April 05, 2004 -

Ottawa, Canada -- During his 40 years in show business, the legendary Glen Campbell has sold 40 million records, racked up 12 gold albums and made 75 trips up the charts, 27 of them into the Top 10. Now this country-pop legend makes his National Arts Centre Orchestra debut in CJOH Pops concerts from Thursday, April 15 to Saturday, April 17 at 20:00 in the NAC’s Southam Hall. Glen’s daughter Debby Campbell will be his special guest, and T.J. Kuenster will lead the NAC Orchestra.

The concert will open with conductor Earl Stafford leading the National Arts Centre Orchestra in selections such as E. Bernstein’s suite from The Magnificent Seven, Anderson’s Fiddle Faddle, Horse an Buggy, and Chicken Reel, and selections from Copland’s Rodeo.

After recent orchestra concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, the Los Angeles Times enthused: “Campbell showed no signs of slowing down… with the lush accompaniment of the orchestra – many of the tunes sounded even better than in the original versions,” and after cabaret concerts in New York, the New York Times declared: “Mr. Campbell’s twangy, blue-grass tinted voice is still in splendid condition… All the expected oldies were delivered with freshness and heart.”

Glen’s accolades as a musician and singer are as impressive as his talent. He made history by winning a Grammy in both country and pop categories: “Gentle On My Mind” took the country honours, and “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” won in pop. He owns trophies for Male Vocalist of the Year from both the CMA and the ACM, and took the CMA’s top honour as Entertainer of the Year. Other hit songs include “Wichita Lineman”, “The Dreams of the Everyday Housewife”, “Galveston”, and “Rhinestone Cowboy”.

Glen Campbell will go down in history as one of the best guitarists of his generation. Not only has he inspired many of today’s pickers, including Steve Wariner, but his musicianship also lives on in the tracks of the most legendary collections of the 20th Century. As a session guitarist, his talents are heard on the recordings of such artists as Frank Sinatra, the Beach Boys, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Merle Haggard, Elvis Presley, Jan & Dean and the Righteous Brothers. The Beach Boys invited him to join their group in the mid-sixties, and he toured with that legendary band for 18 months until his own solo career took over.

He was offered his own television series in 1969 and The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour immediately soared to number one, and for the next three years was viewed by 50 million people each week. In addition, Glen was one of the first country artists to forge a path into Hollywood. His portrayal of John Wayne’s young sidekick in the classic True Grit broke new ground. His tell-all autobiography, Rhinestone Cowboy, shot to the best-seller list when it was released in 1994.  In 1999 Glen was honored with the ACM’s legendary Pioneer Award.

Glen Campbell’s tremendous impact on the artistic scene was an unlikely outcome for a sharecropper’s son, one of 12 children raised in rural Billstown, Arkansas. But Glen’s father recognized his talent early and bought his youngster a five-dollar Sears & Roebuck guitar. The child prodigy had conquered the instrument by the time he was 10.

He continues to tour and record, releasing The Glen Campbell Collection (1962-1989) in 1997, a new Christmas album in 1999 based on his TNN Christmas Special and in Spring 2000 Love Songs on The Gold Label.  Also in 2000, Capitol Records released a compilation CD entitled, Glen Campbell: 20 Greatest Hits. Then in 2003 Capitol Records released the definitive Glen Campbell: The Legacy 1961-2001, a four-disc boxed set, 80-song compilation.

The National Arts Centre Orchestra will present Glen Campbell with special guest Debby Campbell from April 15 to 17 at 20:00 in Southam Hall. Tickets for these CJOH Pops Series concerts are on sale now at $34.50, $48.50, $50.00, $59.00 and $61.00, with box seats at $86.00 (GST and Facility Fee included) at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111.  Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NAC’s web-site at www.nac-cna.ca.  Half-price tickets for students in all sections of the hall are on sale in person at the NAC Box Office upon presentation of a valid student ID card. Groups of 20 and more save up to 20% on NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances.  To book call 947-7000 ext. 384 or email grp@nac-cna.ca

For more information please contact:
Jane Morris, Communications Officer,
National Arts Centre Orchestra
(613) 947-7000, ext. 335
jmorris@nac-cna.ca