Although we had expected Miss Jean to be in the hospital tonight, we decided to make the best of the circumstances and show up at the BK and put these problems aside, if only for awhile. We're sure glad we did as it was a wonderful evening with friends Marvin & Sug Bredemeier, David Purcell, Annie Little and Sandy Barnett as well as regulars Larry Dean, Garry & Mary Bichelmeyer, Lou Moore, Gordon Riley and Art Covey.
Emcee Larry Dean started the evening off singing a Billy Joe Shaver tune, "I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal," then it was "I'm A Little Rough Around The Edges" and later Merle Haggard's "I Had A Beautiful Time," "Boot Scootin Boogie" for the line dancers and "Silver Wings." David Purcell is another of those multi-talented individuals who not only sings a great song, but writes them as well. Tonight it was his "Where Did Our Love Go," "You're A Once In A Lifetime Thing," and great impressions of Willy ("On The Road Again") and Waylon/Jesse ("Storms Never Last"). It was a pleasure to once again see and hear Art Covey work that mandolin and sing. Tonight, it was "Golden Slippers," "Rebel Soldier," "Red Wing" and the beautiful "Kentucky Waltz." Our pal Marvin Bredemeier of course, plays fiddle every Saturday night at Annie's Country Jubilee and at one time was a member of Hank Thompson's Brazos Valley Boys, so he is always a welcome sight and adds so much to the evening's enjoyment. Tonight he played (by request) our personal favorite fiddle tune, "Ragtime Annie," "The Waltz You Saved For Me" and "Rubber Dolly" (also known as "Back Up And Push").
Mary Bichelmeyer, the group's bass player, sang a song written by her and husband Garry entitled "I'll Make It Right," "Don't Tell Me What To Do," then it was Garry & Mary singing duets of "Black Coffee" and Johnny Cash's "Ring Of Fire." Mary returned later with "Bill Bailey" and Garry with two songs he created, "Marie" and "Nodaway River." Gordon Riley, Lou Moore and the rest of the band sounded so good as they played "Buckaroo" and with Lou on the washboard and David Purcell behind the drums, "Wash Board Rag."
Annie Little was on hand tonight and sang "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" and "Could I Have This Dance," a couple of cuts from her album, "A Little Country," beautifully. Ditto for little Sandy Barnett, who has battled back from some severe illness lately. Tonight she sang Little Jimmy Dickens' "I'm Little But I'm Loud" and "Don't Be Angry." (We took this last song as a message that included insurance companies. This musical evening improved our attitudes tremendously.) (Below) Carl Calcara (extreme right) from Overland Park who brought one of our "special kids," Colin Couch (seated) from Olathe to the session tonight, pose with the band at intermission.
