CRYSTAL GAYLE

Crystal moments

Crystal Gayle hasn't allowed
country music's changes to change
her tune in three decades

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By Tim Ryan
tryan@starbulletin.com

Country singer Crystal Gayle has made longevity a personal and professional characteristic.

The Paintsville, Ky.-born singer with more than three dozen hit songs to her credit has been married about 30 years and singing professionally just as long.

The secret to both is "hard work and being true to yourself and beliefs," Gayle, 51, said in a telephone interview from Dallas where she is performing before her Honolulu and Maui shows, on Thursday and Friday respectively.

"Staying focused is hard work and staying married is even harder. You have to be committed or you fall behind, lose out. You're either in it for the long haul or you're not."

But Gayle admits that when she began in show business, it was a different mindset.

"It was a time when television had shows starring legends like Bob Hope and Dean Martin," said Gayle. "These kind of entertainers aren't there anymore, and that kind of exposure for artists is not available."

Somewhere along the road, the country music business changed.

"It used to be that Nashville would work to develop promising artists," said Gayle. "Now so many really good groups who have had a first major hit can't get a deal for a second one.

"It's become a 'head 'em up and move 'em out' mentality. Nashville used to have more integrity than just looking at the bottom line."

Brenda Gail Webb was born in the Appalachian coal-mining town the youngest of eight children, including older sister Loretta Lynn. Gayle became one of the more popular country singers of the 1970s, mostly due to her association with Lynn, whom she traveled and sang with for a few weeks each summer.

Gayle was signed to Decca Records in 1970. Her Top 40 debut single, "I've Cried the Blue Right Out of My Eyes," was a cover of one of sister Lynn's hits.

In 1975 her first full-length album, "Crystal Gayle," spawned the Top 10 hit "Wrong Road Again." She followed that with a No. 1 hit, the crossover "I'll Get Over You," and "You Never Miss a Real Good Thing (Till He Says Goodbye)."

She fully crossed over into mainstream pop with the hugely popular 1977 ballad "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue," a No. 1 country and No. 2 pop hit, causing the album "We Must Believe in Magic" to go platinum.

Gayle almost didn't get to record "Brown Eyes." The publishing company was going to give the song to a singer in California until Gayle and her record producer fought for the rights.

"I knew it was a very special song but never imagined it was going to be big as it was," she said.

Despite recording crossover songs, Gayle is adamant that traditional country music must be played and protected as part of America's heritage.

"Country is not what you heard on the Grammys," she said. "We might as well keep it pop and not call it country at all.

"The classification now is 'new country'; I hate that term, whatever it means."

Gayle's accolades include being named Most Promising Female Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music in 1976 and being voted Country Music's Female Vocalist of the Year three times by the Academy of Country Music, twice by the Country Music Association and three times at the American Music Awards. She also won a Grammy for "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue."

The American Music Awards also named her its Favorite Female Country Video Artist.

"There was a time when country never used to do videos," she said, laughing. "But these days, it's hard to make it just on a beautiful voice. Women have to show that tummy to stay noticed."

Gayle performed about 70 concerts last year, which still gives her the time to do other projects and be a mom to two teenagers.

"That's more than enough, especially when you have teenagers, and my son just got his driver's license, which is a bit nerve-racking," she said. "I have missed a few ballet performances and football games, but I've been there for a lot, too."

Gayle is working on several projects, including a new album which she describes as an "earthy, back-to-the-roots type."

"I'm native Cherokee, and I have always wanted to do some of the native folk songs," she said, adding she never had any aspirations beyond singing.

"So many singers want to act, and so many actors try to sing. All I ever want to do is what I am: a singer."

She interrupts herself.

"Well, maybe surf one time; I think it would be fun to catch a wave just once."

In concert Who: Crystal Gayle Where: Blaisdell Concert Hall When: 8 p.m. Thursday Tickets: $25, $30 and $35 Call: 526-4400 Also: 8 p.m. Friday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Tickets $25 to $35. Call: (808) 242-7469.

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