Big Chuck Remembers His First Country Concert. What Was Yours?

With the Taste of Country Music coming this weekend to Hunter Mountain it made me reflect on some of the many country concerts I have attended over my years in radio.

In 1992 WDOS (where I have been employed since 1989) switched from Adult Contemporary Music to a Country Music format.

I had no idea about what country music was.  So I thought I better get myself to a country music concert when one came along.  It did in early 1993.

Conway Twitty was the headliner.  Vern Gosden was the opening act.  I had barely heard of Conway, and had never heard of Vern.  It was to be my baptism into the world of country music.

Conway Twitty was the most successful country make singer ever.  His 40 #1 singles reigned supreme until he was overtaken by George Strait.  He sold over 40,000,000 records.  His duets with Loretta Lynn were all also big hits.

I remember when the announcer at the Broome County Arena said "Ladies and Gentlemen please welcome the legendary Conway Twitty" and the place went nuts.  Women stood and screamed his name.  He entered from stage left, hair fashioned into a helmet of dark waves.  His shirt was opened to the waist.  To say his pants were tight is a monument to understatement.  His songs were great and he was the consummate entertainer.  The women went wild.

I became a real country music fan that night in Binghamton back in 1993.

What was your first country music concert?