Most fans pleased with Tillis and Price concert

Two legendary country-music artists and their respective bands took the SEMO District Fair stage Thursday, playing for a crowd of around 2,650.

Mel Tillis, who's had nine No. 1 hit songs, and Ray Price, inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996, replaced the fair's original act, Merle Haggard, who announced his cancellation Tuesday.

Fair association board president Pete Poe said attendance, which wasn't a final ticket count, wasn't any less than he expected.

"We're not disappointed, and the crowd sure doesn't sound disappointed," Poe said Thursday night.

"We're very lucky to have gotten these guys on very short notice," said Bob Haupt, volunteer fair board member.

Although ticket sales volunteers talked with many unhappy Haggard fans about the no-refund policy the last two days, they said the percentage of people who were fine with the change was much higher than those who were upset.

Volunteer Hazel Turner said quite a few couples even bought tickets after the cancellation just to see Tillis and Price.

Sales for the Tillis and Price show continued until the time the concert.

Cape Girardeau resident Andy Klipfel said he was looking forward to seeing Haggard, but thought Tillis and Price were a good backup act.

"Either one of them would have cost more than Haggard did," Klipfel said. "They're both legends. I can't believe they pulled that switch off."

Ullin, Ill., couple Jess and Martha Ledbetter, who had front row seats, were disappointed but understood that with Haggard's age comes illness. The Ledbetters had seen Tillis and Price in Branson, Mo., and were hoping Tillis would perform some of his comedy routine.

"I really, really like their music," Jess Ledbetter said, with his wife agreeing.

Although Tillis and Price had a large fan base in the crowd, a number of couples attended the concert because they couldn't get a refund on their ticket. Tom and Carol Britton of Bell City, Mo., said they probably wouldn't ever buy tickets to a SEMO District Fair concert again.

"Our heart was sent on Merle," Carol Britton said. "He's just been somebody we have liked for a long time."

ehevern@semissourian.com

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