Shenandoah, 28 years and counting

Shenandoah

For a band with, seemingly, a swinging door for musicians to come and go, Shenandoah has remained true to its southern country roots, and that music remains as fresh today as it was in the beginning. It was not Nashville country then, 1984, and it’s not Nashville country today, and somehow it fits in the ear just fine.

Shenandoah made a rare appearance Thursday night (Nov. 8, 2012) at Gilley’s/Choctaw in Durant.

Shenandoah, from Muscle Shoals, Ala., has always been a 5-piece group, using a keyboard as a second boss instrument behind the lead guitar, and of course the regular acoustic and bass guitars and drums. The original lead singer, Marty Raybon, left in 1997, and now taking the lead vocals is Jimmy Yeary. Two original members still with the group are Jim Seals on lead guitar and Mike McGuire on drums, and both of those help out with backup vocals. Stan Munsey rocked it out on the keyboards. (And a quick look up of his name shows just how many dozens of hits he’s penned for top country artists over the decades!)

As a refresher, because sometimes in today’s world it becomes easy to forget the 80s and 90s music, Shenandoah charted up 26 hits on Billboard, with “The Church on Cumberland Road,” “Sunday In The South,” and “Two Dozen Roses” moving into the No. 1 spot on that prestigious chart. They also earned a Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Group.

Spokesman from the stage was Seals. He used the term several times, “back in our heyday,” and it was not used with any sort of bitterness or regret that they aren’t still up there charting No. 1 hits. Of course, they all would like to, just like any honest musician will admit, but, as Seals explained, they have hometown ties now, families, children and even grandchildren for some.

Seals also explained that it was when their record label (and he didn’t say which one) wanted them to alter their style a bit more than they wanted to that they came to a parting of the ways. Similarly, so many others have said the same over the years.

Once during the set, Yeary and Seals made a separate introduction of Folsom, saying that they all want for him whatever he wants, and then left the stage to let Folsom, who picked up the acoustic guitar and cut loose on a couple of his original songs. Shades of local music scenes everywhere! Mike Folsom. We might better keep an ear out for this young man’s music in the future.

The band Shenandoah played many of their charted and recorded songs, covered a few others, and ended with a fine medley of the greatest hits of the years. Then, off the stage, they hung around until the last fan had a change to “meet and greet,” meaning sign an autograph, have a picture taken, or just express their appreciation. No formality to it at all.

Are you listening, Nashville?

For more Shenandoah photographs, click here

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