Gentle on My Mind. Galveston. By the Time I Get to Phoenix. Rhinestone Cowboy. A long string of hits is certainly something we know about Glen Campbell.
His years as a session musician. Filling in for Brian Wilson with the Beach Boys. Television fame. A long list of accolades we’re maybe not so familiar with – 70 albums over 50 years, including gold, platinum and double-platinum offerings, with worldwide sales pushing 50 million copies.
Oh, and four marriages, some drug and alcohol problems, a comeback album, a goodbye tour and a battle with Azheimer’s that saw him enter a care facility earlier this year.
There’s plenty to know about Glen Campbell. And then there’s the music, which deserves to be celebrated: the reason why Leisa Way created Wichita Lineman, the show now playing at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse.
“I’m a huge fan of his,” said Way of Campbell, citing his talent as a country/pop crossover hit decades before that became common. “He paved the way for the artists today.”
In looking deeper into his music and life, Way discovered a “fascinating story.”
Born into a family of 12 in Arkansas in 1936, Campbell moved to Los Angeles in 1960, becoming a session musician. His guitar work can be heard on hundreds of tracks from the era, including works by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, Jan and Dean, The Monkees and just about everything Phil Spector did at the time.
In late 1964, he subbed in for Brian Wilson on a Beach Boys tour, then played guitar on their acclaimed Pet Sounds album.
His first hit came with 1967’s Gentle on My Mind. Later that year, By the Time I Get to Phoenix was an even bigger hit, followed by I Wanna Live and Wichita Lineman in 1968. Campbell was on his way.
Asked to host a summertime television show by Tommy Smothers of Smothers Brothers fame, Campbell was so successful he was given a show of his own, the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, which pulled in 65 million viewers a week. His show featured a variety of musical guests, from Johnny Cash to Neil Diamond, and was instrumental in launching the careers of some young performers, including favourite guest Anne Murray.
It’s from that TV program that Way drew her show’s format and soundtrack.
“His life just changed overnight because of that show,” she said of Campbell’s fame. “There was so much good music.”
Aaron Soloman stars as Campbell, with Way and other artists playing the parts of some of the Goodtime Hours’ notable guests. Randall Kempf, for instance, appears as Kenny Rogers.
Wichita Lineman visits Campbell’s days with The Beach Boys, and showcases other famous tunes such as Roger Miller’s comic hits “Dang Me” and “King of The Road” as well as Campbell’s popular duets with Tanya Tucker, Bobbie Gentry and Anne Murray.
The show features a long list of catchy tunes, said Way, pointing to Campbell’s great ear for songs.
“He really had a knack for hit music.”
Along with the songs, Wichita Lineman touches on other aspects of his life: the wives (the fourth one turned out to be the one), the drugs and drinking, his recovery – “it’s a story of redemption” – and later career.
“We don’t dwell on the negative stuff. We don’t cover it up, but it’s a celebration of this wonderful performer,” said Way.
Campbell’s 2011 diagnosis of Alzheimer’s lends an extra air to the tribute, she added.
“We realized that we might be losing his talent.”
Drayton Entertainment’s presentation of Wichita Lineman runs until August 2 at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse. Tickets are $42 ($25 for youth under 20 years of age), available online at www.stjacobscountryplayhouse.com, in person at the St. Jacobs County Playhouse box office, or by calling (519) 747-7788 or toll free 1-855-DRAYTON (372-9866).
