Richard Leigh, a Grammy Award winning songwriter and graduate of Virginia Highlands Community College, will return to the VHCC campus on Thursday, April 23, for a special benefit concert to provide student scholarships and honor his former professors.
Leigh is best known as the writer of “Don’t it Make my Brown Eyes Blue,” the Crystal Gayle hit that reached No. 1 on both pop and country charts and earned Leigh a “Best Country Song” Grammy in 1978. During the course of his songwriting career, he has written eight No. 1 singles and 14 songs that have reached Billboard’s top 10. His songs have been recorded by such artists as Billy Dean, Reba McEntire, Don Williams, The Dixie Chicks, and Steve Wariner.
Leigh was inducted into the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 1994.
“We’re very excited to welcome Richard back to campus to connect with old friends and share many of the songs he has written over the past 30 years,” said David Matlock, vice president of Institutional Advancement at VHCC. “Richard is a masterful musician and a wonderful example of the many successes VHCC has produced over the past 40 years. Plus, his concerts are a whole lot of fun.”
The concert is the final step in the VHCC Educational Foundation’s year-long campaign to establish the Keyser-Aday Theatre. The theater is being named in honor of William Van Keyser and Gary Aday, both of whom helped build the College’s theater program and mentored Leigh as he earned an associate’s degree in Theatre Arts from VHCC in 1973.
Already the campaign has raised more than $80,000 through contributions of cash and regional art by such noted artists as George Chavatel, John F. Sauers, Landon Woody, Bari Ballou and Clayton Proctor. The regional art will be displayed on campus, while cash donations will be invested in an endowment to support art programs and provide student scholarships for those pursuing careers in the arts.
Tickets are $20 and are currently available in the VHCC Educational Foundation Office. For additional information or to charge by phone, call (276) 739-2449.