Fair board pays its pipers

Performers at this year’s county fair in Del Mar are getting a variety of compensation, judging from a sampling of entertainment contracts taken up by the board of the state’s 22nd agricultural district, which operates the annual event. Dave Davies of the Kinks, famous for the song “Lola,” got just $12,240. John Waite, lead vocalist for the Babys and Bad English, received $15,080. Berlin, featuring Terri Nunn — whose most famous song was arguably “Take My Breath Away,” the theme from the Tom Cruise movie Top Gun, shot in San Diego back in 1986 — got $17,600. The Osmond brothers, old Mormon standbys for the late Andy Williams, were paid $20,000. Sixties twisters Chubby Checker and the Wildcats did a bit better at $20,175. The Partridge Family’s onetime teen idol David Cassidy got $25,000, as did Emblem3, a contemporary hip-hop outfit, and Red, specialists in post-grunge religious rock. Old-time rockers Joan Jett and the Blackhearts cost the fair $52,500.

The money picked up a bit from there. Sail Rock, another vintage act featuring Christopher Cross, Orleans, Firewall, and Player, got $60,000. Pop singer and acoustic guitarist Colbie Caillat ran $75,000. Mexico City rock band Caifanes merited $85,000. Latin Grammy winner Espinoza Paz earned $95,000. Compton hip-hop recording artist Kendrick Lamar got $100,000. Big Time Rush and Nickelodeon veteran Victoria Justice bagged $200,000. Apart from the music, a live version of the Family Feud TV game show set the fair-board back $135,000.