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Even Brooks is at a loss to explain his popularity Friday, April 11, 1997 Albany Times Union. Story by Greg Haymes
While movie star Redford is making his next film in the countryside near Saratoga Springs, country music superstar Garth Brooks has rolled into the spotlight in downtown Albany, where he and his band are holding court at the Pepsi Arena for a three-night stand of sold-out shows. At a late Thursday afternoon press conference at the arena prior to his opening night show, Brooks was awarded a plaque commemorating the fact that he has sold a record 46,912 tickets for his current stay in Albany, surpassing the previous record held by the Grateful Dead. In support of his latest album, "Fresh Horses,'' Brooks' tour started in March '96, and every show on the tour has been sold out. Last month, his tour honored its 2 millionth customer, and Brooks confided that the tour will continue for another two years. At the press conference, Brooks was also presented with shirts from the Albany Firebirds and the Albany River Rats, graciously declaring, "I'll wear them proudly.'' According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Brooks has sold more than 62 million albums in his career, making him the biggest-selling solo artist in U.S. music history. When asked why he has enjoyed such phenomenal popularity, Brooks sheepishly responded, "I know that I'm supposed to have a answer for that question, but . . . I don't know.'' His fans know, however. "It's the honesty and the straight-from-the-heart feeling of his music that touches me,'' declared 26-year-old Jerry Smith, who drove from Syracuse for Brooks' concert. At the press conference, Brooks offered hints about his upcoming album, "Sevens,'' due in early August, saying that it will include "a Southeastern western swing song that sounds kind of like Lynyrd Skynyrd-meets-Bob Wills'' and "a very unexpected cover song'' sung with Trisha Yearwood. Brooks is also recording all of the shows on the tour -- including those at the Pepsi Arena -- for his first live album, which he expects to be released in the fall of 1998. Not surprisingly, Brooks cited an eclectic batch of musicians as his influences and current favorites, ranging from James Taylor to Aerosmith, from Kiss to Christian singer Susan Ashton. Brooks noted that he always gives the tickets for the first two rows of seats at his concerts to his road crew, so that they can pass them out to the true-blue fans who show up early with seats in the far reaches of the upper deck. If you're lucky enough to have tickets to one of the sold-out shows, Brooks encourages you to bring along non-perishable food items with you. Sponsored by the Feed the Children charity, the food gathered in bins at the arena entrances will stay in the Capital Region, distributed by New Horizon Outreach Ministry.
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