European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 14, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Uso brings country to Europe Ricky Skaggs and Holly Dunn a hit in free concerts by Ron Mckinney staff writer country music Star Holly Dunn had the capacity crowd at Fulda army Airfield in Germany dancing in their seats. And Ricky Skaggs a with permission from the Community commander a had the 1,000 service members and their families dancing in the aisles. The two stars stopped in Fulda thursday for the first of four free Uso concerts sponsored in Germany and one in England. Dunn took the stage first and captivated the crowd with an animated and entertaining approach. Dressed in Black leather pants and jacket and Blackt shirt Dunn won the Rowdy crowd Over with her easy smile and hit songs Quot you really feel appreciated. I noticed it did t take hardly anything to get a reaction. So this is great Quot Dunn said later recalling the troops enthusiastic cheering. When Dunn 35, was t onstage singing or playing the Drums she took her show into the crowd at one Point standing on a front Row Bench while singing. For one Soldier the highlight of the show occurred when Dunn Sang while perched on his Lap. I hat Dunn said is something she routinely does at her conceits. Quot i be been grabbed a few places i should t have been grabbed Quot she said. Quot it was extra fun tonight i have to admit 11 Dunn Sang hot top hits including Only win n i love it s always Gonna be someday love someone like me daddy s i lands and her Lucent Lelease Golden years lion her latest album getting a i while Dunn had the crowd dancing in their  Skaggs took the stage and Midway through his performance beckoned to it. Col. Chuck Franklin the 220th base support in commander urging turn to let everyone dance Franklin approached the stage As Skaggs made his pitch Quot sir colonel Franklin sir is it All right if my men and women dance during the next two songs sir Quot Franklin a Good natured response Quot let Mem dance Quot so while Skaggs 38, hammered out the Bluegrass songs Uncle pen and wheel Hoss dozens of Peoples amps Dave Casey Matt and Sandee Kirkham took to the aisles to do the 16-step. When Skaggs slowed things Down with crying my heart Over you they shifted to the two step. Skaggs performed Many of his hits including Highway 40 blues country boy and cajun Moon. He also played songs from his latest album including father knows Best. Skaggs and Dunn both said the Uso tour was their Way of thanking the service members of the . Armed forces. Quot you can Lay Down at night and sleep at Home knowing that someone is awake watching out for whatever May arise Quot Skaggs said. Both Are veterans of Uso Tours and have found these audiences to be different from the stateside variety. Quot sometimes doing these Uso shows they think its Over when you do your last song. Of Well i guess that a it. I guess they re done. We hate to ask them to come Back for an encore they be been so Nice to come Over Here a Quot Skaggs said. But for Skaggs and company the attitude is Asho puts it. Quot a Mon ask us. Ask us Well do some  Rickey Skaggs says he enjoys Uso Tours because he can mingle with the troops and families do a com ironically both singers Are pleased with their latest albums despite poor commercial showings. Quot i feel it s my Best album so far Quot Skaggs said of my father s son. Quot sales Wise it does t show that Quot the album was bolstered by the singles Success of father knows Joseph Henderson and his sister Amanda collect autographs cd sey Best a tune that almost did no to make the album. Skaggs said co producer Mac Mcanally insisted that they listen to one More demo after enough cuts had already been selected for the album. A i said Well if it s great it s just going to confuse us Quot Skaggs said of his conversation with Mcanally. Quot he was right. Quot this tune it was perfect for the album. It was exactly what the album needed because the whole album talks about relationships Between fathers and sons. Its a great song. I think it has a wonderful message in  Dunn Hasni to Given up on getting it Dunn which has not broken billboard s top 75 country albums Chart since its release last summer. Two singles off that album also failed to reach the country singles Chart. A its not Over yet Quot Dunn said pointing out that Golden years was Addea to the playlists of 70 radio stations in one week this month which should make it a breaking single. She blamed her albums it i y a amps Dove Casey the crowd lapped up Dunn. In a failure on timing say my stations were jammed tins with an influx of new mate old and new country  Quot if you re not Brand no. You re not Garth you re so relegated to a countr so a Al o Mer on on Page 14 a the stars and stripes monday december 14, 1992 soldiers meet the stars Fulda troops Hobnob with country celebs by Ron Mckinney staff writer Matt Kirkham was playing a game of foosball when he glanced across the recreation Center and got the Shock of his life. There was country music Star Ricky ska is joking with Kirkham s wife Sandee and holding the couple s five week old son . Quot it was devastating Quot Matt Kirkham 21, said of the initial sight. The Fulda Germany rec room appearance by Skaggs and Holly Dunn last week was a Surprise. The two performers originally were expected to mingle with the soldiers and their families at the facility but that autograph and hand shaking session had been cancelled earlier in the Day. So the Kirkham who Are from Houston Texas were hardly expecting a celebrity sighting As they Hung out As they often do at of Bill a recreation Center during lunch with about 25 other people. Matt Kirkham said meeting the stars of the current Uso tour sponsored by at amp to and Aig is something he could never Hope to do in the states. Never unless you happen to win a backstage pass from a radio station but the chances of that Are one in a million. Having him Skaggs hold your kid never Quot he said. Meeting the troops and their families through a series of hand shaking and autograph sessions a apart from the free concerts a Are All part of the Uso tour package. Sandee Kirkham 20, said she was stunned when Skaggs approached her and asked Low she was doing. Quot it did no to Dawn on me who he was a she said. Quot but it just took a  after posing for pictures with the Kirkham and others Skaggs and Dunn and their entourage a including the Nashville network inn cameramen a moved into the poolroom. Lee Avila and his buddy Jeff Maxwell noticed the commotion but kept playing Pool until the two stars interrupted their game. Not that they minded. Quot it was weird because they just stopped Quot said Maxwell a 21-year-old Soldier from Anniston Ala. Quot we were standing there with our Pool cues and we did t know what to  Avila turned to Skaggs and asked about the tour Quot it Felt great. In be never been next to a celebrity like him Quot said Avila 24, who is from Turlock Calif. So great in fact that when the entourage left he called his older brother in California to Tell him ignoring the fact that it was 3 . On the West coast. While Avila spoke with Skaggs a inn cameraman suggested that Dunn take a few shots of Pool which she did. Quot she was an All right Pool player Quot said Maxwell. Avila however Shook his head and grinned. Quot she needs some practice Quot he said. Dunn later agreed with that assessment. Quot yeah i need to work on that Quot she said laughing. Skaggs however salvaged some respect for country music when he took the Cue stick from Dunn and banged in his first shot. Quot he just started drilling them in the holes Quot Avila said. Quot excellent Pool shooter Quot said Matt Kirkham. Skaggs admitted he had Quot skipped school a time or two in Kentucky and shot a Little  Skaggs and Dunn said that meeting the troops and their families is part of what makes a Uso tour so special. Quot i Don t do that at Home Quot Skaggs said. Quot i done to just walk into a poolroom somewhere in Nashville and ask folks How they re  Quot it s Nice Quot said Dunn. Quot you feel like you get to knew them their stories where they re from. They become real people to you not just a Bunch of faces out  both country music stars said they enjoy performing for and meeting the troops and their families but it was the fans who were especially appreciative of the tour and the Opportunity to meet the stars. Quot a big name like that it Means a lot to us Over Here Quot said Matt Kirkham. Quot people Over Here need stuff like