” The group was formed by former Flying Burrito Brother Rick Roberts, who handled vocals, guitar, and most of the songwriting duties; he was joined by fellow ex-Burrito and Byrd Michael Clarke on drums, exSpirit and Jo Jo Gunne bassist Mark Andes, guitarist/vocalist Jock Bartley, guitarist/ vocalist/songwriter Larry Burnett, and keyboardist/woodwind player David Muse, who joined in 1977. The group recorded its self-titled debut in 1976; it and its follow-up, Luna Sea, both went gold, and their third album, Elan, went platinum. However, the group’s commercial fortunes began to decline, and even though Muse experimented with adding different instruments to the overall sound, Firefall’s relaxed, toned-down approach simply wore out its welcome as pop trends moved elsewhere. Jock Bartley re-formed the group in 1994 for the album Messenger. Under the moniker Firefall Acoustic, Bartley and vocalist/ guitarist Steven Weinmeister released Colorado to Liverpool: A Tribute to the Beatles in 2007. Bartley continued to tour under the Firefall name into the second decade of the 21st century with a lineup that included Steven Weinmeister (vocals, guitar), Sandy Ficca (drums), Bil Hopkins (vocals, bass) and Chris Ball (sax, flute and keyboards).
Pure Prairie League
Despite significant personnel changes, Pure Prairie League maintained itself as a successful country-rock band during the 1970s and early ‘80s, releasing ten albums and enjoying hits -- including “Amie” and “Let Me Love You Tonight” -- with different configurations of the group. Pure Prairie League was formed in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969 by singer/ songwriter/guitarist Craig Fuller (born July 18, 1949, in Portsmouth, Ohio), singer/ guitarist George Powell, bass player Jim Lanham, and drummer Tom McGrail, who gave the band its name, which was the name of a women’s temperance group in the 1939 Errol Flynn movie Dodge City. Pure Prairie League built up a following in Ohio, playing around Cincinnati for a year before earning a record contract with RCA Victor. By that time, McGrail had left and been replaced by Jim Caughlin, though Billy Hinds had also drummed with the band for a time. Adding steel guitar player John David Call, the group went into the studio and recorded its self-titled debut album, which was released in March 1972 with a cover depicting a Western character named Luke, an illustration drawn by famed naturalist painter Norman Rockwell that had first appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post in 1927. Luke would turn up on all the band’s subsequent album covers, giving them a distinctive visual conception. Pure Prairie League did not sell well enough to reach the charts, and the group fragmented. Lanham, Caughlin, and Call left, and remaining members Fuller and Powell
Firefall
Pure Prairie League
brought back Hinds, who in turn recruited a friend, keyboard player Michael Connor, to play on the second album, Bustin’ Out, and subsequently become a full-fledged bandmember. Among the other session musicians on the album was David Bowie associate Mick Ronson, who played guitar and arranged the strings. Though later considered a landmark in country-rock, Bustin’ Out initially suffered disappointing sales upon release in September 1972, and RCA dropped the group. But they added a second friend of Hinds’, bassist Michael Reilly, and continued to play around the Midwest. During this period, Fuller encountered legal difficulties over his claim of conscientious objector status to avoid the draft, eventually serving two years in a hospital instead. (He was later pardoned by President Ford.) This forced him to leave the group, and he was replaced by Larry Goshorn. Call also rejoined. In late 1974, Pure Prairie League’s touring began to pay off as radio stations started playing “Amie,” a song from Bustin’ Out, leading RCA to issue the song as a single, reissue the album, and re-sign the band. Bustin’ Out entered the charts in February 1975, nearly two and a half years after its release, and rose into the Top 40, eventually going gold. “Amie” charted in March 1975 and became a Top 40 hit. Of course, the song had been written and sung by Fuller, who was no longer in the band. (He would resurface in 1976 in the band American Flyer.) Instead, the sextet of Call, Connor, Goshorn, Hinds, Powell, and Reilly made Pure Prairie League’s third album, Two Lane Highway, joined by the country stars Chet Atkins, Emmylou Harris, and Johnny Gimble. It was released in the spring of 1975. The title track became a minor chart entry,
and the album reached the Top 40. Pure Prairie League’s fourth album, If the Shoe Fits, was released in early 1976 and was another Top 40 hit, spawning a minor country chart entry in a cover of the Buddy Holly hit “That’ll Be the Day.” The band’s fifth album, Dance, followed in the fall of 1976. It was a disappointing seller, only getting into the Top 100 of the pop charts, though it became Pure Prairie League’s first album to reach the country charts. A similar level of success greeted the two-LP concert recording Live!! Takin’ the Stage, released in the summer of 1977. After that album was released, Call left the band and was replaced by Goshorn’s brother, Tim. Pure Prairie League’s seventh album, Just Fly, was released in the spring of 1978 and was another modest seller.
At this point, the band fragmented again. The Goshorn brothers decamped to form their own band, and Powell retired to spend more time with his family, depriving the group of its last original member. The remaining trio of friends Hinds, Connor, and Reilly were left in possession of the band’s name but in need of a new frontman. They held extensive auditions that resulted in the hiring of Vince Gill (born April 12, 1957, in Norman, Oklahoma) as lead singer and guitarist, followed by reeds player Patrick Bolin. This quintet released Pure Prairie League’s eighth album, Can’t Hold Back, in the spring of 1979. Its sales were disappointing, and the group left RCA and signed to Casablanca Records, a label better known for disco than country-rock. In early 1980, Bolin was replaced by Jeff Wilson, a singer and guitarist, and Pure Prairie League recorded its Casablanca debut, Firin’ Up. The album was preceded by the single “Let Me Love You Tonight,” which became a Top Ten hit, pulling Firin’ Up into the Top 40 in the LP charts. A second single, “I’m Almost Ready,” made the Top 40, and a third single, “I Can’t Stop the Feelin’,” also made the charts. Pure Prairie League returned with its tenth album, Something in the Night, in the spring of 1981, prefaced by the single “Still Right Here in My Heart,” which made the Top 40, followed by the chart entry “You’re Mine Tonight.” The album didn’t do as well as its predecessor, but it did chart in the Top 100. Unfortunately, this marked the end of Pure Prairie League’s national prominence, as Casablanca went bankrupt and Gill left the band, eventually becoming a successful country solo artist. Songwriter Gary Burr became the lead singer in 1982, remaining until 1985, when Fuller rejoined, remaining until 1987 and then moving on to the reformed Little Feat, where he replaced the late Lowell George. At that point, Pure Prairie League dissolved. In 1998, however, Reilly and Fuller launched a new edition of the band. The lineup also included Connor, Rick Schell, Fats Kaplan, and Curtis Wright. This version of the group began work on a new album in 2002, but abandoned the sessions. Connor passed in the fall of 2004 after a long struggle with cancer. With a lineup of Fuller, Reilly, Schell, Wright and Kaplan, Pure Prairie League released a new album, All in Good Time, in the fall of 2005 on the tiny Drifter’s Church imprint. The band continued to do shows in various configurations, settling on a lineup, as of 2012, of John David Call, Mike Reilly, Scott Thompson, and Donnie Lee Clark.
Computer Repair LLC Technology for the stateline • Refurbished laptops and desktops • • In-home service by appointment • Networks set up in your home or office. Talk to us about “remote repair.” We can fix many problems remotely!
242 Allen St. Clinton, WI 53525 608-676-6262 • 608-774-1507
www.statelinegeek.com 350171
Page 8
ROCK COUNTY FAIR
2019
301 Industrial Dr. Clinton, WI
608-676-4000
Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. • Sunday Closed
Complete Auto ServiCe
Brakes – Mufflers – Electrical Suspension – Wheel Alignments Computer Control Systems Standard & Specialized Services to suit your needs
$10 OFF on any $50 service $20 OFF on any $100 service Authorized dealer Tires Owners Don & Cheryl Rhode
Serving you for over a decade! 350249
alltechauto.mechanicnet.com