The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

A relaxed, "down home" atmosphere prevailed at Sisters High School Saturday evening, March 13, when T. Graham Brown led a group of Nashville music personalities, former Starry Nights headliners and local recording artists in the second concert of the 1999 benefit series.

It was easy to forget, as a three-year-old danced in the aisle, that the folks on stage were some of the most renowned songwriters and performers currently working in country music.

Planning for this show began a few months ago when Starry Nights chair Jeri Fouts called Mark Collie in Nashville. Collie, who performed last year with Kim Carnes and friends, was happy to come back.

"It was just a good time singing and an opportunity to enjoy this part of the country," Collie said.

Collie in turn talked with T. Graham Brown and convinced him to round up his family and head for Sisters. Collie and Brown were joined by former headliner Greg Barnhill and Miles Aubrey. The stars donate their time and talents to benefit Sisters schools.

The entertainment began with standup comedy delivered deadpan by TV star Don McMillan, who kept the audience laughing with Redmond International Airport jokes and a gentle poke at the name of the local ski area.

"If Dr. Seuss opened a ski resort he might call it Hoodoo," he said.

Powerhouse singer T. Graham Brown introduced Mark Collie and Aubrey Miles who accompanied him on guitar as he sang the soulful "I Wish that I Could Hurt That Way Again," with Aubrey adding skillfully improvised guitar solos. Brown's moving voice, reminiscent of '70s R&B, was in full force as he sang the heartbroken: "I Tell It Like It Used To Be."

Brown passed center stage to Mark Collie who's deep, smooth voice filled the house. Collie performed some of his best-known work including "Born to Love You."

Between songs Collie and Brown told stories giving the audience a feel for the origin of their musical ideas. Collie described an adventure in Bosnia and Yugoslavia, while entertaining troops.

Brown's most moving piece, "Wine Into Water," describes his personal battle with alcoholism.

Starry Nights and Sisters Folk Festival veteran Greg Barnhill first provided bass instrumental backup and then performed several of his original compositions, beginning with the popular "Walk Away Joe."

Midway in the lineup the group was joined by Oregon native Jodi Harms, visiting from her family ranch in Canby. Harms gave a charming performance of some of her traditional country-western compositions, most notably "Are We There Yet," about a child on a journey in the backseat of a car.

The pros were joined by middle school students Pat Bryan, Pat Hammons, Kristen Lamoureaux, Kerani Mitchell, Ben Scharf, Lauren Schultz and Ashley Sweeney for the final song, Collie's "Even the Man in the Moon Is Crying."

A "Mustang Sally" encore with audience participation for the chorus provided a fitting ending for a not-so-traditional country evening.

Sisters Starry Nights performers have the opportunity to visit Oregon for a few days with their families. Referring to concert chairpersons Jeri Fouts and Susan Arends, Brown's manager Jody Jackson said, "They know how to run a program here."

By the end of this season the Sisters Starry Nights concert series will have raised over $100,000 for the Sisters Schools Foundation.

"Were very proud of that," said Arends.