MyrtleBeachOnline.com
Posted on Fri, Sep. 06, 2002
By Kent Kimes, The Sun News
Amy Grant has been quite the musical chameleon.
She burst onto the scene in the early 1980s as a gospel star, winning Grammys and Dove awards, and was one of the driving forces in what became known as contemporary Christian music.
The singer, who performs at the House of Blues on Saturday, then crossed over into mainstream pop music in the late 1980s and early '90s, and also dabbled in country.
Now, with her 17th album, "Legacy ... Hymns & Faith," the singer has returned to her spiritual roots.
The album may not be burning up the pop surveys, but it has scored on the contemporary Christian charts.
"I don't have any songs soaring up the charts," she
said in a recent phone conversation from her residence on the outskirts of Nashville, Tenn. "But [the album] was not made to have an impact on radio."
It's more a testament to her religious faith and a celebration of her 25 years in the music industry.
Grant has spent most of the past few years out of the performing spotlight, although her relationship with country star Vince Gill became tabloid fodder.
Grant's wholesome image took a hit with her 1999 divorce from songwriter Gary Chapman and rumors of an affair with Gill.
Gill and Grant married in 2000 and have a 1-year-old daughter, Corrina.
Gill, incidentally, is performing in her backing band on the current tour, but unfortunately for Grand Strand fans he won't be on board for Saturday's show because of a prior commitment, Grant said.
"It's the only show he's going to miss," she said.
The current tour, her first in four years, kicked off Aug. 24 in Syracuse, N.Y., and Grant said it was a sparse but appreciative audience.
"It was a small crowd but I had a blast," she said.
She said she understands if fans are reluctant to fork over cash to see her or any artist perform, especially in the current economy.
"People have to have a reason to spend their entertainment dollars," she said.
Meanwhile, the House of Blues has offered a two-for-one ticket deal to Grant's show.
According to Gary Bongiovanni, editor in chief of concert industry publication Pollstar, "two-fers are usually an indication that the show is clearly not going to sell out."Contact KENT KIMES at 626-0304 or kkimes@thesunnews.com.
INFO:
If you go
Amy Grant, with Fernando Ortega
When | 8 p.m. Saturday
Where | House of Blues at Barefoot Landing, U.S. 17 South in North Myrtle Beach
How much | $35 in advance, $37.50 day of show
272-3000
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