Our pal Mike Duley invited us a couple of months ago to come up to Gentry, MO to his Ramblin Country Show and enjoy a special show he was putting together starring country music legend Jack Greene. Jack, of course, appeared at Annie's Country Jubilee just this past fall and the more we thought about it the more we thought that Annie Dunavin and husband Terry might want to come along and enjoy the opportunity to visit with Jack and wife Leanne. We were right and the four of us left Tonganoxie about 4 PM and headed out for Gentry, via I-29, US 169, etc. Although we arrived somewhat early, we found the street outside Lion's Hall already packed with cars in anticipation of the great show which lay ahead. It was a nice surprise when we discovered that Bill Jordan and Phil Coontz had come up from Branson to play bass and steel guitar along with Patrick Rooney from Richmond, MO on drums, Linda Adwell playing saxophone and of course, Mike Duley's super lead guitar work.
Phil Coontz opened the show playing "Steel Guitar Rag" and later showed his vocal abilities as well with Porter Wagoner's "I Thought I Heard You Calling My Name," Hank Williams' "Your Cheating Heart," "Please Release Me," "Last Date" (Bill Jordan vocals) and "Panhandle Rag." Phil, who at one time played with the house band at the Grand Ole Opry has a CD available, "Phil Coontz Plays & Sings His Grand Ole Opry Favorites," a must for steel guitar lovers. Linda Adwell, who plays most Friday nights at Ravenwood's Barn Door Opry, was on hand tonight to play some great country saxophone with "Now And Then There's A Fool Such As I," "Down Yonder," "Danny Boy" and the Boots Randolph classic "Yakity Sax." Drummer Patrick Ramsey showed his vocal talents as he sang George Strait's "The Chair" and "Blue Spanish Eyes" while Mike Duley, in spite of having to organize, manage, emcee the show and play lead, managed to sing a couple himself ("The Key's In The Mailbox," "Someone Had To Teach You"), much to the audience's delight. Bill Jordan never fails to amaze and excite anyone who loves traditional country music as we do. Blind from birth, Bill plays a 6 string bass and his smooth, mellow vocals are infectious. If you name a older country song, Bill probably knows it, can tell you who first sang it, when it was recorded, on what label, then sing it as good or better than the original. Tonight, he began with "Little Ole Dime," Cal Smith's 1974 hit "Country Bumpkin," Josh Turner's "Long Black Train" and a medley of Johnny Cash tunes. Bill returned later in the evening.
Once a member of Ernest Tubb's band, Grand Ole Opry member Jack Greene struck out on his own to become a country music legend. Country Music Association's Male Artist Of The Year in 1967, he also had the CMA Album of the Year and the CMA Song of the Year! Resplendent in his black Manuel rhinestone-studded jacket and black hat he began the set with "This One Belongs To Me," then it was "Try A Little Kindness," "The Last Letter," Ernest Tubb's "Walking The Floor Over You," "Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me," "Walking On New Grass," "I Need Somebody Bad Tonight," "Follow Me," "There's A Whole Lot About A Woman That A Man Don't Know," "All The Time," "There Goes My Everything" and of course, the Jack Greene classic "Statue Of A Fool." Jack was kind enough to stay around for a short while to take pictures with the band and finish signing autographs but had to leave as they had a two-show gig in Wisconsin Dells tomorrow.
Shortly after the second half commenced, Mike Duley announced he had a surprise for everyone and asked Annie Dunavin to come up onstage. Annie put on quite a performance of her own, singing Jeannie Pruett's "Satin Sheets," "Seven Lonely Days," Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams" and Porter Wagoner's "Slew Foot" to boisterous applause. Then it was the Bill Jordan show and Bill was at his best with "She's Gone, Gone, Gone" (with some great steel work from Phil Coontz), "Heart Talk," Conway's "Hello Darlin'," "I've Been Everywhere," "I'll Love You For The Rest Of MIne," "Diane," "A-11," "Murder On Music Row," "Cab Driver" and "Kaw-Liga." (Is there ANYTHING this man can't sing?) Linda Adwell and Cheryl Porter closed the show with "Step Into The Water." (Below) top -- l. to r. Bill Jordan, Phil Coontz, Grand Ole Opry Star Jack Greene, Patrick Rooney, Linda Adwell, Mike Duley bottom -- Annie Dunavin with Jack Greene
