Howard Bellamy, Mel Tillis, Kevin Richards, Suzy Bogguss, and David Bellamy.

KEVIN RICHARDS’COUNTRY CRUISE REVIEW

Kevin Richards, 2006 CMA radio personality of the year, has just returned from a whimsical week in the sun with Mel Tillis, Collin Raye, Suzy Bogguss, and The Bellamy Brothers. Sailing with a cool country breeze across the Eastern Carribean with hundreds of Country Music fans from around the world. "The thrill of having these stars sing and vacation with a group of friends and fans is something you can't experience anywhere else," said Richards. Not only did the passengers enjoy this unique Country Music excursion, the stars had just as much fun! "Kevin's cruise was a blast, we'd love to do it again," said Collin Raye. Suzy Bogguss followed with "I had so much fun surrounded by such a nice group of people. If I could, I'd go cruising with Kevin every year!" On stage, Howard Bellamy, of the Bellamy Brothers, even admitted that "this was much better than the first cruise we did 15 years ago!" In response to the positive feedback, Richards said, "When the stars say they want to come back, you know it was one heck of a party!"

Collin Raye, Suzy Bogguss, and Kevin Richards at the Limbo Party by the pool.

Highlights of the trip included a welcome aboard open bar toast by the Bellamy Brothers, followed by their perfectly fitting mix of "country-island" hits! A question and answer session, where the fans got to know the stars on a personal level. The fans joined Suzy Bogguss and Collin Raye as they led the limbo by the pool. Then, Raye and Bogguss performed an intimate acoustic show sharing stories and songs with popular Canadian act, Rick Henry. Suzy Bogguss topped off the week by joining her mom at the country karaoke party to sing the Judds classic, "Mama He's Crazy." Kevin Richards and Mel Tillis provided several stuttering laughs at the Country Trivia game show, where the audience got to play for free prizes from the Cracker Barrel.

The last night of this awesome getaway brought County Music fans one of the classiest performances in Country Music. The jolly group of cruisers went out with a bang watching the Mel Tillis show, direct from Branson, MO.. Appearing in all matching western suits, the Statesiders, an 11 piece band with twin fiddles and steal guitar, backed the legend with a polished show representing the best in Country Music! The crowd clapped and sang along to Tillis' number one hits, swayed to a little Western Swing, enjoyed some funny stories, and were surprised with a classic piano masterpiece, "Chariots of Fire," which inspired Mel to run around the stage. 

Rick Henry, Suzy Bogguss, David Bellamy, Howard Bellamy, Scooter Lee, Kevin Richards, Collin Raye, and Mel Tillis.

In addition to the four big stars, Scooter Lee, the world's most popular country dance artist, and Kevin Richards led the world's largest floating Country Dance party. A few new acts also had the chance to impress the crowd, newcomer Carmine Dio got everyone's attention on his self-penned "God's Got a Plan."  Jay Sims, a native Texan, gave the sun-baked fans a blend of acoustic Country Folk songs. Although new to American Country fans, Canadian Country star Rick Henry, accompanied by his wife Laurie Kerr, grabbed the cruisers and carried them through two shows of laughs, humorous husband and wife jabs, and strait-to-the-heart self penned songs, described by many as the future Sonny and Cher of Country Music. "I have never heard so much positive feedback about an unsigned artist," said Richards.

Country Dancers were also kickin' it up on the deck with dance parties hosted by Richards' friends Paula Frohn (Ct.), Arline Rodarmer (Fl.), Eddy Milne (Fl.), and Pam Boyer (Va.). Richards' also welcomed groups from Canada, Las Vegas, Alabama, New Jersey, California, and a group of 20 from England. In addition to dancing, country karaoke parties hosted by Carmine Dio were a huge hit. Scooter Lee invited Richards' on stage to sing the Johnny Cash and June Carter duet, "Jackson." Richards' invited his New York seniors to join him on the Jimmie Davis classic "You Are My Sunshine," after singing with Country Music Historian Robin Rothschild on the classic Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn song “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man.” Suzy Bogguss was soon back on stage singing with karaoke host Carmine Dio on the pop hit "Endless Love." The big surprise of the week came when Mel Tillis handed the microphone to passenger Irene Matzner from Albany New, York to sing a line of his number one hit, "I Got The Hoss!"

Kevin Richards' Country Cruise is an annual event produced by CMA radio personality of the year, Kevin Richards. Richards is based out of WGNA in Albany, New York, with his radio program heard around the world at www.kevinrichards.com. Kevin Richards' Country Cruise 2008 will be announced later this spring.

Visit www.kevinrichards.com for more pictures and highlights of the 2007 Kevin Richards’ Country Cruise.

Photos by Sandee Wilson.