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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 14 July 2018
Country singer Luke Combs' unassuming appeal makes him a hit

By KRISTIN M. HALL ground on radio when he
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — was added to the Colum-
The first week of June was bia Nashville roster. Sony's
one of Luke Combs' big- promotional muscle be-
gest weeks in his still fledg- hind the song was like add-
ling career. The 28-year-old ing gasoline to a fire, said
taped an outdoor perfor- Kappy.
mance for the "CMT Cross- His label listened to feed-
roads" series with soul singer back from radio program-
Leon Bridges, attended the mers to give him his second
CMT Awards, released a radio No. 1 with "When It
deluxe version of his debut Rains It Pours," a cheeky
album and sang in front of take on a breakup that
tens of thousands of fans at turned into a lucky streak.
the CMA Fest. But he went back to the
And then immediately after well of the emotion-driven
the festival performance, love songs with a slight R&B
he lost his voice. Put on vo- swagger on "One Number
cal rest for 10 days, Combs Away," his third hit single. All
had a No. 1 country album three of his songs have also
but couldn't perform. reached the Top 40 on the
"It stung a little bit," he ad- pop charts.
mitted later after his voice Fans connect with Combs'
recovered. "It made me, unvarnished approach-
I guess, a bit more vulner- ability and openness. The
able than I would have burly and bearded per-
liked." In this April 15, 2018 file photo, Luke Combs arrives at the 53rd annual Academy of Country Music former wears the same kind
Mostly he was upset about Awards in Las Vegas. of shirt every time he hits
having to reschedule shows Associated Press the stage, a short-sleeved
and disappointing fans. The black sports shirt made to
Asheville, North Carolina- was released last year. It his own music and promot- oversized personalities and help fishermen deal with
born singer built his success spawned three No. 1 coun- ed himself to his millennial scrappy attitudes. heat and sweat. He's a
on his live shows when he try radio singles in a row, the peers online through the "We're not the typical norm beer-swigging, tobacco-
was performing more than first time that's happened now-defunct social media of what this industry is look- chewing everyman who is
200 dates a year in 2016 in since Sam Hunt did it in platform Vine. ing for," Kappy said. also self-assured enough to
college towns all around 2014. The album's deluxe "I think that was kind of al- Kappy's plan was to just let sing about the passion of
the Southeast and adding version, featuring five new ways my goal: get people Combs be himself and let heartbreak and love.
to his fan base one show at songs, sold better in the first to come back and see a the natural talent win over "There's an authenticity in
a time. week than his original de- show twice and then see it fans. "I told Luke, 'I just want just being who you are and
"Imagine you've been but record, meaning he's a third time," Combs said. people to fall in love with not having an act about it
working out for a year earned himself a lot more "And now I've got people you, buddy, and to do that or wear clothes you normal-
straight, as hard as you fans in just a year. His gold- who have been to 30, 40 we have to expose you. ly wouldn't wear," Combs
can work out and the last selling album is the most shows." Combs even found And that's being vulner- said. "I'm just comfortable
set, the last thing you gotta streamed country album of his first manager on the able, that's being humble, in my own skin."
do is that last week of CMA 2018 and it has spent five road when Chris Kappy that's telling stories.'" Combs is currently open-
Fest," Combs said. "It's like nonconsecutive weeks at saw him perform his now It helped that his first sin- ing for Jason Aldean on
the second you're done No. 1 on Billboard's coun- multiplatinum single, "Hur- gle, "Hurricane," was a tour and he'll play shows
with it, you're just like laid try albums chart. Instead ricane," in a Georgia bar great showcase of his in the United Kingdom and
out on the floor." of the traditional path to in 2015. Kappy, who had deep booming voice with Europe this fall. But his next
Combs has been work- country stardom of writing no previous management a big hooky chorus. Al- big play is the sophomore
ing at a breakneck speed songs for other people be- experience, immediately ready signed to a new la- album, which he's already
in the year since his debut fore launching his career as felt a kinship to Combs, as bel called River House Art- been writing and record-
album, "This One's for You," an artist, Combs released both are large men with ists, the song was gaining ing. q

Oklahoma town doubles in

population for Woody Guthrie fest

OKEMAH, Okla. (AP) — Folk Festival. Performers this miles (110 kilometers) east
Woody Guthrie's Oklahoma year include Grammy win- of Oklahoma City. Thomp-
hometown has doubled in ner Jason Mraz, Oklaho- son says some come from
population as thousands ma's Turnpike Troubadours, as far away as Scotland
gather for a music festival and Annie Guthrie, daugh- and Australia.
in honor of the "This Land Is ter of Arlo Guthrie and the Bob Dylan and Bruce
Your Land" singer. granddaughter of Woody Springsteen have cited
The Journal Record reports Guthrie. Woody Guthrie as an influ-
that the town of Okemah Festival organizer Kay ence.
jumps from about 3,000 to Thompson says it brings mu- This is the festival's 21st year. In this July 18, 2014 file photo, Jason Mraz performs on NBC's
6,000 people during the sic fans from around the It continues through Sun- "Today" show in New York.
annual Woody Guthrie world to Okemah, about 70 day. q Associated Press