The Merced County Fair's entertainment line-up has something for almost everyone this year.
Christian artist/ songwriter Lincoln Brewster will open the fair on June 15. The talented guitarist and songwriter played for Steve Perry, former singer of Journey. He's now a star on Christian music charts.
At 39, he's the worship pastor at Bayside Church in Granite Bay, near Roseville.
The entertainment will continue when The Charlie Daniels Band delivers its mix of rock, country, bluegrass, blues and Gospel music on June 16.
The Charlie Daniels Band, known for mega-hit songs including the Grammy-winning "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," will perform in the fairgrounds' Outdoor Theatre.
As a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry, Daniels regularly performs on the Opry stage. The Charlie Daniels Band has earned awards from the Gospel Music Association, the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music. The band's current CD "Land That I Love," is a collection of patriotic songs including two new cuts, "What This World Needs is a Few More Rednecks" and "Iraq Blues."
But the band doesn't just talk about patriotism, they show it. The Charlie Daniels Band has entertained and visited U.S. troops at bases including South Korea, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait and Guantanamo Bay. Daniels started "Operation Heartstrings," a program that has donated thousands of instruments and music equipment to deployed service members. More than 13,000 items from guitars and drums to microphones were distributed to deployed troops in 2005 alone. Daniels' support of our men and women in uniform was honored by the Pentagon with the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service award.
When he's not performing or touring, Daniels enjoys his ranch with his wife of 46 years, Hazel.
On June 17, Morris Day and The Time will bring their "old school" sound blended with new music to the Merced County Fair.
Morris Day was a headline act for Southpark's 100th episode celebration in Hollywood when he was "rediscovered" by Courtney Benson, who manages Hip Hop-Superstar Nelly.
"His performance was electrifying, and the audience reaction was phenomenal," she said.
The show led to a new recording contract for Morris Day.
Morris Day grew up in Minneapolis, went to school with Prince Rogers Nelson and sang in Prince's first band, Grand Central. The Time was originally created as the cool, street-wise funk band contrasting Prince's more soulful R&B sound. Prince wanted a big talent as The Time's lead vocalist, so he tapped his high school friend - Day. Soon after, Morris Day and The Time were cast in "Purple Rain," which captured the Minneapolis music scene at its peak.
Starship Starring Mickey Thomas will play multiplatinum hits of the Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship and Starship on June 18.
Starship will celebrate its 25th Anniversary Tour with a revamped band that includes Thomas performing vocals, Mark Abrahamian on guitar, Jeff Adams on bass and background vocals, Stephanie Calvert, vocals, Darrell Verdusco on drums and Phil Bennett, keyboards and background vocals. The band recently released a live CD and a new album is due out this year.
Thomas propelled Starship through the '80s and '90s with his soulful vocals. He's marking his 30th year with Starship since he joined Jefferson Starship as lead vocalist after the departure of Grace Slick and Marty Balin. Every Starship album has gone gold, platinum or multi-platinum. The band changed its name to Starship in 1990.
The last night of the 2011 Merced County Fair will end with a bang.
Irene Davi, a rising star in the Latin music scene, will perform June 19, wrapping up five nights of headline entertainment.
Born and raised in California and Oregon, Davi, 23, has been the opening act for Latin artists including Jenni Rivera, Alicia Villarreal, Freddy Fender and Los Tucanes De Tijuana. She learned her first song "Solamente Una Vez," at the age of 4, while sitting on her grandmother's kitchen counter making tortillas. She was singing professionally by the age of 6.
Davi continued to perform at fairs, festivals and in high school musical productions and launched her career after graduating from high school in Anaheim. You can listen to her debut song, "Prohibido" and check out her video, at www.irenedavi.com.
Each night of the fair, June 15-19, a headline entertainment act will play at 8:30 p.m. in the Outdoor Theatre, where all shows are free with admission.
To contact Kristina Hacker, e-mail khacker@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2004.