This week a

local boy who is making good comes home.

Steve

Friday, a former Fayette County resident, returns to the

Atlanta area as an actor in the touring company of

"Buddy" and a singer/songwriter performing

original material at CJ's Landing in Atlanta.

Friday

plays Joe Malden in the musical "Buddy," based

on The Buddy Holly Story. Malden was the bass player for

The Crickets, Holly's backup band, and one of Holly's old

friends from Lubbock, Texas. The cast is the orchestra in

the show and, though Friday traditionally plays guitar,

he plays the upright bass in the show.

After

Wednesday night's performance, Friday and members of the

cast will go to C.J.'s Landing in Buckhead. Friday will

perform original material, while some of the cast will

round out his band. Friday equates his sound to the

Counting Crows and Ben Folds Five.

"It's

what would be considered Top 40 rock `n' roll,"

Friday explained. "I was also influenced by Lynyrd

Skynyrd and Elvis Costello, stuff my older brother

listened to."

Friday has

been toying with music since he was a teenager but

started taking it more seriously about six years ago. He

released a CD last year and is planning on recording

another one when he gets back to New York City after the

tour. As for New York City, Friday still lives in Midtown

Manhattan, as he has for eight years, and is very

influenced by the city.

"A lot

of my songs are based on life experiences, New York

situations," Friday said. "Sometimes they're

about love affairs gone awry and sometimes they're about

political themes."

Friday

plans to focus on his music career even more in the

future. Though he won't swear off the stage forever (who

could?) he believes that "Buddy" will be his

last show for awhile. "At least until the bank

account is low again," said Friday.

Friday is

back in Fayette County for the week. He is staying with

his family and taking a mini-vacation of sorts.

"Buddy" began last night at the Fox Theater in

Atlanta and will run through Sunday. Tickets are

available at the Fox box office or by calling

Ticketmaster at 404-249-6400.

Friday's

performance at CJ's Landing will begin at 11:15 p.m. CJ's

Landing is at 270 Buckhead Ave. The cover charge is $3.

<!--##############