Columnist Joe Delaney: Wynonna strutting her solo stuff at Hilton

Joe Delaney

Friday, Nov. 16, 2001 | 9:10 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears on Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at 259-4066 or joe@lasvegassun.com

Wynonna (that's "Winn-nonna," not "Why-nonna") is a vital musical force ... She's back at the Las Vegas Hilton showroom through Saturday ... During her dozen years as the daughter in the very successful Judds, a duo with her monther, Naomi, she was country music's most famous daughter ... Her mother retired in 1991.

Since 1991 she has become simply Wynonna, wife and mother, and totally her own person, onstage and off ... Born in Ashland, Ky., she started working as a duo with her mother ... Wynonna was just 20 in 1984 when the Judds released their first album ... By the end of 1985 the Judds had released two albums, certified platinum, one gold album and had six No. 1 single records.

The Judds stayed at the top of the charts for the next six years ... During this period the Judds sold more than 20 million records, winning more than 60 major industry awards, including five Grammys, nine Country Music Association awards and eight Billboard Awards ... In October 1990 they learned that Naomi was seriously ill and had to retire, though she returned to the stage years later.

As a solo artist, Wynonna has sold more than 20 million records and has had more than 15 No. 1 single hits ... Her first solo album, "Wynonna," was certified platinum in 1993 ... A year later "Tell Me Why" also achieved platinum status ... This was followed by "Revelations" in 1996, then "Collection" and "The Other Side" in 1997.

It was "Revelations," a turning inward as an artist, that firmly established her as a major force in pop and country music, as well as an in-person entertainer ... She had incorporated her deep country roots with an intense feeling for pop, gospel and rock 'n' roll ... Emmy Lou Harris was an early influence, along with Linda Ronstadt and Carlene Carter.

Naomi and Wynonna did reunite for a special sold-out concert on New Year's Eve 1999, at Phoenix's America West Arena ... Very much her own person, confident but not arrogant, Wynonna has become one of music's most powerful song lyric delineators, currently at the peak of her substantial power, with a promise of still more to come.

Weekend wrap-up

Big doings at UNLV's Artemus Ham Hall this weekend with the LV Philharmonic Concert II at 8 p.m. Saturday, preceded by a concert at 3 p.m. by the Clark County Schools Honor Orchestra ... Sunday's treat is a concert, part of the Best of the New York Stage series, featuring two jazz legends, Dr. Billy Taylor and Ramsey Lewis, with a 4 p.m. start ... We'll be there.

Visiting artist and world- renowned pianist Alan Gampel performs the works of Franz Liszt at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Doc Rando Recital Hall of UNLV's Beam Music Center ... Tuesday afternoon Gampel will conduct a master class there, 12:30-2:30 p.m. ... Admission is free to both events ... Alan Lewis conducts the LV Civic Symphony in concert, 2 p.m. Sunday (Reed Whipple Center).

The Las Vegas Master Singers, 50 strong, will be joined by the Los Angeles Zimriyah Chorus and guest conductor Dr. Nick Strimple in a program that will be highlighted by a performance of Leonard Bernstein's "Chichester Psalms" ... Opportunity Village's annual Magical Forest will be open Thursday through Dec. 29, nightly from 5-10 p.m.

Trombone great Carl Fontana returns from a jazz cruise in the Caribbean in time to rejoin the Marv Koral All-Stars, which also includes Ronnie DiFillips on piano and bassist Chris Gordon, Wednesday and Nov. 24 (Jazzed Cafe) ... Friday's jazz is at Pogo's with Irv Kluger and Co. and on Mondays, it's the Don Menza Big Band (Riviera) ... Support good jazz everywhere ... See you next Thursday.