Broad Spectrum

A local tradition since 1875, the Ventura County Fair offers a better-than-average soundtrack this year, with a spectrum of musicians including the new, the old and the “are they still alive?” category of artists who continually come back or refuse to go away.

The crowning moment figures to be Wednesday night when Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, those well-dressed kings of swing wearing cool hats, take the stage. The VooDudes started playing locally back in 1991, mostly at Nicholby’s in Ventura. Relentless road dogs, they landed an important gig at the Derby in Hollywood, from where they helped launch the nationwide swing dance craze in which participants both dress and dance well.

The Derby gig led to a part in the 1996 cult movie “Swingers,” which definitely put the band on the map. After a couple of independent albums and plenty of roadwork, the band signed a lucrative deal with Capitol before moving on to Interscope, where its latest is “This Beautiful Life.” The most successful band ever from the Poinsettia City, BBVD’s resume is the envy of many--appearances at the Super Bowl and the Orange Bowl, a gig for President Bill and even an episode of “Ally McBeal.”

Other local artists will perform Saturday as part of the fifth annual Gospel Music Festival. Soloists, duos, small groups and choirs from 15 Ventura County churches will share their talents in a five-hour program beginning at 4 p.m.

Doing their share to keep classic rock alive are a pair of FM staples, Foreigner and Firefall, playing Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Foreigner, originally powered by the vocals of Lou Gramm, made its debut in 1977 and had a string of hits including “Feels Like the First Time,” “Cold as Ice” and “Hot-Blooded.” Firefall’s self-titled debut album in 1976 allowed the group members to keep their night jobs with hits such as “You Are the Woman” and “Cinderella.”

Country fans can check out Terri Clark, Kenny Chesney and Chely Wright, not to mention some real cowboys doing real cowboy stuff at the PRCA Rodeo during the fair’s final weekend.

Clark, the country hit maker, went triple platinum in her 1995 debut. Her follow-up, 1997’s “Just the Same,” went gold. “How I Feel” is the latest for Clark, who will perform tonight.

Tennessee native Chesney has released five albums since his debut seven years ago, his latest “Everywhere We Go.”

Chesney, who performs next Friday, described his new one thus: “I’m very proud of the fact that there’s not a boring moment on it and there’s no overall theme. As far as I’m concerned, there are 11 different songs on here and 11 different themes. I’m having fun, I’m crying a little bit, I’m feeling good and I’m feeling bad--all the way through the album.”

Wright, who brings down the curtain on the fair Aug. 13, started singing at the ripe old age of 11. The 20-something singer is best known for her smash hit “Single White Female.”

Tower of Power, with that incomparable horn section that has performed with such diverse artists as Elton John, the Eurythmics and Phish, has been creating its own brand of soul since the ‘60s. The Bay Area band was originally called the Motowns, leaving little mystery as to its musical orientation. The 10-piece outfit is one of the few groups that can actually stage a fluegelhorn duet.

Joining Tower of Power on Thursday will be another veteran band, War, out of South-Central Los Angeles. War, which was launched in 1969, a year after Tower of Power, has a musical agenda to spread a message of brotherhood, justice and harmony. Its most famous tunes are perhaps “Low Rider,” “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” and “Spill the Wine.”

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Debbie Reynolds, star of stage and screen and forever known for the ballad “Tammy,” will perform Tuesday on Senior Day, when those 55 and older get in free. Reynolds landed the lead female role in one of the greatest musicals of all time, “Singin’ in the Rain,” co-starring Gene Kelly. The mother of Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Reynolds has starred in more than 30 films and has been a lifelong supporter of the Girl Scouts and the Thalians, a charity that has raised millions of dollars for emotionally disturbed children.

By the way, anyone 100 or older gets into the fair free, any day.

Former teen heartthrob Rick Springfield will bring a lengthy resume to his Tuesday night performance. The former soap opera star from “General Hospital” has recorded a dozen albums, selling 15 million, and has earned a Grammy as well as three American Music Awards. His latest is “Karma,” but expect his biggies such as “Jessie’s Girl” and “Don’t Talk to Strangers.”

Oldies but goodies will come to life in the form of the Drifters and Little Richard.

The Drifters, a smooth-singing outfit that began in the ‘50s, had a revolving cast of singers, including the likes of Clyde McPhatter and Ben E. King. Their hits, from the days when AM radio was cool, include “Under the Boardwalk,” “Up on the Roof” and “Save the Last Dance for Me.” The ever-changing makeup of the Drifters and the large number of alumni would account for the fact that there seems to be a version of the group in every state. Whoever they are will sing twice Monday.

Like a flamethrower at a tea party, Little Richard was an unforgettable presence once he burst upon the rock ‘n’ roll scene with “Tutti-Frutti” in 1955. Rock music has never been the same. His passion, his theatrics, his power and all that hair captured America’s teenagers even as it scared the heck out of their parents.

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Born Richard Wayne Penniman in Macon, Ga., the singer began his career in the local church choir. He won a talent contest and earned a deal with RCA Records, but his first recordings didn’t do much. He sent a demo to Specialty Records in L. A., then returned to his dishwashing job at the Greyhound bus station. The demo was basic R & B stuff with one exception, “Tutti-Frutti,” which ended Little Richard’s bus station days forever.

A flamboyant showman, Little Richard had a string of hits such as “Good Golly Miss Molly,” “Long Tall Sally” and “Lucille.” Then, in 1957, just a year and a half after his debut, the singer quit music to study religion. After a hiatus of a few years, he returned to making music. By 1968, Little Richard had sold more than 30 million records.

In 1986, he was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Four years later, he got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1993, Little Richard received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. There’s a street named after him in Macon. He’s a legend, and he’s playing Monday night.

Before that, however, he talked.

So how’s the rock biz treating you lately?

It’s been good to me. The Lord has been good to me. I’m gonna be 68 years old soon. I’ll be playing in Ventura, then opening up at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

You’re obviously not little anymore. Why did you keep the name?

I always liked the sound of that and, you know, it makes me feel younger.

Are you really little? How tall are you?

I’m about 5-11.

What was the impact of “Tutti-Frutti” on an unsuspecting world?

It shook the whole world. Awop bop a loo bop alop bam boom! It was crazy--really something different. It was the first rock ‘n’ roll record. I was the Originator, the Innovator, the Architect of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Rhythm and blues had a baby and they called it rock ‘n’ roll.

In 1957, when you were on top of the world, you quit music. Do you regret that?

No, I don’t. I went to school at the Oakwood College, a Bible school in Huntsville, Ala. I wanted to study religion because I came from a religious background. I wanted to find out more about God because I love God.

Tell me an Elvis story.

A lot of people didn’t like him because he was a white boy doing black music, and parents certainly didn’t want their children listening to me. But a white boy was more acceptable than I was back in those days. Elvis was a beautiful guy and a great friend. He was a great entertainer, black or white, and he loved black music so much.

You have all these wild nicknames--which one best describes you now?

Well, I still like the Beauty That’s Still on Duty. I just want to bring people together, and spread joy and peace to this crazy world. I don’t need lyrics with all that cursing. I can do my thing without being filthy.

What was it like being a rock star in the ‘50s?

Oh, it was really something else. But one time in London, they tried to create a rivalry between me and Chuck Berry, like we hated each other, which we didn’t. We’re still friends. It was just a thing the promoters did to sell tickets. It’s the same thing with Jerry Lee Lewis--we’re not rivals; we’re friends. We’re all still great friends--we love each other.

What’s the fair gig going to be like?

You tell the people in Ventura that rock ‘n’ roll history is coming to their town. They’ll get down on their knees and yell “Pleeeeease.”

DETAILS

Terri Clark, Damone tonight; Foreigner, Gospel Night on Saturday; Little Banda Maguey, Rogelio Martinez & Federico Villa, Firefall on Sunday; Little Richard, the Drifters on Monday; Debbie Reynolds, Rick Springfield, Rubber Biscuit on Tuesday; Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Mountain Music on Wednesday; Tower of Power, War, Bad Moon Rising on Thursday; Kenny Chesney, Williams & Ree, Common Sense next Friday; the Nelsons, Aug. 12; Chely Wright, the Army of Freshmen, Aug. 13. Cost: free with fair admission. Call: 648-3376.

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Bill Locey can be reached by e-mail at [email protected]