Lorrie Morgan will open for Alabama at Covelli Like old FRIENDS
By John Benson
Long before today’s crop of strong and independent female singers dominated the country charts, Lorrie Morgan was out there creating her own path in what was mostly a man’s world.
The daughter of Opry star George Morgan and widow of the late Keith Whitley, the fiery Morgan scored ’80s and ’90s hits with songs such as “Five Minutes,” “Except For Monday,” “Something In Red,” “Watch Me” and “What Part Of No.” She was also the first female artist to have three consecutive platinum albums.
Today, Morgan, who sold more than eight million records and won four Female Vocalist of the Year awards, is still recording. Her most recent effort is “Letting Go...Slow Live.”
The Vindicator talked to Morgan, who is opening for country icons Alabama Friday night at Covelli Centre, about returning to Northeast Ohio, reuniting with Alabama and her sassiness.
Q. First of all, what are your memories of Youngstown over the years?
A. I love that area. It’s kind of like a homecoming for me because I’m probably going to have about 30 family members from my mom’s side of the family at the show. They’re from Doylestown, up around Barberton. I’m really looking forward to it. Also, a beautiful friend of mine, drummer Rick Vanaugh, was from Youngstown. He just passed away a month ago. It’ll be kind of bittersweet coming there but we always love playing the Ohio area. It feels like a second home to me.
Q. As far as opening for Alabama, is this a tour or a one-off gig?
A. I wish I was touring with them but it is a one-off. I started off with Alabama. That’s how I got my big break when I was with RCA. It was my first tour after Keith died. It’ll be a lot of fun hooking up with my friends again. You know, I don’t think I have played with them since then. I did do Randy Owen’s golf tournament a couple of years ago.
Q. Are you a golfer?
A. I didn’t play. It got rained out but I did sing.
Q. Congratulations on your new album “Letting Go...Slow Live.” What was the idea behind the project?
A. I just wanted it to be where I’m at now in my life. Richard (Landis), my producer, and I picked all of the songs for the album. These are songs that I wanted to do for years and for one reason or another — a label wouldn’t let me do it or something came up — I couldn’t do the songs. Also, this was strictly a producer-artist collaboration. We did everything together. It was just a magical album for me. We went in with session musicians but it felt more like having a band together. Everybody was the same. It was just a fun album. It was heartfelt. I was in better voice than I was in my entire life for that album. I’m just really proud of it.
Q. Considering you’ve enjoyed so much success in your career, what’s next on your bucket list?
A. The bucket list would be a Grammy Award for “Letting Go…Slow.” Right now it’s not looking good. I’m just keeping my fingers crossed.
Q. Looking back at your career, what was it about your early ’90s material that connected with country music listeners?
A. I think I was kind of one of the first sassy — maybe? — singers, just kind of a say-what-I-want kind of girl in country music. I just think it worked. There was some magic. It was something that was needed right then. Country music and I fit the bill at that point. I was very lucky.
Q. So are you still sassy?
A. You’re damn right I am.