High notes of Harry Dean Stanton Fest will be musical tributes to the late actor
Harry Dean Stanton Fest
10 p.m. July 13 featuring Dennis Quaid and the Sharks. The Burl, 375 Thompson Road. $20. theburlky.com.
9 p.m. July 14 featuring Donnie Fritts and Western Movies. The Burl. $12.
It’s Harry Dean time, everyone. In other words, the annual festival honoring the late, beloved, Kentucky-born actor is upon us again.
As usual, the Harry Dean Stanton Fest will abound with film screenings. Saturday’s lineup features “Young Doctors in Love” (11 a.m.), “Private Benjamin” (1 p.m.) and “Repo Man” (3 p.m.). Sunday brings “The Missouri Breaks” (1 p.m.) and “Lucky” (3:30 p.m.). All showings are free and will be presented at the Farish Theatre of the Lexington Public Library.
The Fest moves to the Kentucky Theatre on Sunday evening for a screening of “Char-ac- ter,” which will be followed by a discussion with Dabney Coleman and Drago Sumonja (7 p.m., $10; see Saturday's Herald-Leader or LexGo.com for an interview with Coleman about Stanton). Sumonja directed the 2009 documentary that centered on the lives and friendships of several noted actors, including Coleman and Stanton. Sumonja also directed the critically lauded “Lucky,” which starred Stanton in only his second turn as a lead actor. The actor died, at age 91, shortly before the film’s premiere in 2017.
Of course, Stanton was also something of a country, folk and blues troubadour. The Fest traditionally honors that side of his artistic profile, as well. This weekend brings two longtime musical friends — actor and singer Dennis Quaid and guitarist Jamie James and their band The Sharks to Lexington. They perform Friday night at The Burl.
On Saturday, attention turns to song stylist Donnie Fritts, a veteran of the famed Muscle Shoals musical community in Alabama who appeared with Stanton in the 1973 Sam Peckinpah directed “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.” A four-decade musical companion to Kris Kristofferson and a friend to the late soul music maestro Arthur Alexander, Fritts’ music won over the likes of Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton and Ray Charles, all of whom covered his tune “We Had It All.”
Pop audiences may be more familiar with “Breakfast in Bed,” a tune he co-wrote with Eddie Hinton that was cut by Dusty Springfield for her acclaimed 1969 album “Dusty in Memphis.” It was covered again by UB40 and The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde for the British reggae band’s self-titled 1988 album.
Fritts’ newest recordings include the Alexander tribute “June” (due out in August) and 2015’s John Paul White-produced “Oh My Goodness.” Fritts will perform Saturday at The Burl with the very cinematically inclined Lexington band Western Movies. He will also be on hand tonight at the Farish for a showing of the Stanton documentary “Crossing Mulholland” as well as a post screening discussion featuring the film’s director Tom Thurman as well as Jamie James (7 p.m., free).
Owen Husney
11 a.m. July 15 at CD Central, 377 S. Limestone. Free. 859-233-3472. cdcentralmusic.com.
Here is an intriguing happening to highlight your Sunday morning. CD Central will be hosting a reading, slide show and book signing with Owen Husney, the music entrepreneur credited for discovering Prince. The occasion is the publication of “Famous People Who’ve Met Me,” a memoir sporting recollections of artists and behind-the-scenes mischief involving the Minneapolis music scene. The book covers at length Husney’s meeting Prince in 1976 and his role in securing a three album contract for the then-teenaged artist with Warner Bros. Records that was signed a year later. Husney remained Prince’s manager until 1980. He has also worked as a musician, manager, concert promoter and agent. “Famous People” also covers encounters with Al Jarreau and other notable artists. Regular customers of CD Central will recognize the store usually doesn’t open for business on Sundays until noon. It will host Husney’s event beginning at 11 a.m.
This story was originally published July 12, 2018 at 12:14 AM.