ggoblogger:The Greater Greensboro Open was always known for its hospitality. During the 1970’s the celebrities that attended the pro-ams and the banquets seemed to be every bit as important as the golfers playing in the event? What was it like coming to Greensboro?
Demetriss Tapp:Coming to Greensboro was like coming home since I was born and raised in Roxboro...right up the road near the Virginia line. There were six of us kids, me being the youngest and I remember most of them plus my parents attending the GGO event and show with me. Two nights before, I had flown in from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada to Nashville and was so tired I almost didn't get out of bed to make the trip!!...the Governor of North Carolina was sending his state plane to pick me up the next morning at 10am.....Tornado's hit Nashville overnight and when we went to the private airport the next morning many small planes were turned over and it was really a mess. When the Governor's plane arrived I asked the pilot if there was anyplace I could lie down and he said the governors bed was in the back...I went back, fell across it and slept the whole way over on the governor's bed!
Roger LaMatte, Demetriss Tapp and 1974 Assistant General Chairman Larry Heath are seen here at the 1974 GGO Tuesday night Pro-Am cocktail party held at the Sedgefield Maonor.
ggoblogger:You attended a Tuesday night cocktail party for the 1974 GGO. What can you tell me about that event?
Demetriss Tapp:Everybody treated me like royalty and the food was fantastic!!! I especially enjoyed meeting Larry Heath and the other pro golfers...to me, they were a whole different kind of celebrities that I rarely had the opportunity to meet, let alone socialize with and I was definitely a fan!!
ggoblogger:Country music was an important part of the entertainment for the GGO during the 1970’s. Roy Clark, Archie Campbell and George Lindsey were often seen at these events. Did you have a chance to perform any of your songs? If so, do you remember which ones?
Demetriss Tapp:As bad as I hate to admit it, I cannot recall what songs I sang that night at the dinner show...All the entertainers and officials were sitting at this big dais on the stage and I was seated between Roy Clark and Anne Murray...I think George Lindsay was there that night also.
ggoblogger:There was a connection between the Greater Greensboro Open and Hee Haw. Did you ever appear on that show?
Demetriss Tapp:Yes, I did perform on Hee Haw but not often....this is how my career went: I was a country singer for four years on the Jim Thornton Show aka "Saturday Night Country Style" WTVD Durham. This show was a platform for lots of young talent and I was the featured female singer on the show. When I was seventeen I landed a recording contract with Columbia Records and moved to Nashville. After my first studio session my producers told me they thought I was more 'pop' than 'country', and from that time, and on six other major record deals in New York, Los Angeles and Nashville, I was recorded pop and even borderline soul. I was even dubbed "Blue-Eyed Soul" and at times the "White Tina Turner". Quite a twist for a country girl from a tobacco farm in Timberlake, NC (Roxboro)
ggoblogger:Many of your songs, including “What kind of girl” and “Let go of my heart” seem to be about empowering women. Is that an important theme in your music?
Demetriss Tapp:Funny thing about "What Kind of Girl"...When I flew to New York to record this session, I was nine months pregnant and the sessions pickers thought that was hilarious...me, out to there..singing "What Kind of Girl Do You Think I Am"!! "Let Go Of My Heart" was recorded on the same session. No, the songs had nothing to do with empowering women. My producer, Dick Jacobs, who was also Dionne Warwick's producer, picked the songs and back then the singer had little to do with song choice...not like today, for sure. Actually, I never thought about a"theme" until you mentioned it...hmmmm
ggoblogger:The 1970’s was a time for political change. Where any of these lyrics pointing to equal rights or the women’s movement at that time?
Demetriss Tapp:I was not a political person at all in the 1970's and my songs were aimed only at having a hit record and making a million bucks! I'm still trying to figure out what went wrong!!
ggoblogger:Your songs are available on-line. What artist are you listening to today?
Demetriss Tapp:I have no idea who these people are who are selling my old records from their collections, but they're giving me exposure still and that's fine. Since I didn't write the songs, there are no royalties involved.
Who do I listen to today...hmmm...to be honest, nobody really...but when I do, I like to go back to the tradional country artists who could really sing...who had real talent and didn't need a mixing board to straighten out the notes....several of my favorites are Vern Gosdin, Gene Watson, Gary Stewart....their tapes stay in my tape deck in my car.....yes, I said "tape deck"....everytime I play a cd the tray seems to want to eat it and I have traded several cars and my cd in the tray went with it!!! I stay where I'm safe!
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