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LATEST LETTERS

Lee Greenwood cancelling concert

Friday, September 28 at 2:00 PM

Eric Horner of Juliet, TN writes:

I want to address those who are questioning Mr. Greenwood’s patriotism over the cancellation of the show in Colorado. I had the privilege of working with Mr. Greenwood for 10 years as a guitarist and backup vocalist and he is the REAL DEAL when it comes to patriotism. It saddens me to see someone question his heart for America, our military and our veterans over a promoter who was simply in breach of contract. I’ve seen this happen to Lee before. He goes to the expense of taking his entire band and crew on the road to fulfill a date secured by a legal binding contract only to have the promoter give him the bad news that he can’t pay him. Many times the promoters create these events to “honor” our veterans, military, firefighters, and police and then expect to play upon Lee’s patriotic sympathy to get a full concert presentation for less than the agreed upon amount or sometimes nothing at all. They think that Lee will simply bow to their wishes to avoid the bad publicity. I applaud Lee for standing his ground. Giving in to those who can’t take care of business honestly and properly simply opens the door for it to happen again and again. To survive in the sometimes crazy music business world, you have to be a good businessman. Being a good businessman doesn’t allow for being shortchanged by irresponsible promoters. Mr Greenwood has bills to pay just like everybody else. I’ve stood with Lee at the 38th parallel in Korea, at military bases all around the world, at family support and welcome home concerts during Operation Desert storm, numerous veterans activities, and even concerts for presidents. I’ve seen him overcome with emotion as he sang in Norfolk VA to the families of those lost in the bombing of the USS Cole and to the families of those lost in the attacks on America on 9-11-2001 in New York City. I know the mans heart and it beats red,white and blue. He’s done more for our veterans and military than any other performer I know. To the promoter of the Colorado show, don’t you DARE sling mud at a patriot like Mr Greenwood simply because you dropped the ball. If anyone owes those vets in Colorado an apology sir, it is you.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

So, what? One patriotism pimp is short-changed by another patriotism pimp? Jingoism is big business, and these business disagreements happen, let the lawyers sort it all out, but don't waste your effort backing up the patriotic credentials of your boss/band-leader. I don't think any less of Mr. Greenwood than I did before, but at the same time, I don't think highly of direct or indirect war profiteers either.

Posted by on September 28, 2007 02:17 PM

God Bless the 20K!!

Posted by just sayin' on September 28, 2007 02:42 PM

Drew,

Where did you get that info? Not questioning you or the data just wanting to find that info.

Thanks in advance

bwr

Posted by bwr on September 28, 2007 02:43 PM

bwr,

An article in either the Post or News right after it happened.

Posted by drew on September 28, 2007 02:49 PM

bwr - see below:

editorial
Greenwood's pride failed him as he stood up heroes
By The Denver Post Editorial Board
Article Last Updated: 09/19/2007 05:24:20 PM MDT

Country singer Lee Greenwood has made a career off his patriotic croonings of love and respect for this country. His song "God Bless the USA" is a megahit that has only grown in popularity since 9/11 and the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

That's why the nasty dispute he had with promoters of a Colorado event celebrating military heroes and rescue workers was so disappointing.

Greenwood cancelled his headline act Saturday night in a conflict over money — as the audience sat waiting. That much everyone agrees upon.

But veterans and Greenwood's handlers have different versions of exactly what happened, and in the end, the matter could end up sorted out in a courtroom.

Greenwood's people contend the concert promoter didn't come up with the agreed-upon payment. The singer was to be paid $20,000 for his performance.

Concert organizer Frank Young said he had only $18,000 in cash — some paid in advance of the concert and some Young brought with him. Young said Greenwood's road manager refused a $2,000 check from a Knights of Columbus chapter for the remainder of the concert fee.

If that is how it went down, Greenwood ought to be ashamed of himself.

Greenwood's manager, Jerry Bentley, told The Denver Post that the promoter had paid less in cash than he contended and that they "don't accept personal checks." And he added: "No pay, no play." He also is talking about suing Young.

That's almost too cold to be believed, particularly for an artist who has made a living off the loyalty he has inspired from veterans and others with deep-seated patriotic sentiments.

Young is clearly a rookie promoter, so you would expect Greenwood's staff to be more cautious in advance. And why walk away from a crowd filled with military heroes and rescue workers — the very people who helped resurrect his career?

It was an awful cap to a day of celebration and pride. Young, 55, a Vietnam veteran worked doggedly to arrange the Colorado State Parade of Honor, lining up more than 200 marching units to honor police officers, firefighters and veterans. We salute his effort and good intentions.

Ticket buyers paid $20 each to see Greenwood, and when it was clear the event was not going to go off, Young walked on stage, explained the situation and broke down in tears.

He offered the audience a refund, but many in the crowd shouted that they didn't want their money back. Then, in a true act of patriotism, they joined hands and sang "God Bless America."

It was not a Greenwood tune, and that was not an accident. We can hardly blame them.

Posted by drew on September 28, 2007 02:56 PM

Thanks Drew. Problem was between my chair and keyboard. Spelling wrong. Shees

Thanks again

bwr

Posted by bwr on September 28, 2007 03:02 PM

Ah, yes.. that wonderfully patriotic song...

Let's see..how does it go...?

I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free

(unless I am on the phone with friends/relatives etc... in foreign countries... travelling through airports.... have a last name that isn't white-bread european in origin)

and I won't forget the men who died (to hell with the women).....

And, I'd proudly stand up, next to you .

(unless you happen to be from a different church, or political party)

and defend her still today

(unless I'm a pampered child of a politician)

'cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
god bless the usa

(and to hell with everyone else)

Yep. what a song.

Posted by Sheila on September 28, 2007 03:45 PM

Looks to me like Sheila simpley does not like country music.

I would venture to guess that those who are implying Lee Greenwood is non patriotic would be first inline with a lawyer if the leter of thier contracts were not followed. I guess to them if they get thier money and are able to pay thier bills it is ok, but for someone else to expect the same is unrealistic.

Liberal philiosophy ... do as I say not as I do. The world revolves around me and I am not resposible for my actions ... someone else is.

Posted by Sheila is ignorant on September 28, 2007 04:55 PM

LOL. Looks to me like YOU (who lacks ANY imagination in giving yourself a moniker) are the ignorant one. You can't even spell simple words. Silly boy.

Oh, and I do like country music... especially the stuff by the Dixie Chicks. hahahahah

thanks for the laugh. have a great weekend.

KISSES!!!

Posted by Sheila on September 28, 2007 05:56 PM

I have never liked Greenwood's music I find it simplistic and jingoistic.

In this case, however, I have to side with him. Musicians are always getting cheated by promoters, club owners, concert halls, etc. Traditionally a musicians livelihood depends on fees for playing music live. Greenwood obviously, like so many other professional musicians, has been cheated in the past. If his policy is cash upfront then more power to him.

His fee for playing was $20,000 upfront. His fee was not $18,000 and a questionable check from the local KoC.

I still hate his music but now I see him as a professional musician.

Posted by Colorado Dave on September 28, 2007 06:07 PM

Sheila, you had better have a lead umbrella to sit under, the hail of insults will come your way.

That line 'At least, I know I`m free". Has always seem awkard.

Is freedom the least or the most? to him.

Posted by Sharon B. on September 28, 2007 06:41 PM

Sharon and Sheila, you are pathetic and very sophomoric women. I love how you bash the USA in your "jingoistic" observance of this letter. Typical liberal democrats, bash anything that praises the United States.

Posted by mike h on September 28, 2007 10:36 PM

Aw,c'mon gals.....Lee was just sticking to his contract.I'm sure y'all like sticking to.......Hmmmmmm,what IS a good example of a contract you'd like to stick to?....Oh yeah,I got it now.A child support garnishment.

Posted by Jimminy on September 28, 2007 10:47 PM

Expecting entertainers and actors to regard patriotism higher than money is delusional. People seem to base their patriotism on emotion with no thought process involved, just as some religious sects use emotional manipulation to fire up believers and, by the way, get their money.

Oh, it makes you feel good for awhile but, when the emotion drains your adrenal gland and fades away, you are left with no answer to your questions and tired to boot. So then the cycle starts again and again and again until you become an emotion addict and will do anything to get an emotional fix.

That's the truth of the matter whether or not you want to believe it or not but, you probably don't have the time to think about it now, after all your addicted to the most powerful drug known to man, belief.

The most insidious thing about this drug is you can't by it. You can only get it by giving up all rational, reasonable, intelligent thought and common sense and listening to somebody else tell you what you should think and, of course, you are required to belive they know better how you should live your life than you do. Only when you agree to these terms, will you get the emotional fix that supports your belief habit. And the only cure for this addiction is the truth.

Posted by Allen Campbell on September 29, 2007 04:35 AM

One other thought, don't you get tired of being so high on a belief that was insidiously instilled in your mind and the addiction that makes you force the mantra of the pusher on eveyone else? I said truth is the only cure but, to find the truth will require more of you than what a heroine addict has to go through to succeed in kicking the habit.

However, when you are finally free of the addiction, you will know that the purpose of life is to do the right thing because it's right, and that is a full time job. You will know you don't need anyone else to tell you how to think and how you should live your life and that manipulating others to assure your own sense of self is not only wrong, but quite possibly the worst of all wrongs you can do to your fellow human being.

Posted by Allen Campbell on September 29, 2007 04:59 AM

Oh My God!

Allen, YOU are speaking of addiction and you are one of the biggest proponants of tabacco addiction that I have ever heard.

Allen, addiction is addiction no matter what you are addicted to. Please refer to the page of blogs on the smoking ban recently. I am sure you are familiar with it.

Geez, I can't believe it!

Posted by c on September 29, 2007 08:20 AM

8:20 Am'
Well another no name comment, if your trying to insult me and the work I'm doing, you have failed. I am not, nor have I ever been a proponant of tobacco addiction, and I highly resent your baseless attempt to paint me that way. And speaking of addictions you are one of those I refered to in my comment. You are addicted to a belief based on lies and deception and the emotional comment, you refuse to sign with even a screen name,is the proof of it.

My contention has never been about smoking, it is and will always be about freedom of choice, personal responsibility and the fonding fathers belief in the sanctity of private property which the State of Colorado has so arrogantly redefined.

Secondhand smoke is not now, nor has it ever been the death sentence that tobacco control claims it is. Read the OSHA study that has been upheld by federal appeals court. That decision is what forced ASH, the American Cancer Society and other anti tobacco goons to withdraw their lawsuits and hire people to conduct studies, payed for by pharmaceutical grant money, contrived to support their claims which are in direct contradiction of OSHA's federal statutory regulations.

It won't be long now before we expose this whole sordid scam foisted on the people by Big Drugs and their partners Multi Million Dollar Foundations and their mercatile billion dollar interests in nonsmoke nicotine delivery devices.

When that is finally accomplished that exposure will make the scam of prohibition, which damned near made organized crime's take over of government happen,look like a sunday school picnic.

Posted by Allen Campbell on September 29, 2007 09:07 AM

Allen--

If I signed with a screen name or a single letter what would the difference be? Neither is real to protect us from the loonies, right?

My stand is the same.

Posted by c on September 29, 2007 10:02 AM

Who knew that to criticize this man was to criticize America?

Sean Hannity plays a song before his show and the words "let freedom ring" must make him hyperventilate.

The song is about a woman who kills her abusive husband and then commits suicide and sets the house on fire.

The video of this shows the daughter coming home to the complete destruction of her life.

And Mr. H. thinks this is a song about loving America.

Man, you can`t buy that grade of dumb.

Posted by Sharon B. on September 29, 2007 04:05 PM

So what....Rush Limbaugh's theme is The Pretenders' "My City Was Gone." I hear Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde is a little disconcerted about it too.

Posted by Jimminy on September 29, 2007 08:00 PM

And Chrissie Hynde get a royaly check for it!!

Posted by tj on September 29, 2007 08:30 PM

C. again you make the point I spoke to. Don't confuse me with the facts, I've got my mind made up.

Posted by Allen Campbell on September 30, 2007 06:36 AM

I see that no one has yet pointed out the fact that, like President Clinton, Lee Greenwood chose to avoid the draft during the Vietnam war, and Toby Keith, while spouting jingoistic, and certainly able to join the military , has chosen to badmouth the Dixie Chicks instead.
I guess both Lee and Toby , like many conservatives, are patriots only for the money.
At least the Dixie Chicks practice what they preach.

Posted by CW on September 30, 2007 10:21 AM

CW,
Point well taken, and let's not forget the biggest hypocrites of the right, Rush, Bill O, and Shooter Cheyney all dodged the same draft.

Posted by dmz on September 30, 2007 01:07 PM

In a slightly different context,so what.....the college system was brim full of otherwise conscription-eligible guys in the '60s.You couldn't even get near a National Guard slot without some big-time inside help.Living in Canada was looking pretty good then too.All the latter-day peaceniks posting hereabouts don't want anyone remembering that it was THEIR guy Lyndon F.Kennedy who started that 'ol crazy Asian war intending to lose it.
It made the best kind of sense in those times of no voice-mail to make sure the phone was off the hook when your country called,because answering that call meant you'd likely die for nothing....
Even the drugged-up hippies got that one right,but their record since isn't real encouraging.Bad acid,maybe?

Posted by Jimminy on September 30, 2007 03:32 PM