FAIR WELCOMES WILLIE; FANS FLOCK TO COUNTRY MUSIC LEGEND'S CONCERT

11,364 - 1998 fair attendance through Wednesday evening

The love his fans feel toward Willie Nelson was evident Thursday night at the SEMO District Fair as the entertainer who has attained almost mythic status performed for one of the largest grandstand crowds in memory.

"He does it the way he wants to do it," said Chuck Duvall, who had come from Wentzville to see Nelson.

Duvall, like seatmate Joetta Driver of Paducah, Ky., belongs to the Willie Nelson Fan Club. Fourteen members of the club were seated together in a row near the front.

They were headed for the next Nelson concert in Tunica, Miss., tonight and in Philadelphia, Miss., Saturday night. They also planned to be in Chicago Oct. 3 for Nelson's annual Farm Air benefit.

Though he has not been on the country charts lately, Nelson's way with a melody, his musical survival on his own terms, his I-fought-the-law battle with the IRS and his activism on behalf of farmers have endeared him to legions of fans.

Bonnie Stepenoff, who heads the historic preservation program at Southeast, was down front with her young daughter Hannah. She has been a fan since the "Red Headed Stranger" album came out in 1975.

She was at a loss to explain the appeal of Nelson's music to her at first, then said, "It goes to my soul."

Howard Cole Jr. of Sikeston was there with his father to see Nelson. "I'm a farmer and he's real good to farmers," Cole said.

Margie Farrar is not quite as big a fan. "I like to hear it but not to watch it," she said. She doesn't think an older man -- Nelson's 65 -- should wear his hair so long.

Chances are, none of these fans were disappointed as Nelson and his band played for nearly 2 1/2 hours and covered almost all of his hits in a 44-song set that began with "Whiskey River" and ended with "I Saw the Light."

Nelson seemed to toss off the lyrics of some of the songs, at times outracing his musical accompaniment with a near-spoken readings. But when he sank into a tune, as he did "Lovin' You Was Easier," "Blue Skies," "Georgia," "Stardust" and especially "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground," he was mesmerizing.

"You Were Always on My Mind" was another standout.

His guitar playing was virtuosic, as was that of fellow guitarist Jody Payne. Harmonica players Micky Raphael also stood out.

Toward the end of the concert, Nelson played some tunes from his newest album, the heavily Spanish inflected "Teatro." If these songs were any indication, Nelson may be back on the charts soon.

The grandstand was sold out and only the bleachers on the sides had empty seats Thursday night.

TODAY'S EVENTS

Youth activites -- 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the R&R Tent

Circus show -- 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Big Top Tent

Cape Gymnastics Center performance -- 5:30 p.m. at the R&R Tent

Cross-Cut saw contest -- 6:30 p.m.

Square dancers -- 7:30 p.m. at the R&R Tent

Kenny Chesney -- 8 p.m. at the Grandstand