Lipscomb University - Backlog Yearbook (Nashville, TN)

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Gene Cotton: The Man Behind The Music You got to shine on, You got to shine on your light, You got to shine on, You got to shine on your light, You got to shine on, You got to shine on your light, You got to open the door, boy, An shine on your light. gs Ny. ; Le Bova Eo aise Amid all of the crazy goings-on in the music business, Gene Cotton just keeps on shining his light. Cot- ton has had his share of ups and downs in his over 15 years in the music business. Yet through it all, . Cotton proves himself to be sure of himself, where he is, and where he is going. There is no pretentiousness about him. He is friendly, relaxed and sincere. During his November 17 visit to campus he granted an interview with Kerry Anderson. When you tour, would you rather play big concerts or smaller audi- ences? I'd rather do college campuses than anything else. Why? Several reasons. All this summer | was on tour with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and the Ozark Mountain Dare- devils and we were playing outdoor festivals. There were anywhere from five to twenty-five thousand people. It is hard to get personal with 25,000 people. Plus, you have an age brack- et of anywhere from 10 to 40. On a campus, though, you're op- erating with a fairly select age group. You're also working with a fairly in- telligent group of people. Also, there are a lot of people in the middle of making big decisions about life-what they’re going to major in, what to do with their life and whatnot. A lot of the songs that | do are lyric and message oriented. So if | can have a positive input there it makes it worthwhile. You seem to be very aware and concerned with what is going on in the world today. What would you see as the most pressing issues we need to deal with? In my mind there are two crucial problems so far above everything else they make all the other things UNE COT TH “ 4 ia seem totally obscure. Those prob- lems are hunger and the nuclear arms race. We’re on a path to self- destruction, and anyone who isn’t worried is nuts. With Reagan's prom- ise to spend something like $3 tril- lion by 1984, | can’t even imagine what a million dollars looks like. Can you imagine what that money could do if it were put into life-en- hancing things rather than life-de- stroying things? This whole nuclear issue is absolutely insane. Those are the two crucial issues. If we don’t deal with those realistical- ly, there won't be many of us left to worry about it. You're quite eloquent with your beliefs. Are you still thinking about teaching some time in the future? No. Right now | plan on staying in music. I’m in music because | think it is what | am supposed to do. | should be using the gifts and talents that were given to me the best | can. | think that is in music. The preceding article consists of excerpts from an interview published in The Babbler. 29

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Wedman Performs “Date night with Willard,” an at- tempt on the part of our president and the All Student Association to help the dating situation (or lack of dating) on campus took place on Thursday night, November 6. A spa- ghetti supper in the high school cafeteria and a concert by Sam Wedman and Windsong were the components of a memorable even- ing. Wedman, attired in an official western outfit-complete with cow- boy boots, red bandana, and a four- foot-long cowboy hat-sang a few country and western songs and told several jokes. Windsong followed with an excellent show of great vari- ety, including everything from coun- try to rock. The student response was great; many came with dates, while others took President Collins’ advice to ‘‘come without a date and leave with your future mate.”’ Y) 4) toe o O = O O . ¥ : 2 ee cee ee wt! eae

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30 i § ; : = On April 2 the second annual Tau Phi and Friends Cowboy show was held in Alumni Auditorium. For a nominal fee of one dollar, Lipscomb students were entertained with country hits from the past and pre- sent. Tau Phi changed the overall for- mat of the show, using more mod- ern songs than last year in order that the audience might sing along. Featured songs this year included numbers by the Oak Ridge Boys, Hank and Don Williams, Willie Nel- son, and Larry Gatlin. The band con- sisted of Craig Woods, P.R. Ander- son, Jeffrey ‘‘Hank’’ Piatt, Wade Denney and other Tau Phi members and alumni. Delta Nu member Bill Prady played the drums and Lisa Holland, Sue Music, Melanie Loyd, Robin Stafford and Sherilyn Harlis added a female touch to the show. Saga planned a festive meal with a western theme Thursday night be- fore the show, while students were encouraged to dress in western style on Thursday.