Sep 4, 2005 By Cindy Ekas-Brown For The 4 min read

FARMINGTON – The Grammy Award-winning Doobie Brothers band and country superstar Lee Ann Womack will headline concerts on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 16-17, during the 2005 84 Lumber Classic at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa. The Doobie Brothers will replace Lynrd Skynyrd, which canceled a series of September and October dates.

Jeff Nobers, tournament media director, explained that the Lynyrd Skynyrd concerts were canceled because lead singer Johnnie Van Sant needs surgery to remove vocal chord polyps.

On Aug. 25, Nobers received notification that Lynyrd Skynyrd was canceling its shows. He explained that concert organizers were hoping to find a replacement band with national or international recognition as soon as possible.

“We pretty much needed to have a decision made in 24 to 48 hours,” he said. “We had to pull a lot of advertising for the moment because of the cancellation. We want to make sure that we communicate this change to the public, so they know what to expect for the concerts.”

Less than a week later, Nobers announced that the Doobie Brothers had signed a contract with the resort to headline the concert on Friday, Sept. 16.

The Doobie Brothers have long been recognized for their unique blend of blues-based songs with a rock edge, often with vocal harmonies, according to a press release issued by Nobers. One of the most popular bands of the 1970s, the Doobie Brothers’ legacy continues today as a new generation embraces such classics as the blues-rock song “Long Train Runnin,'” the country-rock song “Black Water” and the gospel-jazz rooted “Takin’ It to the Streets.”

Other Doobie Brothers hits include “Rockin’ Down the Highway,” “China Grove,” “Listen to the Music,” “What A Fool Believes” and “Dependin’ On You.” During the years, the band has won numerous Grammy Awards and has posted numerous Gold, Platinum, Multi-Platinum compilations and also added a Diamond record to their credit.

Country superstar Lee Ann Womack will take the stage on Saturday, Sept. 17. In the press release, Nobers said her latest release “There’s More Where That Came From” has received critical acclaim and has firmly planted her back on the charts as one of contemporary country music’s most popular performers.

Womack made her debut in 1997 with the smash single “Never Again, Again” and instantly hit the top 10 on the country charts. In 1998, she released “Some Things I Know” and in 2002, Womack climbed to number one on the country charts with the crossover hit, “I Hope You Dance.”

In 2002, she won an American Music Award for Favorite New Country Artist as well as the Country Music Award. This was followed in 2003 by two Grammy Awards – one for Best Female Country Vocal Performer and the other for Best Vocal Collaboration with Willie Nelson.

The Povertyneck Hillbillies will open on Friday night for the Doobie Brothers, and the Crazy Cowboy Band will be the opening act for Lee Ann Womack on Saturday evening.

Nobers said concerts will be held on the resort’s Polo Field with opening acts starting about 30 minutes after the official end of the days’ round of the PGA Tour’s 84 Lumber Classic.

“The concerts will be on the Polo Field, where we have lawn or festival seating in the neighborhood of 50,000 people,” he said.

Nobers estimated that about 8,000 or 9,000 people attended last year’s concerts at the 84 Lumber Classic, which featured Smash Mouth on Friday night and country singer Jo Dee Messina on Saturday.

“Lee Ann Womack may be a bigger draw than Jo Dee Messina because she is up for the Country Artist of the Year award,” Nobers said. “Her album has been nominated for Album of the Year.”

Admission to the 84 Lumber Classic concerts is free with a valid tournament ticket for the day’s round, Nobers said.

“We don’t really look at the concerts as a money-making venture,” he said. “We look at these concerts as something that makes the golf tournament different. We’re hoping that the concerts enhance the experience for the spectators because they are getting more than a golf tournament out of it.”