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Fair acts range from country to R&B to weird By KELLY STEWART CENTRAL POINT -- This year, Jackson County Fair-goers can croon along with country singers, groove to '50s rhythm and blues and bug out with "Weird Al" Yankovic -- all for a mere $7 admission. The 1999 "Fair to Remember" runs July 20-25. Fair officials expect more than 150,000 people to attend the six-day event, making it the biggest entertainment venue in Southern Oregon. K.C. and the Sunshine Band were scheduled to perform, but recently dropped out of the lineup to take a vacation, said Chris Borovansky, manager of the county Fairgrounds and Exposition Park in Central Point. The vacation just happened to be the week of the fair. "In the music business, you're pretty much at the mercy of the entertainers," Borovansky said. Fair officials scheduled the Drifters and Shirelles to replace K.C. and the Sunshine Band. Crowds can choose from five musical acts performing at this year's fair. All performers will appear on stage at 7 p.m. and again at 9 p.m. each night on the AT&T Celebrity Stage. Here's the complete lineup: Up-and-coming country recording artist Bryan White opens this year's slew of musical concerts on July 20. White's new album, "How Lucky I Am," will be released in August; the single "Still Beautiful," was added to radio play June 14. The May 1999 issue of People magazine named White one of 1998's "50 Most Beautiful People in the World." The Drifters and the Shirelles will take fairgoers down memory lane with '50s hits on July 21. The Drifters sing legendary tunes such as "Under the Boardwalk" and "This Magic Moment." The Shirelles' hits include "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" and "Baby It's You." Kenny Chesney, a rising star in the country music scene, will take the stage on July 22 to perform songs from his new album, "Everywhere We Go." Winner of the 1997 Academy of Country Music top new male vocalist award, Chesney's 1993 single "She's Got It All" stayed at the top of the charts for three weeks. Music parodist and accordion king Yankovic will liven up the fair's crowds on July 23. Famous for spoofs of popular songs, Yankovic has created tunes including "Eat It" and "Amish Paradise." His 1996 album "Bad Hair Day" sold more than 1.7 million copies. Rounding out the evening musical entertainment, country artist Chris LeDoux will perform on July 24. LeDoux, whose career spans more than 30 albums, recently released the album "20 Greatest Hits." Known for wrapping traditional country lyrics inside rock-and-roll rhythms, LeDoux recorded his own version of Tom Cochrane's 1992 rock hit "Life is a Highway." A blues festival featuring several bands will take to the AT&T Celebrity Stage at 1 p.m. July 25. Fair officials will announce that lineup next week. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA