Country Star Brings Music, Fans To Bayside Concert - The BayNet.com

The hair’s all there; it’s just a lot grayer. Although it’s been more than 30 years since he had a Country Top 10 hit on his own, Marty Stuart’s voice is still strong, his shows entertaining and his fans adoring as witnessed his Aug. 2 show at Chesapeake Beach Resort & Spa “Rock the Dock” summer concert series.

Marty Stuart and his band the Superlatives packed the house, or in this case the beach and Tiki Bar, for the hour-and-a-half set that had the audience clapping and singing along to their brand of country, honky tonk and rockabilly. And after the show Stuart and his band stayed behind to sign posters, sell CDs and memorabilia, and to interact with their fans.

Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa owner Gerald Donavan told the BayNet that Stuart was “a class act.”

Stuart told the audience that the first records he owned as a five-year-old child were by Johnny Cash and Lester Flatt. Ironically Stuart early in his career played with both of their bands. He said he still is into their music and country music in general to this day.

Stuart broke into the country limelight as a solo artist in the early 1980’s with such Top 10 hits as “Hillbilly Rock,” “Little Things,” “Tempted,” “Burn Me Down” and “This One’s Gonna Hurt for a Long, Long Time” (with Travis Tritt). Stuart and Tritt collaborated on the 1991 Number Two chart hit “The Whiskey Ain’t Workin' ” and then they toured together in the successful “No Hats” tour, a poke at all the other country starts who were wearing cowboy hats at the time.

Marty Stuart and the Superlatives from their opening song performed an upbeat, high energy concert of Stuart’s hits, including “The Whiskey Ain’t Workin” and many country favorites, such as “Gold Ring on Her Finger” and “I Kissed Her.”

Stuart gives all three of the Superlatives -- Kenny Vaughan, Harry Stinson and Chris Scruggs -- a chance to sing solo and also show off their accomplished musical skills.

Stuart noted that his wife Connie Smith will soon be celebrating her 50th year on the Grand Ole Opry and he was looking forward to being with her on that occasion (Smith was one of the hosts at the Grand Ole Opry on July 4th attended by this writer).

These days in addition to touring Stuart is host of the regular Marty Stuart Show on cable’s RFD-TV. His most recent album, Saturday Night, Sunday Morning was released last year on his Superlatone label.

Marty Stuart and the Superlatives were part of the summer-long concert series at Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa.

By Dick Myers