Johnny Tolley at the Ritz
Johnny Tolley at the Ritz
Hometown boy Johnny Tolley will be at The Ritz Civic Center at 306 W. Main Street in Blytheville this Saturday, January 16, 2010, at 7:00 PM to host a fund raising event on behalf of The Arts Council of Mississippi County. The program is called “The Johnny Tolley ‘Ole Time Variety Show” and will include several family-friendly acts including song, dance and comedy. There is no set admission cost, but donations for The Arts Council are encouraged.
Many will remember that Johnny began his singing career with a high school band in Blytheville, and was singing professionally at the age of sixteen. After college he performed several years on the Holiday Inn circuit, playing in states such as Arkansas, Texas and Tennessee as well as doing opening concerts for George Strait, Hank Williams, Jr., Marty Robbins, Jerry Reed and Jerry Clower. Clower’s request for Johnny to be his opening act was a turning point in his career. He began working as comedian Jerry Clower's opening act & this led to television appearances on The Porter Wagoner Show, The Wilburn Brothers Show, Country Place & others.
Tolley will be singing selections from his newly released CD entitled “Songs From The Heart”, such as “Texas” and “You Believed In Me”, along with selections from his first CD, “If This Is Our Last Time”, which received good radio play throughout the country. His video for the song was featured on CMT, GAC, & COUNTRYCLIPS in Nashville. He appears weekly at The Loveless Cafe in Nashville & works consistently performing show dates on the road.
The Nashville Limelight described Johnny Tolley’s CD “Songs From The Heart” as “The best work thus far. The smooth quality of his voice and delivery puts one in mind of James Taylor & Don Williams but yet, done it Tolley’s own style. The sadness of “New Orleans in the Rain” and the heartbreak of life in “Harder Cards” are outstanding cuts. There’s also a Texas swing that would please the dance hall crowds. Overall, a real winner!”
Joining Johnny for the Saturday show will be the variety of talented performers including Donna Dunkin, Charles Moody, Lavella McWilliams, The ANC Chamber Singers, and Ken Jackson. Johnny welcomes new to the stage of The Ritz, gospel vocalist Rhonda Hodges of Blytheville, Ashley Roacho from Walnut Ridge, Northeast Arkansas' Outstanding Teen, who will be performing a tap dance, Ashleigh Rogers, Lights of the Delta's Outstanding Teen, from Batesville, who will enlighten audience goers with her vocal talent, and Kristen Heuck, Miss Lights of the Delta, from Jonesboro, who will perform her “bollywood” dance.
