Kim Carnes packs the house again

Kim Carnes, one of the first artists to perform for the Starry Nights concert series, dazzled her audience yet again last Saturday night.

The accomplished singer/songwriter returned for a fourth time to raise money for Sisters schools.

"We've known Dan and Jeri Fouts for years," explained Carnes, her trademark raspy voice surprisingly absent during conversation.

"I'd done benefits for Jeri for 10 or 12 years in Santa Fe New Mexico, so we were excited when she asked us to come to Sisters."

Kim Carnes' first show in Sisters was also her first time to visit.

"We all just fell in love with this place," said Carnes. "It is my son's favorite place to visit, that's why we like to come over spring break."

Carnes' husband, Dave Ellingson, grew up in the Willamette Valley and has family in the Eugene area. Several family members drove over the pass to see the show.

It isn't just the Sisters area that Carnes is impressed with.

"The whole event is so incredible -- the way the community gets behind this and supports education," she said.

"This is the most well-run operation I've ever seen," added Dave.

"For me," continued Carnes, "the best part was reading the notes from the school children, thanking us for coming and sharing with them. Some of the kids even made us little gifts -- it's overwhelming!"

Lori Eskra, songwriter and girlfriend of performer Greg Barnhill, echoed Kim's comments:

"This is a wonderful place. In Nashville we get caught up in the same old grind -- we lose sight of why we are in the music business in the first place."

To kick off the concert, Jason Carr of Z21 gave an explanation of the Bend TV station's involvement in the Starry Nights series.

"Most of you know we run a weekly segment called ‘Good Kids,'" said Carr. "We want our community to

know that kids are doing good things. Sisters is a great community with great schools."

Comic Don McMillan returned to the Sisters stage with some wry observations on the changes going on around here, from the sewer system to our 911 population sign.

His fresh and off-the-wall humor was a definite hit with the audience.

Following a brief intermission, Carnes took center stage with her entourage of musical friends.

Using a round-robin format, the four singer/songwriters took turns performing songs they'd written -- with a little help from their friends.

Newcomer Jeff Steele started the show off with a sing-along he'd written, called "If You Love Somebody" (as it turned out, all of Steele's songs were singalongs).

Next, veteran performer and songwriter Al Anderson treated the audience to a honky-tonk blues number entitled, "Pour Me Another."

Kim Carnes followed with a throaty rendition of the title cut of her album, "Gypsy Honeymoon."

Greg Barnhill, back in Sisters for a third time, completed round one with his country ballad, "Thin Blue Line."

Through their songs, the artists shared snippets of their hearts and their lives, weaving a homespun tapestry of good music and good fun. During Greg Barnhill's final song, four young ladies from Sisters Middle School appeared on the stage to help him with his hit song, "House of Love."

Kim Carnes followed their performance with the song everyone had been waiting for -- her Grammy Award-winning "Bette Davis Eyes."

After the show, first-ime concert goers Phil and Martha Yates expressed their approval of the evening's entertainment.

"I was pleasantly surprised at the diversity of the group," said Martha. "And they all seemed to happy to be here, playing for us and with each other."

"Yes," agreed Phil. "If you were just to read about each artist in the flyers they passed out tonight, you'd only have the smallest inkling of their talents.

"And," he added, smiling. "Kudos to the whole committee who put this all together. We will come again."