Fort Hays State University - Reveille Yearbook (Hays, KS)

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WAYNE VOSS Still a great group- Alabama returned to the university only two years after a 1986 concert with a brand new show that entertained more than 3,000 of their fans in Cross Memorial Coliseum- In the spotlight. Randy Owen, the lead singer for Alabama since its inception, is considered to have one of the most recognizable voices in country music. WAYNE voss Concert 24

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A taste of the rich life. Wearing large jewlcry and a multi-colored outfit is Melony Albert. Fashion winners. Wearing dark outfits are Karen Wasinger, Cheryl Hughas, Joy Collins, Melony Albert, and Diane Pottberd. waynh voss

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Alabama -- again by Eric Hodson Just two years ago, the country music group Alabama played in Gross Memorial Coliseum. This year they returned with a new and improved show and two opening acts, Billy Joe Royal and Eddie Raven. The stage show utilized multiple stage floors, suspended speakers and computerized lighting to give the 3,300 fans their money ' s worth. ' It was a good crowd. It wasn ' t as big as we expected, but it was still a good crowd ' Lance Demond, MUAB concert committee chairman, said. Lead singer, Randy Owen said part of the group ' s success has been their concert performances across the country. He said in order to put on a high quality, high tech show, they must have a good road crew. They ' re just as important as we are, if not more important, he said. We feel very strongly about doing a high class, high tech ' best show you ' ve ever seen ' type show, he said. Demond said the group contacted them and asked to perform. They called us and made us a deal wc couldn ' t refuse, Demond said. Owen pointed out that just because Alabama is a country group, they don ' t like taking a back scat to any group ' s stage show. When we go into a place, we like to feel like country music is taken to as high a level as it can be taken to as far as the show itself. I don ' t like to hear that some pop act or whatever had a better show light wise or sound wise, I love rock music and pop music and the people who play it. I just don ' t like country music to take a back seat and say ' We ' re country man, we can ' t do that Owen said, laughing. In order to keep pace with other a cts and to keep the show ' s high quality, the band has the lights, stage and sound improved every year. Our tickets are high, but actually what they ' re paying for is their money ' s worth. If I didn ' t feel like that, I couldn ' t get up on stage and take their money, the lead singer said. They put on a realty high class show, Demond said. I like to look at every show like we may never have another chance to come back here, Owen said. We want to give them something to remember Alabama by. Traveling in style. The north parking lot of Gross Memorial Coliseum was literally full as Alabama, Eddy Raven and Billy Joe Royal all used the area to park their busses and semi-truck trailers. A great opening act. Eddy Raven, a well-known personality on the country scene for the past 10 years, was an openi ng act for Alabama along with Billy Joe Royal. Concert 25 MIKIi I tAWLEY