AUGUST 24, 2010
BK LOUNGE

Last night was such a beautiful evening to get out and around. The BK Lounge was about to burst at the seams with such a large, great crowd. We were honored to have such a line-up of guests with us. Annie Dunavin of Annie's Jubilee in Tonganoxie was in along with harmonica player Bill Clark. Also, Art Covey and Ron Fine entertained us with their wonderful voices.

Tonight's festivities began with Larry Dean welcoming the big crowd with a Ricky Skaggs classic "Hiway 40 Blues," followed by Cash's "Big River," Brooks & Dunn's "Boot Scootin Boogie" and Elvis' "All Shook Up" and Chuck Berry's "C'est La Vie" a bit later. Lead guitarist Gordon Riley and the rest of the band, including John Malone on the drums got the dancers loosened up with "Honky Tonk" and Gordon returned to sing Dave Dudley's "Truck Drivin' Man" and Elvis' "Big Boss Man." Our friend Marvin Bredemeier, who plays fiddle at Annie's Country Jubilee every Saturday was up next and he chose to start with one of the most beautiful fiddle tunes we know of, "Shogun Farewell," followed by our favorite fiddle tune, "Ragtime Annie." Mary Bichelmeyer, the group's bass player used her soft, mellow voice to do a marvelous job with Hank Sr.'s "Your Cheating Heart" and Pam Tillis' "Don't Tell Me What To Do" while Dave Purcell did an awesome job with George Strait's "The Cowboy Rides Away" and a Willie Nelson sound alike, "Ain't It Funny How Time Slips Away." Garry Bichelmeyer showcased his writing talents as well as his vocal abilities as he sang three self-penned numbers: "Mike's Guitar" (a song about the late Mike O'Roark, who was such an exciting performer), "The One Room School House" (a brand new song which everyone thought will turn out to be one of his best) and by request...."Tonganoxie." Somewhat later, he was joined by wife Mary as they sang a duet of Lacy J. Dalton's "Black Coffee." We always look forward to seeing and hearing Art Covey play his mandolin and sing and tonight he picked a couple of favorites, the Pat Boone classic "Love Letters In The Sand" and Darrell McCall's "There's Still A Lot Of Love In San Antone." It was a real kick to see Bill Clark and wife Louise and we really enjoyed Bill's harmonica work on an old-fashioned hoedown - "Bile That Cabbage Down" and then the beautiful "Faded Love" accompanied by Marvin's fiddle and the rest of the band as well.

A huge ovation greeted Annie Dunavin as she took mike in hand to sing the Jeanne Pruett classic "Satin Sheets" and Patsy Cline's "Walking After Midnight" to close the first half of tonight's session and returned later to do a marvelous job singing "Bonaparte's Retreat" and Lorrie Morgan's "Don't Touch Me (If You Don't Love Me)." Here's hoping she can find the time to return again, real soon! Also on hand tonight was Ron Fine who used his great vocal abilities on Bobby Helms' "Fraulein" and the old Hank Snow standard "Now And Then There's A Fool Such As I." Annie Little sounded super as well tonight singing Keith Whitley's "Somewhere Between" and a Garry Bichelmeyer tune "I Must Have Been Out Of My Mind." Larry Dean closed out the evening's entertainment with George Morgan's "I've Got A Mansion (Just Over The Hilltop)."

(Below) Annie Dunavin entertains the crowd at the BK



The above photo and most of the text from MO-KAN OPRY.com with the permission of Roger & Jean Hawkins
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