Fort Discovery Scores Eagle
Author: Kent Kimes
Publication: Augusta Chronicle
Date: April 10, 1999

Imagine cranking up a boom box blaring the Eagles' Life In the Fast Lane at Augusta National Golf Club while a top PGA golfer concentrates on a critical putt.

Not likely to happen without serious repercussions.

But golf and rock 'n' roll -- however disparate they may seem -- don't make for strange bedfellows according to Glenn Frey, a member of Hall of Fame group The Eagles.

Alice Cooper and Celine Dion endorse Calloway golf clubs, Hootie and the Blowfish have their own tournament as does video music channel VH-1, and Mr. Frey hosts an annual golf tournament in Colorado.

Why are so many pop musicians taking up golf?

"I'm not really sure why. But it's a nice balance from being indoors making music in a room with no windows,'' said Mr. Frey, wearing a black suit and white T-shirt, chewing a cough drop and sipping a Coke between rehearsals at Fort Discovery's Paul S. Simon Discovery Theater.

An avid golfer, the 50-year-old musician was persuaded to perform an invitation-only benefit show for Fort Discovery National Science Center on Friday night in the intimate, 250-seat theater.

"We're trying to get kids excited about science,'' explained Mr. Frey. "Kids learn when it's fun for them.''

Mr. Frey, who caddied for Brad Faxon two years ago at the Par-3 Contest, was playing the Augusta National recently when approached by Fort Discovery board of directors member William Copenhaver about singing a few songs at the science center's Masters gala.

So he toured the facility, liked what he saw, and agreed to the gig.

"How could one not want to come to the Masters?'' asked Mr. Frey.

For the invitation-only event, Fort Discovery sold sponsorship packages, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, according to Fort Discovery president Phyllis Hendry.

Mr. Frey and his five-piece band were scheduled to perform three sets, maximizing the number of gala patrons who could see the shows, said Ms. Hendry.

While in town this week, Mr. Frey and his wife, Cindy, brought their two children, daughter Taylor, 8, and son Deacon, 5, to the science center.

"The kids wanted to come back Thursday and wound up spending all day here,'' he said.

Mr. Frey stressed that by attaching his name to the fund-raising event he wasn't after any personal glory.

"I believe God likes a quiet giver,'' he said. "If me playing music gets more people to come down here and visit the science center -- that's what I want.''

Mr. Frey sang lead on Eagles' classics Take It Easy, Tequila Sunrise, New Kid In Town, Lyin' Eyes, and Heartache Tonight.

After the group split up in the early '80s, he had solo success with hits The Heat Is On from the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, Smuggler's Blues, You Belong To the City, True Love, I Found Somebody and The One You Love.

He also dabbled in acting, including a guest starring role on a Miami Vice episode based on Smuggler's Blues.

As for the future of the Eagles, who reunited for one of the world's most successful global tours in 1994 through 1996, Mr. Frey wouldn't speculate beyond a New Year's Eve concert in Los Angeles they've agreed to play.

"I know what I'll be doing in December -- I'll be practicing with the Eagles,'' he said.