MERIDEN -- This city is known for its silver-making past; its regional delicacy, the steamed cheeseburger; and as the birthplace of opera legend Rosa Ponselle. But it has also made a major contribution to country music, in the form of singer, songwriter and Platt High School graduate Gary Burr.

Burr was back in his hometown Saturday night for a performance, Burrstock II, at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel on Research Parkway, and the excitement among the more than 300 in attendance was tangible.

Cyndi Miller and Donna Tillbrook, who graduated with Burr in 1970, say they are two of his biggest fans.

"He's the humblest, sweetest guy you'd ever hope to meet, and he's incredibly talented," Miller said.

"It's just incredible that he comes back to Meriden but he remembers his roots," Tillbrook said.

Saturday's event was organized by Rob DeRosa of Thin Man Music, who is responsible for "most of the musical events or music at events in the city," he said. "But I've known Gary since sixth grade, so it meant a lot to me to put this together."

Burr took the stage alone initially, and through the night, he called old friends to the stage in a process that recreated all the bands he played with as he was growing up and growing in the music business.

"We've been rehearsing all day and all night," said Burr. "We've still got it. I don't know what we had back then, but we've still got it."

Burr gave the audience tidbits about his own life along the way.

"We used to practice in my parents' basement," he said of his first band in high school. "They'd turn the TV volume up to about 10 so they could hear it over the drums. They were pretty nice about it."

During the evening, he was joined on stage by Dean Newbury, Eddie Iarusso, Dennis O'Neil, Paul Kroll, Kevin Chase, Jon Grant, Mike Showerda, Gary Henry, Tommy Sepio, Joe Sita, Mike Loin, Dave Herget, Barbara Harris and Mark Mirando.

His sons David, 30, and Adam, 31, also joined him at one point for a song or two.

Burr has had a varied career as a performer and songwriter. He's been inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame, and has been named songwriter of the year by Billboard magazine and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

He spent three years with Pure Prairie League, from 1982 to 1985, replacing future country star Vince Gill, and has written songs for a multitude of country artists, including Tim McGraw, Wynonna Judd and the late Conway Twitty. He's also written for pop artists, including "American Idol" contestant Clay Aiken and winner Kelly Clarkson.

He even gave Faith Hill her first professional job when he hired her as a backup singer in his band.

He will repeat a tour he made several years ago with Carole King when he travels with her to Japan in November. Burr appeared on the first tour with King at the Mohegan Sun Casino several years ago, where she called him one of her "favorite songwriters" and in which she sang backup for him on a few tunes. The two have co-written a number of songs, DeRosa said.

"We first talked about this in June," said Anthony Paguni of Four Points. "I think it's just tremendous that he comes back and does this for the city."

Paguni said the hotel did not charge for the use of the ballroom for the performance, and DeRosa said the $10 ticket price was "only to cover costs. Gary's not getting paid for this. And anything that's left over after just paying the costs, we'll donate to a charity. He just comes back for his friends, and because he was born here, and never forgets it."

estrillacci@record-journal.com

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