SWOOPE -- Danny Shirley, the leads singer for Confederate Railroad, said the band doesn't work from a set list. The songs he sings on stage are whatever pops into his head or, maybe more accurately, whatever comes out of the mouths of his fans.
Fans will often shout out favorite songs, including some deep cuts from one of the group's albums. The band is more than happy to sing what the fans want.
Formed in 1981, Confederate Railroad was originally a backup band for country music legends David Allen Coe and Johnny Paycheck. They released their first album in 1992 and since then have produced five more studio albums that have sold nearly six million copies. They won the Academy of Country Music's Best New Group Award in 1993.
Confederate Railroad will be playing at the Buffalo Gap High School auditorium Saturday, Dec. 14 with proceeds benefiting the Buffalo Gap athletic department. Tickets are $35 and includes a meet and greet with the band. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. with Leroy Burks and the Voodoo Whiskey Band opening for Confederate Railroad. Tickets can be purchased on the Gofan.co website. Call 540-337-6021 or contact the Buffalo Gap High School Sportsman Club for more information.
Buffalo Gap athletic director Rod Bowers said that some parents with children in the Gap sports program presented this idea to the school's sportsman club as a way to raise extra funds outside the concession stand, which they operate at every home game.
"They do so much for our student athletes as far as uniforms and equipment and facility upgrades, etc.," Bowers said. "We would not be able to provide our student athletes with the quality of equipment and uniforms without the help of our sportsman club."
Bowers had a five-year plan for what needed to be done in the athletics program and he said the sportsman club has been very helpful in funding projects within that vision.
"One example of many was a $25,000 weight room upgrade last year," Bowers said. "They were a huge help with large donations to help fund that project. This concert is just another way they can generate funds that get invested back into our kids. We are blessed with a sportsman club that shares a vision of taking care of the student athletes at Buffalo Gap."
For his part, Confederate Railroad's Shirley is excited to be coming to Buffalo Gap.
"We're coming there to have a good time," Shirley said. "I hope (the fans) will also."
Although a lot of bands don't any longer, Shirley said his band likes to hang around the venue after the show to sign autographs and take photos with their fans. He enjoys getting to hear stories about why this song or that song are special to them.
Confederate Railroad has produced four top 10 songs and has had 18 singles appear on the country music charts. Their most popular songs include "Jesus and Mama," "Trashy Women," "Daddy Never Was the Cadillac Kind," and, their highest charting song, "Queen of Memphis," which peaked at No. 2.
In addition to their own hits, Shirley said the band likes to play some David Allen Coe or Johnny Paycheck songs as a tribute to where they got their start.
When Shirley signed the deal for his first record, it was scheduled to come out under his name as a solo artist, but there were a lot of solo male artists in country music at the time. Shirley suggested renaming the album under a group's name, believing it would get more attention.
A friend of his, a songwriter in Nashville, came up with the name Confederate Railroad. He liked it but told the president of Atlantic Records that he was worried some people might object to the name. The president told him that if they didn't like the name they probably wouldn't like the music either so they should just run with is.
"Overall it's served me very well," Shirley said. "Every now and then something will pop up but most people know that it has nothing to do with anything negative."
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-- Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Connect with Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and on Instagram @hitepatrick. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.