DECEMBER 22, 2009
CHRISTMAS SHOW AT THE BK LOUNGE

A near capacity crowd filled the BK tonight in anticipation of a great Christmas program here tonight and after Gordon Riley and the rest of the band including John Malone on drums, opened tonight's get-together with "Gordon's Boogie #1," Larry Dean got the holiday cheer started with George Strait's "Christmas Cookies' and Elvis' "Santa Claus Is Back In Town." Larry returned later with John Denver's "Grandma's Feather Bed" and Merle Haggard's "If We Make It Through December." Garry Bichelmeyer also chose an Elvis song, "Blue Christmas" to start off with, then it was Waylon's "Wurlitzer Prize" and somewhat later Billy Currington's "People Are Crazy." "Magnanimous" Marvin Bredemeier was up next (magnanimous means having a dignified and generous nature, which fits our friend Marvin to a "T") and putting bow to fiddle did a beautiful job playing "Goodnight My Love," played & sang "Here Come Santa Claus" and "Winter Wonderland." Marvin, of course plays fiddle every Saturday night at Annie's Country Jubilee in Tonganoxie, KS.

Mary Bichelmeyer, Garry's wife and the group's bass player, used her soft, mellow voice tonight to sing Patsy's "Crazy Arms," "Bill Bailey," "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You," and Gordon and the gang returned with a great instrumental of "Silver Bells" a super vocal by Gordon of Buck Owens' "Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy" then it was the "Panhandle Rag" and "Honky Tonk." We always enjoy seeing our friend David Purcell perform and tonight he sang a Garry Bichelmeyer song "Northern Star," "Help Me Make It Through The Night" (we saw Kris Krisofferson & Rita Cooledge perform this at a concert here in KC) and later it was Merle's "It's Not Love But It's Not Bad" and in his best "Willie voice," "Remember Me." Thanks David! Art Covey made some beautiful sounds himself here tonight as he sang & picked his mandolin to "Deep Water" and the "Kentucky Waltz."

It's been quite a spell since we've seen Rick Mullen and didn't hardly recognize him behind that full beard, but it was great to have him drop in and perform "Singing The Blues." Rick and his wife Leta have the Glory Barn at 34th & Woodend in KCKS, which has a show every Saturday night. Ron Fine also a fine singer, dropped in this evening as well and did a marvelous job singing the Waylon/Jessie standard, "Storms Never Last." This was the first opportunity we've had to meet Jerome Oberle and hear him play his all-button accordion or as they are sometimes referred to: "squeezebox." Whatever you call them, Jerome got some great sounds from it as he played "Pennsylvania Polka," "White Christmas" and closed the festivities this evening with the "Blue Skirt Waltz" and "Silent Night."

Once again, because he does such outstanding work, we have reprinted Roger Hawkins' article from MO-KAN OPRY.COM As always we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Roger for letting us use his articles.