The La Crosse Tribune from La Crosse, Wisconsin • 20

4 La Crosse Tribune, Saturday, July 7, 1979 Singer can't help being a ladies' man Country Style Jack Hurst i ill Bv the time he went south. Duncan had been with CBS Records for several frustrating years. He had had such decent hits as "Sweet Country Woman" in 1973 and what now seems to be the archetypal Duncan song "Jo and the Cowboy" in 1974. He never gathered any momentum, however, and since he was opening shows for RCA's great Charley Pride at the time, he finally decided he wanted to go to RCA. But CBS balked.

It wanted one more shot at his career. Thus it was that Duncan and producer Billy Sherrill reunited to record Kris Kristofferson's song "Stranger" after Duncan spent a couple of hours getting loose at a Nashville beer parlor one afternoon. The record broke Duncan wide open, getting even pop play. "I started havin' hit songs when the lyrics got closer to the philosophy of my own lifestyle." Duncan reflects today. "In here's a guy who meets this good-looking' woman, and they're and he says in essence, 'Look, you're alone, and I'm alone, and if we find something' beautiful tonight, that's cool.

If there's no tomorrow for also will be cool, because we don't owe each other anything." Now 39. Duncan has had hits ever since "Stranger." but he says personal considerations have kept him from giving the 100 percent effort required to make his name as famous as his records. His most pressing current problems are also his principal joys: women. Particularly "three big old tall pretty girls" named Angela. -Lezlie and Lori.

Last name Duncan. "Nobody can write songs with the phone ft I "Folks." he says from the stage, "at one time I lived in Brentwood. with three daughters, a wife, a beautiful home, two cars paid for. a ridin' lawnmower and a couple of beagle hounds." A big, slow-moving, amiable fellow who is the picture of a Texan, he pauses a moment, the grin growing wide and rueful. Then he lowers his voice and adds confessionally: "She took it all over one song 'Jo and the "Jo and the Cowboy," Johnny Duncan's own lyric and the One that finally headed him in the direction of his current prominence, has one important resemblance to every other memorable Duncan song: it concerns what Duncan would call "a good-lookin' woman." That subject is.

granted, the province of other singers, too. but none handles it with more charm, dedication, and sheer persistence than Duncan. He rarely sings, writes, or maybe even thinks about anything else. Don't censure him, though. Duncan is simply a ladies' man.

Not one of those swaggering, singles-bar pretenders, but the real thing, the kind of decent, rugged, female-appreciating gent who seems to make them want to take him home with them. He lives with the heavens and hells all that implies. "All the way through, I've had a problem." Duncan says with a chuckle. "The worst thing is. I can be around somebody for a little bit.

and about the second time she sees me. she says. 'Hey. you're mine, and you're not gonna look at anybody else." "Which is bad news, me bein' the kind of boy I am." 1 Johnny Duncan In discussing any other singer's career, such conversation would be frivolous. Not in Duncan's case.

In talking about this music hits like "Stranger," "Lookin" for a Rendezvous." "She Can Put Her Shoes Under My Bed Anytime" and "Slow Dancing" the subject can scarcely be avoided. But it isn't all sly chuckles. The "Jo and the Cowboy" story isn't all a joke. "I came in off the road to Brentwood in December 1974. and felt somethin' was wrong." he recalls.

"I asked her. I said. 'Somethin' ain't right. There's a cloud hangin' over this house." He didn't penetrate the cloud immediately. Two days later, from CBS Records' Nashville office, he called home and, noting that the family was to go to Texas for Christmas the next morning, asked again what was wrong.

His wife then told him she'd found somebody else. Thus died a 16-year marriage. Duncan left Nashville the next morning for his native hill country near Stephenville. Tex. A few weeks later he returned to get the three daughters with whom he now lives along with "a pretty Georgia woman" nanied Connie on 50-plus acres of rattlesnake hills 10 miles from Stephenville.

three teen-age daughters comin' in nee-din' the credit card to put gas in the car. and havin" to say, 'Don't go to town tonight because the roads're slick' or 'I don't like this boy. so if you go out with him be home at 11:30." the ladies' man incongruously points out. He asserts, however, that he's finally gearing up to give music his all at last. His youngest lady now is nearing 16.

CMcego Tribune-New York News Syndicate, inc. Top Songs Record industry quick to turn out tributes to 'Duke' 3. "Hot Stuff," Donna Summer 4. "Get Used to It," Roger Voudouris 5. "Does Your Mother Know." Abba 6.

"Little Bit of Soap." Nigel Ollson 7. "We Are Family," Sister Sledge 8. "The Logical Song," Super-tramp 9. "Gold," John Stewart 10. "I Was Made for Loving You," Kiss more," Loretta Lynn 6.

"She Believes in Me," Kenny Rogers 7. "You're the Only One," The Kendalls 9. "Shadows in the Moonlight," Anne Murray 10. "If Love Had a Face," Razzy Bailey LOCAL 1. "Just JWhen I Needed You Most," Randy Van Wanner 2.

"You Take My Breath Away." Rex Smith NATIONAL 1. "Ring My Bell," Anita Ward 2. "We Are Family," Sister Sledge 3. "Hot Stuff," Donna Summer 4. "Chuck in Rickie Lee Jones 5.

"Bad Girls," Donna Summer 6. "Boogie Wonderland," Earth, Wind Fire 7. "You Take My Breath Away," Rex Smith 8. "She Believes in Me," Kenny Rogers 9. "The Logical Song," Super-tramp 10.

"Shine a Little Love," Electric Light Orchestra COUNTRY WESTERN 1. "Amanda," Waylon Jennings 2. "Nobody Likes Sad Songs," Ronnie Milsap 3. "Red Bandana," Merle Haggard 4. "You Feel Good All Over," T.G.

Sheppard 5. "I Can't Feel You Any On Off WONDERFUL MOTOR COACH ESCORTED TOURS TRAVEL WITH FRIENDS! Jazz on West Salem concert bill July 9 July 16 July 27 House on the Rock, 2 days. The Apostle Islands, 3 days. Nordic Fest in Decorah, Iowa. Morning coffee, rolls, noon dinner, admission to Norwegian Museum.

Black Hills and Passion Play, 5 days. The North Shore, 6 days. The Ozarks, 6 days. Pacific Northwest and Western Canada, 18 days. Aug.

14 Aug. 20 Aug. 27 Aug. 29 The West Salem edition of "Jazz on a- Sunday Afternoon" will begin at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the Village Park gazebo.

Performing for the 2'2-hour event will be the 20-piece La Crosse Area Jazz Band, conducted by John Alexander. The concert is free. The concert is the fourth in a summer series of five events sponsored by the village recreation department. The West Salem Adult Music Association is host for the series. The concert is being financed with funds from both the Music Performance Trust Fund created by agreement of the recording companies and the American Federation of Musicians and the West Salem Business Association, which is providing money for transportation.

West Salem Recreation Director Bill Taft says a fall series has also been planned, to begin Sept. 8. It will have appearances by the Logan High School Swing Choir and Snowflake the Clown and a local amateur talent show. John Wayne tribute discs are flooding the market. At press time, over a dozen different single 45's paying tribute to "The Duke" were available at record distribution points awaiting radio station air-play.

As one station manager put it. "We're not in any hurry to jump on the band wagon and start playing all of the John Wayne tributes on record. I'll listen to them, and if they really sound good, we'll play them on a limited basis. I think after Elvis' death, there's a tendency to get really inundated by tribute records." So far. the tribute record getting the most attention is "A Salute to the Duke" by Paul Ott.

Jimmy Bowen. vice president of Elektra Records tells of his feelings on the disc. "I was asked to stop by the Jack Clement Studios to listen to a final mix on the record. Like everybody else in this country of our age. I have been a John Wayne fan.

and hit me as a very tasteful, respectful letter of adoration to John Wayne that was put to music. I said. 'I like it and I think it should be heard." so we went into a crash release program and the record was nationwide in a matter of a few days." The Ott recording, which will probably become the most popular of all the tribute records, was actually recorded before Wayne's death. Long after all the tribute discs disappear from the market, "The Duke" may have the final Sept. 21 Northeast Tour, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Cabot Trail, 19 days.

a The Record jjTm' Lindy Shannon word. RCA Victor Records is reissuing an album recorded by Wayne himself in 1973. entitled. "America: Why I Love Her." "The Pledge of Allegiance" is the highlight from the album, but the entire set is a must for Americana record collectors. What could better than John Wayne talking about the American that he loved so dearly? In other happenings, if Myron Floren can make a disco polka record, so can Bobby Vinton.

His latest single is a disco version of the popular standard "Pennsylvania Polka." Can you believe this? Ted Nugent, famed wild game hunter, macho man and hard rock guitarist, the guy who really knocks himself out on stage, sprained his ankle recently while carrying his mother's groceries into her house. In the human interest department. Joy Pierce. 14. of Flat Rock.

Ind. is going blind. The teenager's eyesight has been failing for about a decade. Joy wanted to meet her idol. Conway Twitty.

before it was too late to see him. So Twitty arranged the meeting last Saturday after performing a show in the Nashville-North Club in Taylor-ville. 111. Oct. 14 Nov.

1 Nov. 27 Dec. 4 Jan. 18 Enchanting Southwest California, 19 days Florida. Christmas Shopping in Chicago, 3 days, dinner and theater.

Christmas Shopping in Minneapolis, 2 days, dinner theater. SUN and FUN Cruise on the MS St'arward in the wonderful Caribbean 9 days, excellent sights plus extras. Las Vegas, 4 nights, 5 days. yYOU WILL ENJOY UFF DA! Feb. 5 lib THE NORDIC PEST IN DECORAH ONE DAY FRIDAY, JULY 27, 1979 A one-day tour, but what a day! Includes morning coffee, noon lunch, admission to the Norwegian Museum.

Be a Norwegian, for one dayl And Decorah is more than a Nordic Fest! Don't miss it. M8.00 La Crosse, Winona Depart (Pick-ups en route) Call or Write: CARL'S TOUR TRAVEL, INC. Box 427, Decorah, Iowa 52101 Phone 319-382-2456 vening and Wttktnd colls Op by 5er Milwaukee, Wl MC 1J7J0 Note all of the above have pickup points at La Crosse, Winona, Rochester and others en route. For Complete Information, Call CARL'S TOUR TRAVEL, INC. Box 427, Decorah, Iowa 52101, Phone 319-382-2456 EVENING WEEKEND CALLS WELCOME Op.

by A Mil, Wl MC 12720.