Glen Campbell to say goodbye at the Hollywood Bowl (He can still perform even with Alzheimer's!)

Orange County Register ^ | 02/14/2012 | BEN WENER

[SeekAndFind]

We've been waiting and hoping that the Rhinestone Cowboy might come to Orange County one last time before finally hanging up his microphone, but it doesn't seem likely now -- not when a huge farewell has been slated for the Hollywood Bowl.

As has been widely reported -- and repeated Sunday night just before the Lifetime Achievement Award honoree took the stage for a rousing, admirable tribute at the Grammys -- Glen Campbell, 76, is facing the onset of Alzheimer's by embarking on a farewell trek (The Goodbye Tour) behind one final album, his 61st (!), last August's acclaimed Ghost on the Canvas. (The Village Voice: "Maybe the best album he's ever made.")

Like Johnny Cash before him, Campbell has been trying on modern material with his most recent efforts including 2008's equally heralded Meet Glen Campbell; this one includes songs penned by Jakob Dylan, Guided by Voices' Robert Pollard and former Replacements leader Paul Westerberg, who wrote the title track. With three of his adult children supporting him on the road, Campbell has already played the area twice since the new album dropped, both times at the L.A. Live complex, where he packed Club Nokia in October and returned last week for an intimate encounter at the Grammy Museum.

But his next performance should take the cake: Campbell will headline the Hollywood Bowl on June 24, in what's billed as his final L.A. show. (By the way, that also fills in the blank on KCRW's World Festival schedule.)

[pgkdan]

I saw an interview with him and his wife. She often had to answer questions for him...he'd get about half through the answer and then trail off like he forgot what was going on. She said that he sometimes has trouble remembering what happened yesterday but when he starts singing he remembers all the words to every song he ever recorded.

I saw him on the Grammy's and was sad to remember what a great talent he was. I always liked his music.

[SeekAndFind]

CLICK This Link for photos

Grammy Lifetime Achievement award winner Glen Campbell certainly didn't show signs of his Alzheimer's disease on the Grammy stage Sunday night. The country legend, who's been using teleprompters on his current farewell tour, never glanced down once singing his iconic 'Rhinestone Cowboy,' and he had everyone from Paul McCartney to Lady Gaga singing and clapping along.

"I've got my own choir here," Glen laughed in the middle of the song.

The Band Perry began the medley of Glen Campbell hits with 'Gentle on My Mind,' backed by the 75-year-old singer's band, which includes his sons and daughter. Blake Shelton followed with 'Southern Nights' before the country legend himself took the stage sporting a white sequined jacket, black pants and a whole lot of energy.

[fatnotlazy]

Sorry to read this. I understand he also had substance abuse problems, but he did turn his life around. God bless him and his wife and family as they deal with this devastating illness.

[Michael.SF.]

People often forget his studio work as a guitarist, he played behind:

Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, the Mamas and the Papas, Dean Martin, Jan & Dean, the Righteous Brothers and Ray Charles to name only a few.

In 1965 he had significant studio work with Phil Specter as well as with the Beach Boys so much so that he toured with them. Campbell estimated he was earning about $100,000 per year for his studio work in the mid-1960s.

He played on the First Editions psych-drenched ‘What Condition My Condition Was In’ and the 12 string intro to The Beach Boys classic ‘Dance Dance Dance’, and he is playing on Sinatra's ‘Strangers In The Night’

[RightField]

The only thing I noticed about his performance on the Grammy show was that when his song was over, you could hear him say, “Where do I go now?” and then the show cut quickly to a commercial.

[GailA]

That was one of the highlights of the Grammy’s.

Since the Grammy’s are supposed to represent all music, why is Gospel left out? Every other form is there, some I would not even dain to call music, just a jumble of words and harsh music.

Oh, I know they have the DOVE awards, but if the Grammy’s is truly about all music Gospel has to be included.

[SeekAndFind]

Get a load of Glen Campbell’s guitar skills when he played the WILLIAM TELL OVERTURE in a concert just 2 years ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf8ONq1Dtrg

[smalltownslick]

Jack Greene has been performing with it for 11 years. He only fairly recently conceded - he has found it too difficult to do a full show, but will stay on the Opry where he needs to do only a song or two.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Say what you want about him but he still ruined TRUE GRIT!

My girlfriend broke up with me after I said disparaging words about his acting in that movie. She said that if she had a choice she would marry him instead of me since he went to the same church she did.

Wonder if she still feels the same about him.

Then there was that affair between him and that little Country singer slut back in the late 1970s...but that is another story.

Wonder if he is as senile as Willie Nelson? Nelson was so bad in a concert a few years ago people wondered if he was stoned, drunk and senile during the performance.

[morphing libertarian]

What are the odds Nelson wasn’t stoned? LOL!

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Say what you want about him but he still ruined TRUE GRIT!

OK, the acting was bad, but the song was still great.

As for your then girlfriend, what to say? If she is going to break up with over a trivial thing like that, you were never meant for each other anyway...

[Michael.SF.]

He makes it look so easy!!!

Thanks