Pride praises Dunedin singers

Bevan Gardiner (left), Charley Pride and Georgie Daniell pictured before last night's concert at...
Bevan Gardiner (left), Charley Pride and Georgie Daniell pictured before last night's concert at Regent on Broadway in Palmerston North. Photo by Dennis Brown.

Charley Pride has been singing the praises of Dunedin artists on his latest international tour.

The United States country music singer has just completed a nine-concert tour of Australia, ''40 Years of Pride'', with Dunedin singers Bevan Gardiner (26) and Georgie Daniell (21).

''They're both wonderful talents. It really is wonderful what they can do,'' he said yesterday.

''They have such a beautiful sound. They do a really nice segment where they just fit like a groove together.''

Gardiner had been so popular on the Australian leg of the tour that he sold 200 CDs before the Toowoomba concert last Friday.

''Bevan is amazing. He sounds just like John Denver,'' Pride said.

Gardiner was the star of the 2008 John Denver tribute show, ''Whisper the Wind'', while Daniell was a featured artist in the Otago Daily Times ''Big Night In'' community concert in 2011.

It is the first time in 17 years that Pride has toured New Zealand.

''I can't wait to play in Dunedin again. It would be many, many years since I was down there,'' he said.

''I love touring. I'll keep performing as long as people want me to.''

The 75-year-old has a large fan base in New Zealand and Australia, with nine of his concerts on the tour selling out, including his Saturday night performance in Dunedin at the Regent Theatre.

Promoter Event Entertainment has added a 3pm concert. One of 11 children born to poor sharecroppers in Mississippi, Pride rose to become a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee and recently released a greatest hits collection, 40 Years Of Pride.

He has recorded 36 No 1 hits and his 70 million album sales on RCA Records is second only to Elvis Presley.

nigel.benson@odt.co.nz

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