Bellamy Brothers Present Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts, 8/23 & 24

More than most acts of the late '70s and '80s, the Bellamys (brothers Howard and David) pushed the borders of country music with their laid-back sound, adding strong elements of calypso, soft rock, a little reggae, and even rap – many times with humorous word play and social commentary -- racking up an impressive string of Top Ten singles that ran into the early '90s. Thereafter, they’ve cranked out a number of satirical, light-hearted songs like 2010’s "Jalapenos" (a song about the problems of political correctness) as well as a gospel album “Jesus Is Coming” with tunes like "Lord Help Me Be The Kind of Person (My Dog Thinks I Am)" and have remained an enormously popular concert attraction that packs halls year after year.

 

?? The Bellamy Brothers' country breakthrough happened in 1979, with the tongue-in-cheek, double entendre "If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me." The song rocketed to number one on the country charts -- and was also a massive hit and “Song of the Year” in the United Kingdom -- followed by the top five hit You Ain't "Just Whistlin' Dixie." Success continued to roll forward in the ‘80s as they scored two straight number one hits, "Sugar Daddy" and "Dancin' Cowboys," for which they earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group, and the Country Music Association named them the Most Promising Group of the Year. Meanwhile, they continued to rack up the platinum and gold hits with humor and heartbreak tales – and many a passionate love song -- including "Do You Love As Good As You Look," "Redneck Girl," "Slippin’ Away," "Old Hippie," "Kids of the Baby Boom," "Santa Fe," "For All The Wrong Reasons," "Lovers Live Longer," "Too Much Is Not Enough," "Crazy From The Heart" and "I Need More Of You."

 

Also in the 80s, the brothers fulfilled their desire to experiment with their music. After they released the number one "For All the Wrong Reasons," the brothers, born and raised in the tropics of Florida, followed with "Get Into Reggae Cowboy," a groundbreaking country record that incorporated Jamaican rhythms. In 1982, the group was given a Lifetime Membership of the Federation of International Country Air Personalities, as well as being named the Top Country Duo by Billboard and they eventually went on to set the record for most duo nominations from both Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association. ??  They come to us courtesy of the R.D. & Joan Dale Hubbard Foundation, armed with their intelligent musicianship, utterly unique country sound and quirky charm. The Spencer concerts will feature Howard & David Bellamy and their band:

Waldemar Dentz – bass guitar, harmonica

Larry Rolens – steel guitar

Frank Swiech – keyboards

Randy Hiebert – lead guitar

Mike Tucker -- drums

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