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James Taylor & Willie K With Anthems To Remember

I will be the first to tell you that there are two things in the world of entertainment (when it comes to engaging/crossingin the sports world) that are absolutely thankless:…

NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 09: Headliner James Taylor performs at WCBS-FM 101.1’s Holiday in Brooklyn concert at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on December 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for CBS Radio)

Noam Galai / Stringer-Getty Images

I will be the first to tell you that there are two things in the world of entertainment (when it comes to engaging/crossingin the sports world) that are absolutely thankless:

  1. Performing at halftime of the Super Bowl (no matter HOW good you are, you get killed by critics)
  2. Singing the national anthem before a major sporting event

Let's deal with number 2.  Look, it's one of the hardest songs to sing.  That being said, too many times you hear someone who appears to decide to turn the singing of "The Star Spangled Banner" into their own personal tryout for "The Voice."

Ever hear of the "KISS Principle?"

K-eep

I-t

S-imple

S-tupid

And that leads us to opening of game 1 of this year's World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The great, James Taylor-armed with only that still velvety voice and an acoustic guitar-delivers one of the best renditions I've heard in a while.

Other artists...take notes from the master.

And then there's this...from Hawaiian folk singer, Willie K.  Just him and his Ukelele prior to the University of Hawaii's home game last weekend.

In a word:  Amazing

Again...take notes

Charlie Nance is the Afternoon Drive co-host (along with his wife) of "The Charlie and Debbie Show" at WSOC, Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The couple have been with the radio station since 2006. Charlie has won the prestigious CMA (Country Music Association) Award for Radio Personality of the Year and has been a finalist for the Country Radio Hall of Fame four times. Prior to his time in Charlotte, Charlie (along with Debbie) spent more than a decade hosting successful morning radio shows in Greenville, SC; Augusta, Ga; and Birmingham, Al. As a content creator for Country 1037, Charlie writes about dream lottery windfalls, sports, restaurants and bars, and travel experiences in North and South Carolina.