Country music icon John Berry to bring annual Christmas show to the GEM
( Calhoun, Ga--) John Berry, an iconic country music artist, best known for songs such as “Your Love Amazes Me,” “Kiss Me in the Car,” “She’s Taking a Shine” and other hits will be headlining the GEM Theatre’s stage on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 7: 30 p. m. This tour, called “Christmas Songs and Stories with John Berry,” is the second stop in his annual Christmas tour where he will do a mix of his country hits, songs from his new album and his classic Christmas songs.
“This is the second year in a row that we have had John as our guest at the GEM,” said Kim Brazell, GEM Theatre manager and marketing director. “John is an amazing performer. He has a rich and pure voice that makes his music so compelling. His rendition of ‘ O’ Holy Night’ is breathtaking.”
The singer- songwriter rose to stardom on the country charts of the 1990s. During his starmaking decade, Berry placed 20 singles on the county hit parade, six of which went Top 5, with “Your Love Amazes Me,” scoring a #1 on the Billboard Country Chart. He has earned multiple Gold and Platinum records over the years. John was nominated for the ACM Top New Male Vocalist in 1994, won a Grammy Award in 1996 for his participation in “Amazing Grace: A Country Salute to Gospel Vol. 1,” was nominated for another Grammy in 1995 and was nominated for the CMA Horizon Award and Top Male Vocalist Award in 1995. In 1997, he was nominated for Vocal Event of the Year ( for “Long Haired Country Boy” with Charlie Daniels and Hal Ketchum) and in 2013 Berry was nominated for the Mainstream Country Male Artist by the ICM Awards. And thanks to the miracles of modern technology, he even sang a duet with the late, great Patsy Cline.
Berry’s enduringly powerful performances draw on a lifetime of making music and living life. Capitol Records signed him to his first major label contract in 1992. Berry’s co- written hits “A Mind of Her Own” and “Kiss Me in the Car” introduced him to radio audiences in 1993. Then “Your Love Amazes Me,” “What’s In It for Me” and “You and Only You” thrust him to stardom in 1994. “Standing on the Edge of Goodbye,” “I Think About You All the Time,” and “If I Had Any Pride Left At All” were all major hits the following year, with “Standing on the Edge of Goodbye” earning Berry the coveted 1995 Grammy nomination.
His annual Christmas tour, this is his 21st, brightens the holidays for thousands, as does his electrifying rendition of “O’Holy Night.”
“I love what I do, with a passion,” said Berry. “I’m hopeful and excited about the future. I love singing and always will.”
The music just keeps coming, too. In 2016, Berry released a new album, “What I Love Most,” a 10- song masterpiece, packed with emotion and purpose. It features Nashville’s top studio musicians and writers and showcases Berry’s prowess as a writer, with four co- writes of his on the project.
“It’s a new time in the music business and technology allows me to be closer to my fans and interact in new ways,” says Berry. “You know, God just keeps blessing me. There are new opportunities coming at every turn. With time, I’ve learned that the road to fulfillment is doing what I was called to do, love to do, and then doing it the best I can. And for me, that is making music and singing for people.”
In addition to the main show, Berry will be doing a VIP Private Acoustic show prior to the main concert for an additional $ 20 fee. The VIP Experience is limited to the first 100 customers. Tickets are now on sale at calhoungemtheatre. org, by calling 706- 625- 3132 or by visiting the GEM’s Box Office on Tuesday or Thursday from 4- 6 p. m.