European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 11, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Entertainment Ltd Paul Overstreet his message is his Mission by Ron Mckinney staff writer while driving Clown one of Mississippi s country Bac roads country Singer songwriter Paul Overstreet came to a Stop when he saw an upside Down pickup truck by the Side of the Road. Two boys were standing near the truck bleeding badly. Their Mother was trapped inside. A third boy unhurt called out to Overstreet in a tiny voice Quot we need some Quot that Little boy was so heroic in that he was really concerned and he called out to let somebody know that they needed help Quot Overstreet said last week in Ansbach during a Short tour of Germany the 36-year-old grammy winning songwriter had a in his own genuine and emphatic Way a found Hope and inspiration in what was otherwise a tragic event. Quot there were a lot of heroes around there. That kind of time it really shows Quot Overstreet said of others who helped at the scene. The boys and their Mother were of he Learned in a Call to the Hospital that night. Overstreet speaking in his Southern drawl credited god and the time he was Able to spend praying Over the boys and their Mother for their recovery. Quot i think that had a lot to do with the outcome Quot he said. Overstreet s Blue eyes As soft As his voice shimmered As he talked quietly about his Mission in life. He was dressed in jeans and to shirt and wore a White Cowboy hat Over his shoulder length Strawberry Blond hair and a Wispy Beard. Overstreet s religious convictions and family life play a huge part in his storytelling style of writing songs. His songs he firmly believes must Send the right message before he will allow them to by it recorded. It is Overstreet s Way of delivering a Subtle Sermon of offering solutions to the problems one might face in life. Quot it has to be a certain statement within a song before it s a Paul Overstreet Type of song. I just think it s real important what a song says lyrically Quot he said. Overstreet is after All a country Singer who wraps up his concerts with what he Calls Quot a Good time gospel and receives standing ovations for it. As an encore in his performance at the Frankfurt Volk fest he offered a stirring optimistic portrayal of illiteracy in Bill can t read. Many of his songs Art a personal testimony to a life that was once hampered by drug use alcohol and women. Those messages were heard loud and Clear while his songs were constantly climbing the charts for other singers. Overstreet won a grammy for the Best country song in 1988 for Randy Travis version of forever and Ever amen. The previous year Travis received son got the year awards from the country music association and Academy of country Musk with another Overstreet song on the other Eland. His list of songwriting it Levils inc Ludes a Rosier of country music Hall of Mut a George Jones same of me Tanya Tucker s not be e at a time the Forrester Sisters i fell in love gain Cist night Michael Martin Murphy s a Loni Lane 01 Cue Keith Whitley s when you say nothing at All Ronnie Milsap s Houston solution and a me lev in Travis including Diggin up hones and deeper than the holler. The constant exposure of receiving awards each year on National television pressured atm records into offering him a Solo recording Deal a year after his contract was suspended when he left the group so. His first Solo release. Love Plelps All from his debut album sowing lox e climbed to no. 2 on the charts. That was followed by the title release and Alj the fun both top 10 hits and the no. 1 in ashes seeing my fat her in Paul Overstreet s religious convictions and family ties Are a big part of his musical message me and richest Man on Earth. When Overstreet wrote heroes his current album s title release that reached no. 4 on the charts he thought about How he wanted to be there for his four children in. \ a Way that his father had t. He Points out a Lyric from that song Quot a Blue eyed kid on second base wants dad to watch him Quot i Don t know what it was about that Lyric but when i first read it i got this Lump in my Throat. I Don t know if it was because my dad was t there All the time when i was a kid to see me play Ball. I Don t think he cared. Fie May have but he was t there Quot he said. Overstreet s second album already produced his third no. I hit earlier this year in daddy s come around to Momma s Way of thinking. And Overstreet does t mind that the heroes single did no to reach no. I. Quot i Don t Havel have every song to be no. I to be Happy. That gels a Little difficult to live up to. You know then you have to be disappointed with a no 2 or 5. I mean that s sad in t it Quot he said laughing. Instead Overstreet considers his Success to come in the form of letters from ians describing How Bis songs affected their lives. A one came from a Young girl who was undergoing chemotherapy in treatment for cancer. Her hair had fallen out and she was too embarrassed to play with her friends. Then the girl heard Randy Travis sing this line from Overstreet a forever and Ever. Amen Quot if your hair fell out id love you Quot she said that if he i Ouirl love somebody without any hair then her friends i Ould. Too Quot Overstreet said. And another letter ame lion a woman whose he band had Lett her and was seeing someone else. Be Daw her Hiis band i ailed it it ask in he could meet with her a that meeting she said that he played her i daddy a. Erne around and that Theli St time she had heard that song. She was Ama de that everything that was said i song had happened in their lives Quot Overstreet said. And like the song the woman a Story had a Happy ending. A Quot she said after that that her husband said he had done a lot of thinking that he wanted to get Back with her and the kids and so they had reconciled Quot. C Verstreet said. Quot when a song does something like that then i m accomplishing my goal Quot he said. Quot that s Why i m Leal part ular about the kind of songs i Pul y of g the a Chart pop a singles 1 Rush Rush Paula Abdul 2. Unbelievable emf 3. Right Here. Right now Jesus Jones 4.1 Wanna sex you up Colot to add 5. Power of love love Power Luther fund loss 6. Place in this world Michael w Smith 7 Here i am ub40 8. Piece of my heart tata Kemp 9 p a s n. A rhythm Syndicate 10 Gypsy woman Crystal into Stop a albums 1 for unlawful carnal knowledge Van Haloti 2 slave to the grind skid Row 3 spellbound Paula Abdul 4 unforgettable Natalie Cole 5. Gonna make you sweat cac music factory 6. Out of time r e m. 7 efil4zaggin n w a b no fences Garth Brooks a 9 Luck of the draw Bonnie Haiti 10 shake your Money maker the Black Crowe country a singles t Don t Rock the Jukebox Alan Jackson 2. The Thunder Rolls Garth Brooks 3.1 am a simple Man Ricky Van Shelton 4. Point of Light Randy Travis 5. Somewhere in my broken hear i Billy Dunn 6. One of those things Pam Ellis 7 we both walk lome Moi Ati 8 Hebe s a Quarter Travis i nil 9 she s in love with the boy Fust in yen wond 10 the Moon Over Geo Cila Stien mdo.ilir&i.3 a sing i is 1 exclusivity Damian u Ime 2 do what i i Tau it l i f i 3 main course f Andrt. Jack. 4 motown Phiiip buy ii men 3 baby i m ready leu 6 How can i ease the pain 7 do me right Guy b gotta have you Stevie Pundur 9 i can t wait another minute i five 10 summertime do Jazzy Jett and the fresh Prince i i r is i 1,1jazz a albums last week s listing. 1 i remember Dianne Reeves. 2 Standard time vol 2 intimacy calling Wynton Marsalis 3 artistry the Harper Brothers 4 unforgettable Natalie Cole 5. Sarah dedicated to you Carmen Mcrae 6 serenity Stan get 7 you won t forget me Shirley Horn b tribute Keith Jarrell 9 Public Eye a Roy Hargrove 10 Larson s of turn marm Jordan qui Ulel compiled by billboard july ii i a stripes Magasiny 7 7
