AUGUST 31, 2010
BK LOUNGE

It was very hot as we prepared for tonight's show. The gathering of people started out slow but as show time approached, the BK Lounge was filled to capacity before we realized it.

(Tuesday) As I write this, I have received word that our friend, Glen Beatty underwent neck surgery at KU Medical Center today; Jean says the surgery was successful. We all wish Glen a speedy recovery and hope to see him back at the BK Lounge soon!

As the magic hour approached, Larry Dean stepped front & center to sing Alan Jackson's "Don't Rock The Juke Box" and Merle Haggard's "Working Man Blues." Showing his great versatility, Larry returned later with Travis Tritt's "Living On Borrowed Time," Charlie Louvin's "She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye" and Johnny Cash's "The Night Hank Williams Came To Town."

What a pleasant surprise it was to see our friend Larry Smith, whose singing talents are almost legendary throughout this area. Larry, who has appeared at practically every opry & country show throughout the region, got a huge hand as he greeted everyone with a Hank Locklin tune, "My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You," followed by Merle's "Okie From Muskogee," Eddie Arnold's "Make The World Go Away" and Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues." Returning shortly after intermission, Larry did a bang-up job with Chuck Berry's "Memphis, Tennessee" & "Johnny B. Goode," Ray Price's "Heart Aches By The Number" along with Merle's "Today I Started Loving You Again." The group's terrific lead guitarist Gordon Riley and the rest of the band including drummer John Malone got the dancers moving with the self-penned "Gordon's Boogie #2," "Buckaroo" while Gordon demonstrated his vocal abilities as well with Hank Thompson's "Six Pack To Go" and Elvis' "Big Boss Man." "Marvelous" Marvin Bredemeier got quite an ovation tonight as he put bow to fiddle and played Bob Wills' "Milk Cow Blues," "Down Yonder," "The Waltz You Saved For Me," "Rubber Dolly" and George Strait's "Right Or Wrong." Marvin, of course is part of the great band which plays every Saturday night at Annie's Country Jubilee. Mary Bichelmeyer's soft, mellow voice certainly did justice to Loretta Lynn's "Blue Kentucky Girl," Pam Tillis' "Don't Tell Me What To Do" and Warner Mack's "Once A Day." Garry Bichelmeyer gave everyone a taste of his many talents tonight singing John Denver's "It's Good To Be Back Home Again," "Kansas City," his newly self-written "One Room School House," then picking up the banjo led the band playing "Foggy Mountain Breakdown." It's always great to see and hear crowd favorite David Purcell and tonight he greeted everyone with Alan Jackson's "Just Playing Possum," Willie Nelson sound-alikes "On The Road Again" & "Help Me Make It Through The Night" and a bit later, George Strait's "The Cowboy Rides Away."

Tonight's festivities came to a close with the band playing "I Saw The Light" and Larry Dean singing an old bluegrass gospel number recorded by Tom T. Hall and others, "Rank Stranger."

(Below) Tonight's special guest, Larry Smith



The photo and much of the text above was reprinted from MO-KAN OPRY.com with the permission of Roger & Jean Hawkins. Thanks again.

*************************************************************************************