When we received word from Mike Duley last month that Bill Jordan and Phil Coontz would be appearing at Mike's Rambllin Country Show in Gentry, MO this evening we set everything aside and planned on making an evening out of it. We also invited our friends, John & Mary Pettersch to come along and after hearing us rant about Bill's singing & Phil's playing for some time now, they not only wanted to come along but volunteered to use their car and make the long drive. So off we went, leaving the Kansas City area a little before 4PM, stopping first in Maryville for a leisurly dinner break before proceeding on to Gentry via State 46 and county road O. Although we arrived there before 6:30 PM, the streets were already beginning to fill up as folks came early for the $5 per person fried chicken dinner at the snack bar. We had an opportunity to meet Nick Taylor from Bethany, MO, who is now playing drums with Ramblin Country and visit with Mike Hutson, the group's regular steel guitar player, Mike Duley, band leader, emcee, opry operator and a lead guitarist extraordinaire as well as some fine folks we know from the various oprys in this area. Phil, Bill & wife Judy arrived soon afterward, having made the drive straight through from Branson, where Bill & Phil are appearing in a show called "Cash & Friends" at the IMAX theatre. Amazingly, they had a Friday 2PM matinee, drove straight thru to Gentry, did a 3-1/2 hr. show and have to drive back to Branson, catch a little sleep and do a 2PM matinee Saturday (tomorrow). Ah, the 'soft' life of a country musician!
Phil Coontz, who for years played steel guitar on the Grand Ole Opry's house band and has backed so many big-name Nashville stars through the years that space prevents naming them all, started the evening With "Steel Guitar Rag" joined by Mike Hutson on his steel. This twin steel guitar sound sounded great and was a real highlight of the evening. Mike later showed he has vocal talents as well with "Blue House Painted White." Phil either played or played and sang many of his Grand Ole Opry favorites here tonight: "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down," "There Goes My Everything," "I Thought I Heard You Calling My Name," "Mansion On The Hill," "Loving On Back Street, Living On Main," "Wabash Cannonball," "Heart Over Mind," "I Swear," "Pan Handle Rag," Mo Bandy's "I Just Started Hating Cheating Songs Today" and "My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You." Phil has many of these songs featured on his CD "Phil Coontz Plays and Sings His Grand Ole Opry Favorites." At $10, it's a real bargain and you BETTER believe we came home with one.
Bill Jordan never fails to amaze us. Not only the fact he was born blind and has had to overcome the obvious hardships and challanges that presented, but also the way he uses his deep, mellow voice to get the most from every song he sings and the sheer volume of songs he knows (he sang close to 30 this evening), never missing a line, a word or a note. He always takes audience requests and it's rare when he can't fill every one. Bill mentioned that he will be releasing a new CD very soon and many of the songs he sang tonight will be on it. And, before we forget to mention it, he plays a terrific electric bass guitar to boot! Bill started off with a great Jim Reeves tune, "Little Ole Dime," followed by Hank Snow's "I've Cried A Mile," "A-11," Johnny Lee's "Cherokee Fiddle," a Johnny Cash medley "Folsom Prison Blues/Big River/Walk The Line," "All I Have To Offer You Is Me," "Billy B. Bad," "Lily's White Lies," "Together Again," "Old Country," Cal Smith's "Country Bumpkin" (awesome!), "Only In My Mind," "I Left Something Turned On At Home," "Long Black Veil," Josh Turner's "Long, Black Train" and "I've Been Everywhere." At one point, Bill's wife Judy did a cameo, singing Loretta Lynn's "Don't Come Home A'Drinking" and Bill answered with Cal Smith's comical retort, "I'll Come Home A'Drinking To A Worn-Out Wife Like You." Bill wrapped up the evening with "The Other Woman," Hag's "Ramblin' Fever," "Step Aside," "Heart Talk," "Cold Hard Truth," Toby Keith's "I Ain't As Good As I Once Was" and "You Gave Me A Mountain."
As we mentioned, Mike Duley plays an excellent lead guitar and frankly, none of the above happens without him. But MIke sings a good song as well and he spelled the guys tonight with Jerry Lee Lewis' "Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On," Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes," "Let's Fall To Pieces Together" and just a fantastic job singing Vince Gill's "Look At Us." Valerie Lee of Spickard, MO, who used to sing with Jeannie Seeley treated the audience to "You Ain't Woman Enough" and "Your Cheating Heart." This was a wonderful show and we felt privledged to be able to attend. Thanks to everyone who contributed. (Below) The Ramblin Country Show l. to r. (front row) Nick Carter, Bill Jordan, Phil Coontz (back row) Mike Duley, Mike Hutson
