Country singer and songwriter Clint Black returned to the Fox Theater Saturday night. The crowd welcomed him, singing and swaying to his songs for the 2-hour show.
Black began the night alone on stage, just his voice, guitar and harmonica. After several songs, his band joined him, performing original favorites such as “Like the Rain” along with new songs featured on his new album, “When I Said I Do,” which was released last year.
Between songs, Black recounted personal stories about his career. One story told his first encounter with country legend Willie Nelson.
“The first time I met him, the door of his trailer was open so I just walked in. I couldn’t see Willie through all the smoke. Someone must have been…burning toast,” Black joked. “He emerged out of the smoke looking like a firefighter. When he offered me some, I said ‘no, I got to get on stage, I got a show to do,’ and when I finally got on stage I was…toast.”
The audience laughed at the stories and cheered at the music. An hour into the show, the crowd was riled and couples began dancing in the aisles. Shari Nelson, 39, and her two friends were out for a girl’s night and lined up right along the stage. “He sang straight to us and touched my hand,” she said. “I can’t wait for him to come back next year; I can’t wait to buy the new CD.”
Black has written, sang and released more than 100 songs that have won him several awards including: the Academy of Country Music Best New Male Vocalist, Album of the Year and The Country Music Association and American Music Awards have honored him with Male Vocalist of the Year and New Male Country Artist, all awarded in 1989 and 1990.
Black started his professional career with five number-one hits with his first album, “Killin’ Time” in 1989. For the next ten years his songs consistently reached the top of the Billboard Charts, a total of thirteen times. After that, he took a break, spending time with his wife, actress and singer, Lisa Hartman whom he married in 1991. They used that time to have a daughter, Lily, and Black started his own record label “Equity Music Group.”
Black is on a 100-city tour promoting his tenth album, his first one in seven years. Black has cemented his status as an artist, coming a long way from the venues he played in the 80s.
“Back then, you could find me playing in the back corner of bars to tens of people, just a few at a time” he said.
Black has 12 shows in California and will finish up his tour on May 31 in Meridian, Miss.