Photo Contributed
Wayne Kelley and Retroville perform at a venue.
More than just entertainment to Kelley
F
* Story by Ivan Sanders & Photos Contributed *
or most, being on a stage to provide entertainment is something that simply just doesn’t fit into their line of passions in life. It takes a special person that is willing to expose themselves to being critiqued day in and day out while struggling at times to find outlets to share their particular line of entertainment. Then there are those like Wayne Kelley whose love for music has been a constant driving force to finding a stage at venues that he and his band can occupy for a space of time entertaining those who have developed a deep liking for the vocals that Kelley has provided for over 37 years alongside his band. Whether the setlist is off the cuff when Kelley and his group Retroville hit the stage playing fa-
miliar rock tunes that have come to be recognizable just as soon as a few strums of the melody rifts off a guitar to familiar songs performed by the ultra-successful country group Alabama when Kelley and Song of the South take the stage during a set, the sound is undeniable. Kelley went as far as saying that the band’s slogan when they take the stage as Retroville is simply, “We don’t know what we’re gonna do when we get there. We get on stage and do what we do. Then we don’t remember what we did while we were on it.” For Kelley, it doesn’t matter which style is being played on what night — it’s just about being with the guys in the band and playing music. Altogether, there are 210 years of combined experience that comes together on stage
Photo Contributed
Wayne Kelley belts out a tune at a Retroville concert in downtown Gate City, Va.
6
