Friday, May 20, 2011

MAY 19, 2011
GRINTER BARN JAMBOREE


Those of you who were not at the GRINTER BARN JAMBOREE last night missed out on a superb show. We were treated to an amazing display of talent with FRED UZELL and FRANKIE KAYE playing their dueling Steel Guitars. The last time we saw them together was approximately a year ago at the Grinter.

I was able to talk briefly with FRANKIE about his stint with COWBOY COPAS and his band. It appeared to be a high point in his life. He told me it was in 1951 and he was there for almost a year. He loved the entire experience saying he had made many friends in Country Music. To name a few; he talked proudly of being friends with Hank Williams Sr. after finding out they both loved horses. Others he named were George Morgan and Little Jimmy Dickens. It would really be a time to remember for his entire life.

As usual, the band put on a great show and the good sized crowd really seemed to enjoy the evening.

Please keep LAURENCE KELTNER in your thoughts and prayers. LAURENCE had a neck surgery a few weeks ago and his recovery has been slower than expected. We certainly hope to see him and BARB back on our dance floor soon!!

Our next GRINTER BARN JAMBOREE will be on June 16, I will give you the menu as soon as we have been notified.

After the wonderful success we had last month with the "ROCK & ROLL" show, it was decided to have one every three months. Watch for the next one coming up at the GRINTER BARN JAMBOREE on Thursday, July 21, 2011. I'm sure you won't want to miss this!

Hopefully, we will see everyone at the BK LOUNGE next Tuesday.

Stay safe and well until then.

Photos below:
Top -- FRANKIE KAYE
Bottom -- FRED UZELL




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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

MAY 18, 2011

I HAVE JUST RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT GLORIA BEATTY HAS A KNEE INFECTION. I HAVE NO OTHER INFORMATION EXCEPT SHE AND GLENN HAVE NOT BEEN AT THE BK LOUNGE FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS. WE HOPE FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY AND QUICK RETURN FOR HER!

ALSO, NANCY BROWN IS SCHEDULED FOR BACK SURGERY ON JUNE 14. I WILL RELAY ANY INFORMATION THAT I GET AT THAT TIME. WE WISH HER A SPEEDY AND COMPLETE REC0VERY.

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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

MAY 17, 2011
BK LOUNGE


About all I can say about tonight's show is "WOW!!" It was a great show with a great crowd on hand to enjoy it. What a wealth of wonderful talent we had.

The first one to drop in was our friend, ARNIE JOHNSON. It had been several months since we saw him. He came front and center during the first half and turned in his usually dazzling performance with two or three songs. He returned in the second half for three more great numbers.

BILL CLARK made a couple of different appearances with some superb music on his harmonicas. He is always a pleasure to listen to.

ANNIE LITTLE got up and captivated the crowd with two of her favorites from one of her CD's. Her CD"s are a great display of her talents and very enjoyable, if you get the chance be sure to pick one up.

15-year old LUKE MORALES, a protege of GORDON RILEY'S, showed his talent on the guitar with a great performance of "House of the Rising Sun" and followed it by backing LARRY DEAN as he sang Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues". Great job LUKE!!!.

In addition to the pain and discomfort I told you last week that LAURENCE KELTNER was experiencing, they had to make a trip to the Emergency Room later in the week where he was treated for bronchitis. In addition to all that, their Granddaughter suffered a miscarriage. Laurence and Barb and their family need all the support we can give them; please remember them in your prayers and I'm sure some cards would be appreciated. Their address is in last weeks blog below this one.

Our very special guests at the Grinter Barn Jamboree this Thursday, May 19 will be two great performers. FRED UZELL with his Dobro and FRANKIE KAYE with the Steel Guitar. The last time they both joined us was about a year ago and we saw one of the best shows we had in a long time. FRANKIE played in COWBOY COPAS' band for a time many years ago. You won't want to miss this show and also enjoy the Enchilada Casserole the Ladies of Grinter are going to serve before the show.

Again I owe DAVE & JEAN HIGHTOWER a MILLION THANKS for taking the pictures for me. They will never know how much I appreciate their help.

Pictured below: Top - ARNIE JOHNSON -- Bottom - LUKE MORALES



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Sunday, May 15, 2011

MAY 15, 2011

OUR SPECIAL GUEST AT THE BK LOUNGE AGAIN THIS TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 17 WILL BE THE OUTSTANDING TALENT, FRED UZELL. HE WILL HAVE EITHER HIS STEEL GUITAR OR THE DOBRO. COME OUT AND ENJOY HIS MUSIC WITH US.

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Tuesday, May 10, 2011

MAY 10, 2011
BK LOUNGE


At the beginning it looked like it was going to be a slow night. Everyone must have been working in their lawns and gardens on this beautiful day. But by showtime the Lounge was filled to capacity with an enthusiastic and boisterous crowd of fans; some new and many regulars.

We were honored to have the wonderfully talented FRED UZELL with his Steel Guitar joining the band. He is an outstanding musician and always well received. He also brought along his son, PAT UZELL who very ably filled in on the electric bass for MARY while she mingled and visited with some of her family members attending the show from out of town. It's always a pleasure to have PAT join us.

It was good to see ART COVEY back from his annual trek to Arizona for the winter. He sat in with his mandolin all evening and performed three or four songs for our pleasure. Once again I did not have time or the ability to get the names of the songs that our great guests performed tonight. I guess I am going to have to hire someone to do that for me.

JEROME OBERLE brought his all-button accordion tonight and performed "BEER BARREL POLKA" and played for DAVE PURCELL while he sang.

ANNIE LITTLE also asked JEROME to play for her while she sang one song and she stayed and sang another with the band.

Finally, our friend RON FINE entertained us with "BUILD ME A CABIN IN THE CORNER OF GLORY LAND". He is such a fabulous entertainer, it is always good to see him.

It was so good to see a great friend of the STRANGER CREEK BAND come in tonight. JEAN HAWKINS joined us for the first time in a few weeks. We have missed her so much. Hopefully she will feel like coming more often now.

We are sorry to have a report that LAURENCE KELTNER is not recovering from his recent neck surgery as hoped. BARB says that he has a lot of pain and discomfort. Evidently he can't lay comfortably to sleep because of the pain in his neck. Hopefully he will get better quick, we want to see them back on the dance floor at the BK LOUNGE again soon. I'm sure he would appreciate a lot of cards and letters. Their address is;

LAURENCE KELTNER
7019 WARWICK
SHAWNEE MISSION KS


Of course we will be back at the BK LOUNGE next Tuesday, May 17 and at the GRINTER BARN on Thursday, May 19. The Ladies of Grinter will be serving ENCHILADA CASSEROLE for dinner. All proceeds go the the FRIENDS OF GRINTER for the upkeep and expenses of GRINTER PLACE.

Everyone stay safe & well

Many, Many Thanks to DAVE & JEAN HIGHTOWER for the great photos below:

Left -- ART COVEY has returned from his winter in Arizona
Right -- FRED UZELL demonstrates his great talent on the Steel Guitar



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Monday, May 9, 2011

MAY 9, 2011

OUR VERY SPECIAL GUEST AT THE BK LOUNGE THIS WEEK WILL BE THE ALWAYS POPULAR STEEL GUITAR AND DOBRO PLAYER MR. FRED UZELL. BE SURE TO COME OUT AND LISTEN TO THIS OUTSTANDING MUSICIAN.

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Sunday, May 8, 2011

MAY 8, 2011

My wife, Pat and I had a great experience last night. We went out to TONGANOXIE,KS for a great show at ANNIE'S COUNTRY JUBILEE. Not only MARVIN BREDEMEIER, who has played with ANNIE'S BAND for a number of years performed; three other regulars from THE STRANGER CREEK BAND were on the billing and did us up proud. DAVE PURCELL, GARRY BICHELMEYER and LARRY DEAN INMAN each were called to the stage and sang two songs. Remarkably, each was called back for an encore. Then in the second half GARRY and LARRY performed a couple of duets including "WE'RE IN THE JAILHOUSE NOW". After some singing and joking, DAVE was called back out to join them and the three of them were enthusiastically received performing GARRY'S "NORTHERN STAR". Outstanding entertainment!!!

ANNIE also introduced a lady she met only a few days ago who lives in TONGANOXIE, LISA PERKINS did a wonderful job singing WYNONA'S "MOMMA HE'S CRAZY" and joined by GARRY sang "AMAZING GRACE". LISA has a great voice and I'm confident that we will be hearing more from her in the future.

Great show by the entire group at ANNIE'S. If you have not yet seen her show, it is well worth the short drive to TONGANOXIE to take it in.

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Thursday, May 5, 2011

MAY 5, 2011

Barb Keltner reports that Laurence had his surgery on Wednesday as scheduled. It had been predicted to last 3 hours but went well and was finished in 2 1/2 hours. That is always good news when surgery goes faster than planned. He is in room 510 at Shawnee Mission Hospital. Barb expects him to come home on Friday.

Cards can be sent to:
Laurence Keltner
7019 Warwick
Shawnee Mission, KS


Their phone number at home is 913-631-1584.

Let's all remember him in our thoughts and prayers. We hope to see them back on the dance floor at the BK Lounge soon.

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Wednesday, May 4, 2011

MAY 3, 2011
BK LOUNGE



When the band opened the show tonight, none of them realized that we were about to celebrate an anniversary. Next Monday, May 9 will mark six years since the Stranger Creek Band made their first appearance at our present home; the BK Lounge.

The band put on their usual great performance to an enthusiastic crowd of new fans as well as the regulars that join us every week. We are always so grateful to see them all.

The first special guest to step up and perform for us was Jerome Oberle with his button accordion. He was outstanding with his renditions of "Just Because" followed with "Lady Of Spain".Jerome came back in the second set with "Slow Poke".

Annie Little entertained us with her usually outstanding performance singing "Somewhere Between" and closed the program with a song the band had never played before. "Everyday With Jesus" came out with a flawless performance.

Let's please keep our loyal fan, Dave Rorabaugh in our thoughts and prayers. Dave suffered what was described as a light stroke this past weekend. He is recovering well and was to get home from the Hospital today but will not be able to return to the BK Lounge for a time. We all look forward to seeing him return soon.

We hope everyone plans to attend the regular Saturday night show at Annie's Country Jubilee in Tonganoxie this Saturday at 7:30 PM. Our own Larry Dean, Garry Bichelmeyer and Dave Purcell will be making guest appearances with Annie and her great group.

We hope to see everyone back at the BK Lounge again next Tuesday. Until then stay safe and well!!

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