MUSIC Davidson embraces craziness

The performer is familiar with Packard Music Hall.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Singer-songwriter/performer John Davidson has gone crazy.
While not in a Michael Jackson oxygen chamber or typical off-the-deep-end celebrity sense of crazy, the Pittsburgh native is surprising audiences from coast to coast with his concerts.
"I've just gotten crazier as I've gotten older," said Davidson, calling from his home in San Miguel, Mexico. "I think as you get older, the more you know the less you know for sure. And so I live by less rules now and you become, I don't know -- I'm a much freer person than I was growing up, I think. I think you realize that life is crazy and you have to roll with it. And so it's a very pragmatic view of life in that you make things work."
Davidson is touring in support of his latest album, "John Hamilton Davidson ... Is A Funny Guy," which features the "That's Incredible" and "Hollywood Squares" star performing observational songs that range in title from "Sixty Sucks" and "Hangin' Round with Squares" to "Two Wives, Three Kids" and "The Story Burt Reynolds is Afraid to Tell You."
Varied career
Known predominantly for his television appearances, Davidson's varied career might surprise you. Not only did he guest-host "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" more than 80 times during the '70s, the most of any singer, he also opened three Broadway productions -- "Foxy," "Oklahoma" and "State Fair" -- and has more than a dozen albums to his credit.
Despite his vast r & eacute;sum & eacute;, there's one question Davidson hears over and over again from audience members after watching his live show.
"It's probably, 'When did you become so funny?' because many people think of me as just being a singer," Davidson said. "And [my current act] is really a music and comedy show. I call the show, 'Laugh Lines and Love Songs.'"
The show brings Davidson to the Mahoning Valley for a Monday date at Packard Music Hall in Warren, a venue the 64-year-old remembers well.
"It's great coming back to Packard Music Hall because I was with the Kenley Players twice," Davidson said. "I did 'Oklahoma' and 'Music Man' there. So I remember the hall well and have a lot of memories from that area. People were so nice."
He added, "And I'm looking forward to seeing old friends."