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Conlee concert set for Feb. 23
By Michael Butler
One of country music's most successful artists will be performing in Tallassee this month. John Conlee will be in concert on Friday, Feb. 23 at the Tallassee High School Auditorium at 7:00 p.m.
Conlee will be playing his long list of hits including his signature tune, "Rose Colored Glasses," which happens to be his first hit single.
"The 40th annivesary of it hitting the charts will be in May," Conlee said of the country classic. "I wrote it and "Backside of Thirty" within six weeks of each other."
Dric Williford noted that "Rose Colored Glasses" was his dad's favorite song.
"He played that record at Tot's in Graceville, Fla. so much that when they took it out of the jukebox, they gave it to him," Williford recalled.
There is a Tallassee connection with Conlee and former mayor George McCain. McCain worked with Conlee on his tour in recent years.
"I met John in 1995 and we became friends," McCain said. "I would go to venues with them before I started riding on the bus and setting up. I would sing at the sound checks."
Conlee spoke of his relationship with McCain.
"George is great fellow, a friend and a brother," Conlee said. "We love being around him. We used to see him all the time because he used to spend a lot of time in Nashville. We don't get to see him as much. I'm looking forward to seeing him."
McCain helped in getting Conlee's tour to come through Tallassee. The plan was to have Conlee at the Mount Vernon Theatre.
"I had been informing him about the theater," said McCain. "I wanted him to perform there because he's a major Grand Ole Opry star and it would put the theater on the map."
Since the concert was scheduled prior the the theater's completion, the high school auditorium became the alternate site.
"We have done 80 shows," Conlee said of the 2017 calendar year. "We're busier than ever. When we're in Nashville, we usually appear at the Grand Ole Opry, where I've been a member for 36 years."
Conlee broke into the business in the 1970s when he was a disc jockey at WLAC in Nashville.
"If I had not ended up in Nashville because of that radio job, I would've never pursued music as a career," he said. "We've had 30 some odd hits, almost all of them top tens and a few number ones. The numbers really don't matter to me. "Rose Colored Glasses" is still the most popular but not the highest charting record, which proves the charts really don't matter."
In all, Conlee has 32 Top 40 records, 22 Top Ten's and seven No. 1 hits. For ticket information, go to www.itickets.com or call 800-965-9324.
John Conlee No. 1 Singles
1978: Lady Lay Down
1979: Backside of Thirty
1983: Common Man
1983: I'm Only In It for the Love
1983: In My Eyes
1984: As Long As I'm Rockin' with You
1986: Got My Heart Set on You
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