Country music fans of all ages can join one of the genre's veteran performers Saturday as Emens Auditorium showcases "An Evening with George Jones."
Jones' musical career has spanned more than 50 years, including 13 number-one hits and 30 top singles on the Billboard music charts. Best known for his performance of "He Stopped Loving Her Today," Jones has charted 166 singles, and at 75, he performs almost 100 concerts per year. A two-time Grammy award winner, Jones was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992.
"He is a country legend," Darcy Wood, associate director of marketing for Emens, said. "He is old-school country, up there with the Merle Haggards and Hank Williamses of country music."
Jones' musical talent has been a major influence on current popular country artists, Wood said. Artists emerging in the past few years with a country-pop sound, termed "new country" acts by media such as Country Weekly magazine, draw inspiration from their predecessors' more traditional, down-home flavor.
Wood said many Ball State University students are more familiar with "new country" artists such as Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts and Dierks Bentley than more traditional country stars such as Jones. Wood said she doesn't own any of Jones' music, but she could appreciate how much his career has propelled the country music industry.
The Muncie venue typically grabs the attention of more young adults with newer country artists than with acts like Jones, Wood said.
"We do well with new country acts like Dierks Bentley and Rascal Flatts because it resonates more with college kids, and we know that," she said.
Robert Myers, Emens director, said that he both booked and co-promoted Saturday's concert because there is no guarantee that Jones will be available to tour in later years. As an older performer, Jones' future is always in question.
In spite of a lack of enthusiasm from a majority of Ball State students, the Muncie community at large has historically had success with concerts attracting older generations of country music fans, Wood said. Jones performed at Emens almost three years ago. Despite a history of not showing up at his scheduled shows back in 1979, nearly 2,000 fans attended the March 18, 2004 concert.
Wood said that she expects a similar number of attendees this year.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
