A true tribute for the musically in-Clined

Joe Delaney

Friday, March 20, 1998 | 9:31 a.m.

Country legend Patsy Cline is given a warm, loving tribute nightly, except Tuesday, in the Gold Coast Hotel Ballroom/Showroom by the equally legendary Jordanaires, singer Sharon Haynes and a formidable foursome led by keyboardist Michael Dubay. The show is in through March 29, out for two weeks, and back for two months. As is, it could do good business for the foreseeable future.

Gordon Stoker, Neil Mathews, Duane West and Ray Walker -- the Jordanaires -- have been together for more than four decades and have backed hundreds of top recording artists on thousands of hit records, including 15 years touring and recording with Elvis Presley, as well as with Cline. Their opening 30 minutes includes Presley songs and a few stories, a heartfelt "You Are Always On My Mind" that deserved a Willie Nelson writer credit, and a Ricky Nelson "Hello, Mary Lou" closer.

Sharon Haynes does justice to the Cline songbook, starting with "Walking After Midnight," "Rose of San Anton," "Back In Baby's Arms" and "I Fall To Pieces," then shifts to another legend, Hank Williams Sr., for "Your Cheating Heart" and "Lovesick Blues." She leaves for a costume change and the Jordanaires, off for induction in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in Nashville in April, sing "Dig A Little Deeper."

Haynes has a powerful closing segment including "Crazy" and "Sweet Dreams," Cline's last recording, released two months after her death. The last named selection is preceded by Paul Harvey's radio announcement of Patsy Cline's death in a plane crash on March 5, 1963. This is a very entertaining 90 minutes, a real bargain at $14.95, which includes one drink.

JOE DELANEY is a SUN entertainment critic.

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