Billy Yates Hosts Traditional Country Showcase
Singer-songwriter Billy Yates packed the Ernest Tubb Texas Troubadour Theatre in Nashville Wednesday (June 8) for the Countriest of the Country, his annual fundraising project for Christmas for the Children. The writer of such hits as George Jones' "Choices" and his own "Flowers," Yates opened the show with a six-song set that included such newer titles as "Alcohol Abuse" (the refrain of which is "every drop we lose is alcohol abuse"), "Too Country (And Proud of It)" and "The Perfect Woman." Following Yates were Dutch singer Ruud Hermans, Victor Sanz, Dean Miller and Allen Frizzell and a songwriters-in-the-round session with Byron Hill ("Fool-Hearted Memory"), Jeff Stevens ("Back When") and Kerry Kurt Phillips ("Almost Home"). Performing on the last half of the show were Becky Hobbs, Kevin Denney, Ken Mellons and Daryle Singletary.