Isle of Capri welcomes country mainstay Sawyer Brown

Sawyer Brown, one of the most beloved and longest lasting groups in country music, will take to the stage for two high- energy shows at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau on Saturday.

Known for hits such as "Betty's Bein' Bad" and "Step That Step," Sawyer Brown has been a fan favorite since the 1980s and is a mainstay of the country-music scene. The group has three certified gold albums and one certified platinum album to its name, and three Sawyer Brown songs have reached No. 1 on the country charts with its 19 top-10 singles.

"We're looking forward to returning to Cape Girardeau," said Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard, keyboardist and founding member of the group, in a telephone interview. "We want to do good shows for our older fans and for those who haven't seen us before."

Hubbard said Sawyer Brown played the Show Me Center with Diamond Rio in 1994, which was a different time from the group's beginnings in the early 1980s.

"The group first came together when we were sidemen for Don King, a country-pop singer," Hubbard said. "We didn't last very long with Don, but we felt that we worked well together. We decided to go ahead and try to make a name for ourselves. Of course, we had no idea what was going to happen."

Sawyer Brown will perform at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau at 7 and 9 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at isleofcapricasinos.com or at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau’s gift shop. (Submitted)

Hubbard, originally from Apopka, Fla., said the group's unknown future went easier on him because an old friend of his also was in the group.

"I'd known Mark Miller, our lead singer, since junior high school," he said. "We had both attended the University of Central Florida, also."

According to Hubbard, how the group decided on the name of Sawyer Brown is to this day a point of contention among fans. He said many believe it comes from the name of the road where the group used to rehearse, but that's not the case.

"Honestly, I don't even remember how it was chosen," he said. "There were hundreds of names we pitched back and forth, but I believe we chose Sawyer Brown because it sounded good."

In those early days, Sawyer Brown took the time-honored approach to paying its dues by performing in Nashville clubs, playing up to five sets a night, six nights a week. It was also a way for them to perfect its distinctive country-pop sound.

"We were hardheaded enough to know we were going to do it our way," Hubbard said. "We weren't scared to go out on a limb with our sound."

Sawyer Brown continued to plug away on the Nashville scene, and the break it was looking came in 1983 in the form of "Star Search," a popular 1980s television show that had single acts and groups competing for a cash prize and a recording contract.

"‘Star Search' was the ‘American Idol' of its time," Hubbard said. "We auditioned the first year the show ran, but we didn't expect to hear anything. We really did the show so we could use the tape of our audition to pitch to record companies."

Sawyer Brown made it past the audition stage, ultimately winning the $100,000 grand prize and a recording contract. Hubbard said winning the competition was a great surprise.

"We were all blown away," he said. "‘Star Search' opened the door for us, and we had to take the opportunity."

When Sawyer Brown signed with Curb Records in 1984, its first album, "Sawyer Brown," reached No. 2 on the Billboard country charts. The album contained "Step That Step," its first No. 1 song.

Sawyer Brown further established itself as one of the top groups in country music when it released its 1985 album, "Shakin'," which produced the signature songs "Betty's Bein' Bad" and "Heart Don't Fall Now."

The hits just kept coming for Sawyer Brown throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and even today the group continues to make new music and delight audiences on the road.

"The important part of our success is that we continue to pay attention to our fans," Hubbard said. "We're never going to forget to do that."

Sawyer Brown is scheduled to perform at 7 and 9 p.m. at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau's Event Center. Tickets for the shows are $25 and may be purchased at isleofcapricasinos.com or at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau's gift shop.

According to Jill Alexander, Isle Casino Cape Girardeau spokeswoman, ticket sales are moving briskly.

"If you are planning to attend and have not purchased your tickets yet, you may want to make your purchase sooner rather than later so that you do not miss out on Sawyer Brown," she said.

Patrons must be 21 or older to enter Isle Casino Cape Girardeau.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address: 777 N. Main Street, Cape Girardeau, MO