Glen Campbell says ‘Goodbye’ at Luhrs

Glen Campbell performed part of “The Goodbye Tour” at The H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center at Shippensburg University on Oct. 27.

Campbell’s son Cal and daughter Ashley joined him on his tour. Their band, Victoria Ghost, opened the show with several offerings of their own compositions.

The music was a combination of their father’s influence of traditional country blended with Ashley’s banjo inspired bluegrass overtones.

Campbell, although obviously aging and showing symptoms of Alzheimers, the disease forcing him into retirement, proved that music continues to be his stronghold and his inspiration.

Once he began playing, the legendary musician was on stage and performing and giving the audience what they came to see.

Opening the show with his signature song “Gentle On My Mind” the audience was transported back to his heyday of “The Glen Campbell Good Time Hour” which fans enjoyed from 1969-1972.

Campbell continued to prove he was ever the showman by thrilling the audience with more favorites such as “Wichita Lineman,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” and “Galveston”.

He engaged the audience with his upbeat style and got them clapping and singing along with “Try a Little Kindness” and “Rhinestone Cowboy.”

Campbell pleased the audience further by playing some songs from his latest recording from 2011 “Ghost on the Canvas,” including “It’s Your Amazing Grace.”

Being an award winning guitarist, Campbell did not disappoint when he and his daughter played dueling banjos, he on his guitar and she on her banjo.

Campbell also punctuated almost each song with a guitar solo to the delight of his many diehard fans. Leaving the audience yelling for more, Campbell returned to the stage and rewarded the audience for their loyalty by singing “Southern Nights” among others for his encore.

Campbell’s performance was comparable to having seen him in the late 1970’s. His voice, stage presence and musicality were just as remarkable as ever. The impact of Campbell’s legacy is already made and will continue to be long after this “good bye tour” ends.