Jackson Browne made his anniversary performance at the Opera House at Boothbay Harbor on July 10 with a sold out show. Not a surprise for an entertainer who has filled stadiums without any problem.

Cathy Sherrill, the Opera House's executive director, welcomed us to the show and thanked us all, as always. I'd like to say thank you to Cathy and to all the board for all of its help last night. The board served as ushers, waitstaff and roadies.

Browne started with a heartfelt thank you to the Opera House, noting how much the Opera House has grown and gratitude for being a part of it.

Some of the more memorable songs from the show were: “Running On Empty” (closer), “The Pretender,” “Take it Easy” (encore), “Rock Me on the Water,” “Fountain of Sorrow,” “Here Come Those Tears Again,” and “Before the Deluge” (second and final encore). He opened with signature ballads from some his earlier albums, “Saturate Before Using,” “Late for the Sky,” and a few others.

Browne got his start playing with bands like The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1966 and co-writing hits that bands like the Eagles have made into signature hits. Starting out on a solo career after the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, he co wrote songs, “Take it Easy,” “Doolin Dalton” and others with members of the Eagles.

I saw Browne in 1983 for the first time as a youth working in the restaurant trade. Having the benefit to turn the jukebox up as loud as possible at the end of the night was a great benefit for an 18 year old. He had songs that made girls want to dance in the aisles.

He is a great songwriter and has a genre that many can appreciate, while still making some of his poetical and political views known. Love, music, loneliness and loss play a soft touch that many can identify with. He has protested Wall Street and nuclear plants prolifically throughout his career while still being able to mingle with corporate and political execs.

Touring with Browne were artists who kept up and played great; these guys are unsung heroes. On a side note: Lead guitarist Val MacCullum of the band Jacksh#t (this is their real name), treated us with a single song, “Tokyo Girl,” a ballad about his wife of 23 years.

He has made a successful career as one of the industry's leading studio musicians and has played with many noted artists.Further Internet research on this artist outlined his interesting background. His mother (Jill Ireland and step father Charles Bronson) met on a movie set. They were introduced by his father who plays a major role on “NCIS” as Ducky and is known as Illya Kuryakin, the Russian born spy from the 1960s TV series, “Man from U.N.C.L.E.”