Some folks in Vernon, Alabama, still find it hard to fathom that one of the town’s native sons is often labeled as “legendary.” Dan Penn co-wrote some of the 1960’s most enduring soul or pop hits, like “Dark End of the Street,” “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man,” “I’m Your Puppet” and “Cry Like a Baby.” He produced iconic songs, too, like The Boxtops’ “The Letter.” Artists as diverse as Conway Twitty and Hank Williams Jr. to Jerry Garcia and Nick Lowe have recorded his work.
Penn, based part of the year in Nashville, Tennessee, and part of the time on a family farm in Vernon, will share from his song catalog in a 7 p.m. solo concert Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Vernon City Auditorium.
Penn’s longtime friend and Vernon resident Ed McNees is helping facilitate the event.
“He always likes to play for the home folks,” McNees said Wednesday.
Penn has been busy recently, his friend explained — playing dates in Austin and Houston, Texas, as well as a huge festival in San Francisco.
“I’ve been very fortunate to travel around with him,” said McNees, who accompanied Penn to California this fall. On the trip, he had occasion to witness how some younger performers who have covered Penn’s songs react to meeting him. In one case, ” … it’s like they were approaching the pope,” McNees said. “To see the respect and adoration other musicians of all ages have for him, it’s pretty touching.”
Penn was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in February 2014. That night, singer, songwriter, producer John Paul White (The Civil Wars) said, “His songs dominate the song list of every songwriter I know. We all dream of having one song that becomes a classic. He has a jukebox full of them.”
When Penn plays Vernon it generates a “reunion atmosphere,” McNees remarked. “People come from all over. And we’ve got people coming from at least 10 states for this one already.”
How to go
Concert tickets are $15 for reserved seats, $10 for general admission. Doors open at 6 p.m. For tickets or more information, contact McNees at 205-344-1822, or by email at [email protected].
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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