PALM COAST, Fla. – Looking over, his wife was singing every word along with The Gatlin Brothers.
“I didn’t know she knew country music,” said Howard Sparber.
One of the venue’s biggest fans on Facebook according to the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center’s director Amelia Fulmer, Sparber and his wife are regular patrons of ‘The Fitz’.
“I come here all the time,” he said, studying the season’s showbill in the foyer on Friday evening.
“This is fantastic. I got tickets to see The Isaacs, who I’ve never seen. A lot of different shows this year and it makes it more interesting. I’d like to see Belinda Davids back,” he added, referencing 2023-24 season’s Whitney Houston show.
“I’m working on that,” shared Fulmer, always on the lookout for interesting pro shows to bring to Flagler County including this season’s sprinkling of country music legends.
Married 51 years on November 28th, Sparber learned something new about his wife during the show.
“I like everything. I’m not a big country music fan and neither is my wife, but she’s sitting there singing the songs because she hears them in church,” he continued. “She goes to church all the time. She’s sitting next to me and I’m looking at her like how do you know country music?”
Singing songs from the hymnals on church benches across America, The Gatlin Brothers paid homage to faith, family, friends, and the American spirit with their show on Friday evening.
Taking the audience on a trip through time, the three Gatlin brothers each had their own stories to tell. Whether you’d heard their music a hundred times or never before, the sheer talent and pure, rich quality of their voices was truly engaging.
“We have a lot of new people that are part of the audience tonight because they were looking for their seats, and that’s important. We’re trying to bring some country music here because we’re trying to bring in some new audiences, and so we’re really excited,” shared Fulmer.
“They have great stories. They have the audience laughing and cheering, and we’re just having a great time.”
Fulmer was especially impressed with Rudy Gatlin’s willingness to review the show with the student staff members before the performance. As part of her commitment to arts education, Fulmer works to connect the students with the professional artists and performers for mini master class opportunities, giving them insight into what it’s like to work in the industry.
“What we’re really excited about were the students here, our stagehands, have been really included in the show,” shared Fulmer.
“A lot of the performers come in and we load in, but Rudy Gatlin came with his powerpoint and his entire show. He came in, had all the kids gather around in a circle and he went through the entire show and did a pre-production meeting. Super professional. They got to see a little taste of what it’s really like to work in a place where you’re held accountable for doing the work, and making sure it gets done. It’s nice,” she said.
Gatlin’s time with the students was a learning opportunity he hoped they enjoyed, as well.
“It was really a pleasure working with the students at the Fitz Performing Arts Center,” said Gatlin. “I hope they learned a little somethin’ during the time we were able to spend.”
The show is one of three special country performances this season that includes The Isaacs on January 11, 2025 and the famed Crystal Gayle on January 17, 2025.
Tickets for the shows are available now at www.flaglerentertainment.com.
