He rapped in the Super Bowl, took home three Grammys, starred in the “Fast and Furious” films and made fun of his name in a State Farm commercial. (“You don’t tell Ludacris what’s ludicrous,” he sputtered.)
And yet the question remains. Is Ludacris, who will perform Aug. 6 at the 12-day Ventura County Fair, the biggest name ever signed to perform at the summer event?
There is stiff competition. Tina Turner, Willie Nelson and Casitas Springs’ own Johnny Cash all graced the grandstand stage, according to fairground records that date back to 1981. Heck, The Beach Boys sang about T-Birds, waves and vibrations nine different times at the fair in Ventura.
We’re asking readers to decide which act is the most prominent to ever croon, shred, joke or rap at the fair.
The fairgrounds has been criticized, at times, on social media for not attracting big draws in the past. The records show a surprising list of legendary names have performed.
Turner played there in 1985 on the back of the “Private Dancer” album and the No. 1 hit, “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” that helped make her one of the hottest acts anywhere. It was the same year she gained even more fame by starring in the post-apocalyptic movie, “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.”
But the fair show was not without controversy. Turner canceled her original show date and moved up earlier in the fair’s run to a date that had been reserved for the rodeo, causing consternation for families that had planned their day around broncos and steers.
The ‘85 fair also featured legendary country singer Nelson. According to a report in the Camarillo Daily News, he showed up to the show about 90 minutes late.
The mishaps caused some observers to question the benefits of pursuing superstar performers.
“If people want to see Tina Turner and Willie Nelson, let ‘em go to Caesar’s Palace and the MGM,” wrote an editorial writer for the Camarillo paper.
Other legends played the fair, too. Charley Pride, country music’s first Black superstar, performed in 1984. Linda Ronstadt, who won 11 Grammy awards, gained rave reviews for her grandstand show in 1983.
“Jerry Brown is a lucky man,” a reviewer wrote in Simi Valley’s The Enterprise, referring to the singer’s boyfriend and former governor of California.
Mexican-born guitarist Carlos Santana played his way into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by meshing rock with Latin American jazz. He played the fair twice. So did Pattie LaBelle, known as the Godmother of Soul. Ditto for country star Brad Paisley who sold more than 11 million albums but may be better known for riffing with retired NFL quarterback Peyton Manning in a string of Nationwide commercials.
Other acts are not included in the reader’s poll because they performed at the fairgrounds in shows not connected to the fair.
Bob Dylan played at the venue in June 2000, opening a show for Phil Lesh & Friends. Lesh, a bassist, played the fairgrounds many times with the Grateful Dead, including a three-day show in 1987 that triggered a flood of community complaints about trash, controlled substances and, yes, public urination. The fair board canceled the band’s shows set for the next year.
Not all of the fair's biggest acts were musicians. In 1987, nearly 6,000 people attended a seven-match show put on by the World Wrestling Federation. Hulk Hogan body-slammed 450-pound One Man Gang and Jake “The Snake” Roberts released a live python after a match with Honky Tonk Man who dressed like Elvis Presley.
“Weird Al” Yankovic drew a big crowd to the fair, as did magician-comedian David Copperfield and singer Wayne Newton, known as Mr. Vegas. Few performers can rival comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias who sold out Dodger Stadium two years ago. When Iglesias played the fair’s grandstand in 2017, 8,500 people waited for hours and one person was arrested after allegedly trying to rush past officers into the show.
Want more names? Daryl Hall & John Oates, now facing off in a bitter lawsuit, performed at the fair 11 years ago. Queen Latifah, the first lady of hip-hop, performed at the fair. Julio Iglesias, the Spanish singer who has sold more than 250 million albums, crooned at the grandstand nearly 40 years ago.
Now comes Ludacris who will take the grandstand on Tuesday, Aug. 6. He’s on a roll. He joined Usher and Lil Jon at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas to perform their hit, “Yeah!” A year ago, he was the opener for a Janet Jackson tour that produced 36 shows.
So is it ludicrous to think he may be the biggest act to perform at the fair? Or maybe it’s Ludacris.
Find this story on vcstar.com to cast your vote for the fair's best performer.
Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star.Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com.
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