SARATOGA SPRINGS – A freezing Saturday night. Who had the bright idea to invite winter back?
I motivated myself, as I kept moving through the land of wind chill factor, by psyching up on a night like this – telling myself that, with apologies to James Brown, I’m the hardest working man in show biz.
But, in truth, I am not. For my first stop on my Saturday night dance card was to see that hardest working man IMHO.
Kevin Richards Wants You To Dance!
Kevin Richards is nothing less than a gift to this market. A long-time Country DJ, he can be heard on the air 7 days a week, on two Capital Region Country stations. Consider this schedule:
100.9 The Cat
Mon-Fri 10 am-3 pm
Sunday 5-8 am
Froggy 100.3
Mon-Thurs 7 pm-Mid
Saturday 6-10 am
OK, some of these shifts might be pre-recorded, but that takes time too. Suffice to say, this is a full-time gig+!
But this, my friends, is only the beginning.
His website, www.KevinRichards.com , tells the tale. Kevin has a robust schedule of Country concerts that he presents, Country line dance parties, and for those who want to learn, Country line dance lesson get-together parties, such as the one which brought me to Universal Preservation Hall (UPH – 25 Washington Street) for tonight’s Cabin Fever Country Line Dance Party.
“I love these,” Kevin said. “It’s probably my favorite thing to do.” His website has several programs, packaged with names like “Bartenders Stomp,” “Cut a Rug,” and “Swingin’ Thing” – each balanced to be interesting to novices and experienced two-steppers alike. Its also a great vehicle to meet, greet and stay in touch with his many fans.
A personal note: Kevin did me a big honor by allowing me the opportunity to break the story that he was leaving a particular station (hereinafter to be known as ‘Brand X’) to join The Cat 100.9… he was a big enough talent to call the Times-Union, for instance, or any TV station in town… this was front-page news, but he trusted me, at a regional weekly, to do the right thing. Since then, I have watched him at several things like this – and as impressive he is as a talent, what is most impressive is the loyalty and devotion he enjoys with his public.
In the Country Music land of “Sir,” “Ma’am,” “Please,” and “Thank You,” I finally got that warm feeling I needed since departing my abode.
Thus fortified, I was ready to venture onward.
Next: The Kingdom of Melvin
Arthur Gonick
March 12. 2017
