Country singer Lee Greenwood has made a career off his patriotic croonings of love and respect for this country. His song “God Bless the USA” is a megahit that has only grown in popularity since 9/11 and the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
That’s why the nasty dispute he had with promoters of a Colorado event celebrating military heroes and rescue workers was so disappointing.
Greenwood cancelled his headline act Saturday night in a conflict over money — as the audience sat waiting. That much everyone agrees upon.
But veterans and Greenwood’s handlers have different versions of exactly what happened, and in the end, the matter could end up sorted out in a courtroom.
Greenwood’s people contend the concert promoter didn’t come up with the agreed-upon payment. The singer was to be paid $20,000 for his performance.
Concert organizer Frank Young said he had only $18,000 in cash — some paid in advance of the concert and some Young brought with him. Young said Greenwood’s road manager refused a $2,000 check from a Knights of Columbus chapter for the remainder of the concert fee.
If that is how it went down, Greenwood ought to be ashamed of himself.
Greenwood’s manager, Jerry Bentley, told The Denver Post that the promoter had paid less in cash than he contended and that they “don’t accept personal checks.” And he added: “No pay, no play.” He also is talking about suing Young.
That’s almost too cold to be believed, particularly for an artist who has made a living off the loyalty he has inspired from veterans and others with deep-seated patriotic sentiments.
Young is clearly a rookie promoter, so you would expect Greenwood’s staff to be more cautious in advance. And why walk away from a crowd filled with military heroes and rescue workers — the very people who helped resurrect his career?
It was an awful cap to a day of celebration and pride. Young, 55, a Vietnam veteran worked doggedly to arrange the Colorado State Parade of Honor, lining up more than 200 marching units to honor police officers, firefighters and veterans. We salute his effort and good intentions.
Ticket buyers paid $20 each to see Greenwood, and when it was clear the event was not going to go off, Young walked on stage, explained the situation and broke down in tears.
He offered the audience a refund, but many in the crowd shouted that they didn’t want their money back. Then, in a true act of patriotism, they joined hands and sang “God Bless America.”
It was not a Greenwood tune, and that was not an accident. We can hardly blame them.
