Since we were dropping our cousin off at the airport, we decided to continue north on I-29 to St. Joseph, MO and visit Louie Thompson and the Gospel Opry which is located on St. Joe's west side at 2317 S. 11th St. every Saturday evening starting at 7PM. Louie introduced us to his grandchildren Derek & Denae Gilbert who are visiting from Mesa, Arizona. Derek proved to be an up and coming musician himself, playing both guitar and harmonica. He and grandpa Louie started the evening off playing an old Ernest Tubb song "Careless Darling" and he later played a harmonica solo of "When The Saints Go Marching In" and still later picked "Amazing Grace" on his guitar. Grandpa has every reason to be proud of him. We enjoyed hearing Louie himself sing a song he wrote some time ago entitled "Since I Made Jesus Mine" to the tune of "Detour." The second half, he sang and played "Come And Dine" with his sister Suzie Smith. Julie Barker played accordian and sang "The Saved" while little 4 yr. old Tyven Schwamp was sure cute as he sang "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands." We remember Roger Harris and his great voice from our last visit here and tonight he entertained the crowd with "What A Glorious Day That Will Be," "Sunday Morning Christian Man" and "This Little Light Of Mine." We can't say enough about Debbie Schwamp's outstanding job on bass guitar, but this lady can really sing as well! We enjoyed hearing her great voice on songs such as ""I'll Pray For You," "I Feel Something Good Is Going To Happen," "Two Shoes, A Prayer And A Sinner Saved By Grace" and "Please Search The Book Again." Glen Samson is nothing short of a genius with stringed instruments and he played a great lead guitar all evening and showed he could sing as well with "His Hand Is Gently Knocking On Your Door," "Don't Overlook Salvation" and "My Savior Didn't Stop At Calvary." Maxine Reed sang "Fill My Way Everyday With Love," "At Calvary" and "Gathering Flowers For The Master's Bouquet" while Wilma Miller entertained us all with some of her wonderful mountain gospel music: "Thank You Sweet Jesus," "My Mother's Not Dead" and Kitty Wells' "How Far Is Heaven."
Bobby & Myrtle George are an extremely interesting couple. Just back from the Osage Beach area at the Lake Of The Ozarks where they entertain, we felt fortunate that we were here to see them tonight. Myrtle is quite distinctive, playing her "washboard" guitar, a guitar frame with the strings removed and a section of washboard inserted in the guitar body. She strums this and it makes a very unusual sound. She also showed us a photo of her doing a Minnie Pearl impression and she looked so similiar it was uncanny. Bobby is a super singer and is best known for a song he wrote back in 1987, "The Rescue Of Jessica McClure," about the rescuing of a little girl who fell in an old well in Midland, Texas that same year and was finally saved after volunteers dug day and night for 3 days. We appreciate the fact they did this song for our benefit here tonight as well as "Matthew 24 Is Knocking At The Door" (also penned by Bobby) and "Hallelujah Square." Thanks to Louie and everyone for the wonderful hospitality. (Below) Bobby & Myrtle George perform "The Rescue Of Jessica McClure"
