AUGUST 17, 2010
BK LOUNGE

If you have not yet checked into the MO-KAN OPRY web site, please do so. That site is operated by a couple of what I believe are the best friends of country music in this area. Roger and Jean Hawkins list and promote nearly every country music show around. These lists include show dates and times. They regularly travel to visit each of the shows they have listed. Upon their return from these sometimes long excursions, they write a detailed review of what they have seen and heard including a complete, accurate list of music performed by each artist. Through their kindness and generosity they regularly permit me to use all or part of their articles about the Stranger Creek band shows. Their web site is a must see site for all of you country music fans. MO-KAN OPRY.com. Thanks, Roger & Jean

Another big crowd, taking advantage of the cooler weather, jam-packed the BK tonight as Gordon Riley, the band's great lead guitar player and the rest of the band including John Malone on drums kicked the night's festivities off with "Gordon's Boogie" and "Won't You Ride In My Little Red Wagon." After Gordon did a super job singing "Red Necks, White Socks & Blue Ribbon Beer," he and the band returned with the upbeat "Panhandle Rag." Larry Dean stepped front and center to sing a favorite Johnny Cash tune "The Night Hank Williams Came To Town" and David Allan Coe's "You Never Even Called Me By My Name." Next up was Marvin Bredemeier, whose legendary fiddling can be heard every Saturday night at Annie's Country Jubilee. Tonight Marvin chose "Rubber Dolly," "Take Me Back To Tulsa" and "The Waltz You Saved For Me" (with Larry Dean on vocals). David Purcell got a big hand as he stepped to the mike to sing Willie's "Help Me Make It Through The Night" and "A Once In A Lifetime Thing." Mary Bichelmeyer used her soft voice this evening to sing Hank Sr.'s "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)" and "Your Cheating Heart" while multi talented husband Garry Bichelmeyer sang one of his original songs "I'm So Lonesome In The Saddle Since My Horse Died" which has become know fondly as "The Dead Horse Song" and a song he is presently working on, "Losing You." It was great seeing Art Covey again, listening to him play his mandolin and sing Darrell McCall's "There's Still A Lot Of Love In San Antone" and "Falling Leaves."

Mark Hayden, one of this area's top banjo players joined the gang tonight and was featured on "Down Yonder," "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" and "Rollin In My Sweet Baby's Arms" with Gordon, Larry & Marvin doing the vocals. Jerome Oberle brought along his button accordian this evening and really got the dance floor packed as he played the "Pennslyvania Polka" and the "Beer Barrell Polka." We were delighted to see Ron Fine made the trip tonight and he put his awesome vocal talents to work on Elvis' "Now And Then There's A Fool Such As I" and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Little Mountain Church House." Our friend Mike Hughes also showed what a great singer he is with Eddy Arnold's "Make The World Go Away" and Merle's "Swinging Doors." Although Annie Little is practically a regular, we never tire of hearing her beautiful voice and tonight she sang "Have You Ever Been Lonely" and a Garry Bichelmeyer tune "I Must Have Been Out Of My Mind."

Tonight's program ended with Larry Dean's beautiful recitation of "Old Barns & People" and Mark Hayden & the band playing "Cripple Creek." (Below) l. to r. Ron Fine, Mike Hughes, Mark Hayden, Jerome Oberle P.S. Photo taken with new camera. Getting somewhat used to it.



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