November 24, 2009
The BK Lounge

I sat down to write about tonights show, thinking about the outstanding banjo work of guest Mark Hayden, then we heard the beautiful voice of Amanda Brock who just happened to be in the BK Lounge to get a hamburger and hesitantly agreed to perform for us. Then Art Covey, our third guest put on a great performance as usual. Then, I went to MO-KAN OPRY. com and read what Roger and Jean had written about our show. Wondering how I could ever top that, I gave up and decided to reprint their article again.

We were late getting away from home tonight, but managed to catch "Marvelous" Marvin Bredemeier and the rest of the band including lead guitarist Gordon Riley, drummer John Malone and Mark Hayden sitting in tonight with his banjo as he sang and played and sang the Roy Rogers/Dale Evans classic "Happy Anniversary" and "Rubber Dolly." Marvin of course, plays fiddle every Saturday night at Annie's Country Jubilee in Tonganoxie, KS and returned later in the evening with "The Waltz You Save For Me" and a seasonal wake-up call - "Jingle Bells." David Purcell with help from Art Covey did a great job with "Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me" - a song that Willie Nelson & Ray Price recorded a great duet of. David followed with a Garry Bichelmeyer song, "Northern Star" and later it was an original song David and his grandchildren collaborated on, "Come On Santa To My House" and Willy's "On The Road Again." Garry's wife, Mary Bichelmeyer sang some great old standards tonight: Patsy's "Crazy Arms." "Dark Moon" (recorded by many, including Gale Storm. How many of you remember "My Little Margie" on TV?) and a little later "Crazy Dream." Garry dug up a golden oldie himself as he sang "Red River Valley" and then it was Charlie Pride's "Is Anybody Goin' To San Antone," John Denver's "Back Home Again" and a great old bluegrass tune "The Old Home Place."

After a short intermission, emcee Larry Dean sang Brooks & Dunn's "Boot Scootin' Boogie" for the linedancers, then it was Chuck Berry's "Nadine" followed by Gene Watson's "Farewell Party." Gordon Riley did a marvelous job singing as well as picking Buck Owens' "Love's Gonna Live Here Again" and he and this super band did an awesome job with Chet Atkins' "Meet Mr. Callahan." A special treat tonight was Amanda Brock who used to sing at Glen's Opry several years ago and had just stopped off for a hamburger. She was quickly pressed into service and did a beautiful job singing Anne Murray's "Snow Bird" and a duet with Garry of Keith Whitley & Lorrie Morgan's "Till Each Tear You Cry Becomes A Rose." Our friend Art Covey did a swell job himself tonight, playing mandolin and singing Pat Boone's "Love Letters In The Sand," Ferlin Husky's "Deep Water" and closed this evening with "Mountain Railway."

Thanks again to Roger Hawkins @ Mo-Kan Opry. com