The Index-Journal from Greenwood, South Carolina • Page 31

Sunday, May 11, 1997 Entertainment The Index-Journal, Greenwood. SC. 3C New moms can take to heart wise advice COUNTRY MUSIC MEMO By Paulette Rowers and Otto Kitsinger Syndicated columnists DEAR ABBY By Abigail Van Buren Syndicated columnist Buffalo Club: Potential perennials DEAR READERS: Today, on Mother's Day, may I take this opportunity to extend congratulations and good wishes to my readers. For those of you who are just starting out on the adventure of motherhood, I would like to share a prayer that was written by the late Dr. Gary C.

Myers, the founder of "Highlights for Children," a wholesome, educa- -tional monthly magaiine. It summarizes beautifully what all of us need to remember. A PARENTS PRAYER Oh, heavenly Father, make me a better parent. Help me to understand my children, to listen patiently to' what they have to say and to answer all their questions kindly. Keep me from interrupting them, talking back to them and contradicting them.

Make me as courteous to them as I would have them be to me. Give me the courage to confess my sins against my children and ask their forgiveness when I know that I have done wrong. May I not vainly hurt the feelings not exact of them the judgements and conventions of adults. Allow me not to rob them of the opportunity to wait upon themselves, to think, to choose, and to make their own decisions. Forbid that I should ever punish them for my selfish satisfaction.

May I grant them all their wishes that are reasonable and have the courage always to withhold a privilege which I know will do them harm. Make me so fair and just, so considerate and companionable to my children that they will have genuine esteem for me. Fit me to be loved and imitated by my children. With all thy gifts, God, do'give me calmness and poise and self-control. Readers, I am often asked the significance of wearing a red carnation on Mother's Day.

A red carnation is worn to signify that one's mother is living. A white carnation signifies that one's mother is deceased. There should also be an identi fying flower worn by those moth-: ers who chose motherhood by rearing a foster child or stepchild. And a special place in heaven awaits those mothers who choose a physically or mentaHy challenged child, knowing that he or she has not only special needs but also requires a superabundance of love, understanding arid patience. CONFIDENTIAL TO ANYONE FOR WHOM IT IS NOT YET TOO LATE: The gestation period of a mother's advice is anywhere from one week to 50 years.

Losing one's mother before having thanked her for the many precious things she taught you is one of life's greatest tragedies. P.S. Readers who would like a professionally printed copy of "A Parent's Prayer" may obtain one by phoning Highlights for Children at 1 (800) 225-9517, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.(EI)T). of my children.

Forbid that I should laugh at their mistakes, or resort to shame and ridicule as punishment. Let me not tempt a child to lie or steal. So guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate by all I say and do that honesty produces happiness. Reduce, I pray, the meanness in me. May I cease to nag, and when I am out of sorts, help me, Oh Lord, to hold my tongue.

Blind me to the little errors of my children and help me to see the good things that they do. Give me a ready word for honest praise. Help me to treat my children as those of their own age, but let me The usual life span of a new group in country music is, well, just a tad shorter than that of a water lily in Death Valley. And no one knows that better than John Dittrich (formerly with Restless Heart) and Ron Hemby (formerly with The Imperials). So why did these two join up with Charlie Kelley (formerly with Doug Stone's band), to form the new group The Buffalo Club? "None of us would be here if it wasn't exactly where we wanted to be," says Dittrich.

"It's fun, and it's meaningful. Otherwise, what's the point?" Hemby adds, 'The give-and-take between the guys in the band, that's what lifts a show or a record to that other level. That's the extra 'something' you hear in The Buffalo Club." And it's that extra "something" DiFranco discovers virtues of going it alone -If "''in i t. Members of the Buffalo Club are from Hemby, John Dittrich and Charlie Kelley. dissected a relationship in terms that must have singed the ears of her ex-boyfriend.

"I started out thinking there were only certain things that you were supposed to address in mixed company, let alone on a stage in public," she said. "Over the years I've come to the conclusion that that's a cop-out. That's a form of cowardice conformity is cowardice." She's bemused by people uncomfortable with her musical bluntness, who consider her some sort 'of freak of nature. "Because I'm talking about certain issues, or use certain words, it's like 'keep me away from their she said. "When their daughter is out there living the exact same kind of life.

She just doesn't happen to have my job. "I'm just trying to be as honest as I can, and if there's any kind of response that I hope to elicit in people, it's just to encourage them to be the same," she said. dience, through friends telling friends and a relentless performing schedule. "They come out to see a show in a little bar, and six months later I'm back in town at a bigger bar, then a small theater," she said. "It's a much more long-term relationship.

If you have 10 years to build an audience, I highly recommend it." A recent performance at New York City's Roseland showed the fierce devotion of her public, composed largely of women in their teens and 20s but expanding beyond that base. They hung on her every word, often shouting back to DiFranco. And they squealed with delightat their favorites. A beguiling and self-effacing personality onstage, DiFranco's intensity comes through her music: confessional, occasionally profane, songs delivered in a punk-folk style that's left hundreds of broken guitar strings in her wake. An acoustic player, she's joined onstage by a drummer and electric bass-player.

Her career independence is also addressed in song. On "Napoleon," for example, she talks about the satisfying life of a rock star. "How dare you complain to me," she concludes. DiFranco started hanging out in bars and coffeehouses as a youngster; and was writing her own songs when peers were worrying about learning to drive. It took a while to develop her personal songwriting style to the point where her 1996 album, $XLUNCH NEW YORK (AP) With her blue hair, tattoos and utter disdain for corporate America, Ani DiFranco is about the last person you'd expect to address a business convention.

Yet she's been invited behind the podium this spring to deliver the keynote address at a New Orleans convention of the National Association of Independent Record Distributors and Manufacturers. This 26-year-old Buffalo native has a lot to tell them about building a promising career by taking matters into her own hands. When no one was interested in her music as a precocious teen-ager, DiFranco formed her own company, Righteous Babe Records, to manufacture and help distribute it. She has since sold more than 750,000 albums, a stunning number for a do-it-yourself organization that will surely increase with the imminent release of "Living in Clip," her ninth record since 1990. Major record companies have long wooed her with promises of making her a star.

DiFranco has turned down all of them. "Five years ago someone said, 'Look, you sold 8,000 copies (of your record), we can help you sell 8 she said. "That's what record companies do bless their little hearts. I just have reasons that are much bigger than me and my career for never accepting that offer." DiFranco's operating philosophy is at odds with how most major record companies work, a difference that's become even starker as. the 1990s have worn on.

She shudders at stars created by hit-hungry companies, young musicians pushed onto magazine covers and before big audiences with a relationship upon one or two songs. DiFranco has slowly built an au- BUFFET FEATURING THREE HOT MEAT CHOICES DAILY that has catapulted the group's debut single, "If She Don't Love You," into the Top 10 an especially amazing feat for a group signed to one of Music Row's new labels, Rising Tide. Actually, Dittrich head the song five years ago when he was still with Restless Heart. The co-writer, Marc Besson, pitched it to the group in the same batch as their hit "When She Cries." So when the song came to John's attention again, he felt "it had to be an omen." The group's sound results from a mix of musical influences. John is from upstate New York by way of Texas and spent his formative years listening to country, jazz and Top 40 music.

Ron grew up in southeast Missouri and was steeped in gospel music. Charlie grew up on a farm in Maryland, but "Washington, D.C., was only 45 miles away," he points out. So far the group hasn't done much touring, but that should change with the recent release of its self-titled debut album: Not that they're looking forward to touring, since they've all been there and done that for years. In fact, all three are homebodies when they get the chance. John and his wife, Nancy, a dog groomer, have four kids and five dogs.

Ron and his wife, Tamara, like to keep up with the NASCAR circuit, and Charlie, the only single member, enjoys the chance to read and to listen to new music. The band itself is named after a bunch of old English pubs one of the guys visited in Buffalo, Wyo. And it is one of the best of the new groups that seem to be sprouting up at every record label these days. If the debut album is any indication, though, The Buffalo Club may manage to stick around for more than one growing season. We hope so, anyway.

QUIBBLES 'N' BITS Something With a Ring to It Best man Marty Stuart just couldn't resist playing a practical joke at Travis Tritt's wedding. When it came time for Tritt to place the ring oh Theresa Nelson's finger to make her the third Mrs. Tritt, Marty pulled a huge pair of red lace panties from his pocket and unwrapped the ring. Marty, you'll remember, introduced Travis and Theresa. When I Call Your Name We never thought it would happen, but on April 16 Vince Gill's wife, Janis, filed for divorce.

The action came just four days after the couple's 17th wedding anniversary, which was also Vince's 40th birthday, janis cited "irreconcilable differences" and asked -for custody of their 14-year-old daughter, Jenny. Through his publicist, Vince said the pending divorce is "a private and personal matter and, with all due respect, I would like to keep it that way." a February TNN special, Janis acknowledged rumors that the couple's marriage might be troubled: "I'm tired of those rumors. They're nasty, false rumors," she said. Apparently not, unfortunately. Smooth Cuts Quote of the Week: "I'm sure glad I got my taxes done early.

But I can't imagine any refund that would compare to this." James Bonamy Don't Think I after he and his wife, Amy, welcomed their first child, James Daniel Bonamy, on April 15. VEGETABLES SALADS SOUPS 11:00 A.M. GREAT FOOD SERVED MONDAY S429 FRIDAY I THRU FRIDAY COUNTRY SINGLES From Billboard Magazine By The Associated Press COUNTRY BUFFET Hot Delicious Meats, Potatoes, Vegetables Soup. Fresh Salad and Fruits ALL-U CAN-EAT SPECIAL SENSOR PRICE 41o55 Treat your mother like a queen without paying for it royally. 1.

"One Night At a Time," George Strait (MCA) 2. "Sad Lookin' Moon," Alabama (RCA) 3. "Better Man, Better Off," Tracy Lawrence (Atlantic) 4. "On the Verge," Collin Raye (Epic) 5. "Good As I Was to You." Lorrie Morgan (BNA) 6.

Miss You A Little," John Michael Montgomery (Atlantic) 7. "Sittin' On Go," Bryan White (Asylum) 8'She's Sure Taking It Well," Kevin Sharp (143-Asylum) Girl's Gotta Do (What A Girl's Gotta Do)," Mindy McCready (BNA) Little More Love," Vince Gill (MCA) 11. "Who's Cheatin' Alan Jackson (Arista) 12. "The Light In Your Eyes," LeAnn Rimes (Curb) 13. "Six Days on the Road," Sawyer Brown (Curb) a a nr a i Hampton Place Shopping Center 223-1149 wr 9 fN ALL ENTREES 30 OFF rames oiok vjnger ino io uo wraers Caff eary for pour reservations! AROUND THE WORLD" HAPPY HOUR 5PM-7PM FATHER'S DAY PC Complete Vi lb.

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