We've been trying to work out our schedule to allow us to visit Leland & Carole Jones and their Country Pickin Opry near Richmond, MO and as things turned out, we couldn't have picked a more entertaining evening. Leland and the Country Pickers (Ron Lana, Donnie Pitts, Richard Jewell, Bob Smith, Harvey Hayseed and Kenny Buford) kicked the show off with the Ray Price hit "I Don't Believe I'll Fall In Love Today," Merle Haggard's "The Fugitive," Sonny James' "Is It Wrong" and a blockbuster hit of Jim Reeves, "Four Walls." Later it was "Two Dollars In The Jukebox." "Don't Be Angry" and a song Leland wrote & recorded about back when he and Carole were dating entitled "Down That Old Dirt Road." (Check out the link at the bottom of the Country Pickin Opry page to watch this.)
Fonda Bennett used her great vocal talents to sing Hank Williams' "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You," Jeannie Pruett's "Satin Sheets" and a little later "Hangin Round The Blue Side Of Town" and Charley McClain's "Dancing Your Memory Away." Donnie Pitts gave us a great sample of his singing abilities as well as he tickled those ivories and sang Johnny Tillotson's "It Keeps Right On A'Hurtin" and Richard Jewell sounded super playing "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" on his electric banjo. Harvey Hayseed, bass player and resident character, let everyone in on the fact that when a man buys his wife flowers for no apparent reason----there IS a reason. Harv was in the hospital awhile back and the doctor told his wife, "I don't like the way he looks." "Well, I don't either," the wife told him, "But he's good to the kids." "Making dog biscuits that are supposed to help sweeten thier breath is the biggest crock I ever heard of," he continued. "I saw a bunch of dogs out in the front yard awhile back and they wasn't smelling each other's breath!"
We always enjoy seeing David Welch, the singing bus driver perform. Tonight he brought a busload of country music fans from Topeka, KS who watched him do an incredible job as he picked and sang the Chuck Berry/Elvis hit "The Promised Land," Jack Greene's "There Goes My Everything," Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" and later did a marvelous job with John Anderson's "When You Get On The Whiskey," Kris Kristofferson written/Johnny Cash standard "Sunday Morning Coming Down," Eddie Arnold's "Make The World Go Away" and the upbeat "All Shook Up." Next up was the father/daughter team of Jack and Rachel Wicker who we could personally watch all night long, given the opportunity. Jack, of course is known far and wide for his unmatched "hot" piano playing and smooth vocal work. Rachel was an American Idol contestant and has appeared on millions of TV sets across the land and after hearing her sing, it's hard for one to imagine why she didn't win it all. Every note seemed perfect as she sang Loretta's "You Ain't Woman Enough," Elvis' "You Were Always On My Mind," "Every Day I Live," Connie Smith's "Once A Day," "You Don't Know Me" and the beautiful "Praise The Hurt Away."
Jack Wicker literally had his keyboard jumping as he tore into some 50's era R&R with JLL's "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," Fats Domino's "Blueberry Hill" and Marty Robbins' "White Sport Coat." Then it was a change of pace as Jack fullfilled many requests for his signature gospel songs with "I'll Fly Away," "How Great Thou Art" and our personal favorite "I Know A Man Who Can." Leland closed the show with "I Feel Like I've Gotta Travel On." (Below) top - David Welch "The Singing Bus Driver" bottom - Jack & Rachel Wicker
