We've been trying to hook up with Marvin Bredemeier and his wife Norma (or Sug as she is commonly known as) for a little visit/interview and when we decided that Wednesday would work for both of us, there was no question about where to meet: we opted for Dirks and the chance to see Mike O'Roark and the "Nitty Gritty Dirks Band." Circumstances worked out beautifully as the room was full of opry-goers, many of whom we recognized and the incredibly talented Jeff Elsloo (Green Side Up, etc.) was on hand as well with his dobro and 5-string banjo. We asked Marvin to bring his fiddle along and of course Mike asked him to join himself, C.J. Sanders on bass, Don Wiser on drums, Roger Brough on lead and harmonica and Jeff for their set.
Marvin Bredemeier was born in Norborne, MO, a small town of about 750 people, just north of Lexington, MO in February of 1937. The family moved to Kansas City in 1941 (about the time of Pearl Harbor) and his dad went to work at the Sheffield Steel plant and actually retired from there after 31 or so years. "My mom played guitar and accordian, but Dad played the fiddle!" Marvin told us. "I always, since I can remember, wanted to play the fiddle. And he taught me a little and I could play some on his, but it was awfully big. They bought me a 3/4 size one from a cousin who had given up the 'violin,' so I played that one until I quickly outgrew it, then played my dad's fiddle. The first song he taught me was 'Father Takes Me On His Knee' and he taught me a couple more as well and one day he told me, "Marvin, I'll give you a dollar for every tune you learn to play." Of course he was only making about 85 cents an hour in those days and when he came home the next day, I told him I had learned 4 songs! He told me he hated to back out of the deal but at that rate, I was making more money than he was!"
With the encouragement of family and friends like Bill & Ruby Lynn, Marvin began playing with local bands like the Kansas City Canaries & the Westport Kids (they did a Today Show segment from the American Royal and later a telethon with comedian Joe E. Brown) and over the years he played the Brush Creek Follies, The Cowtown Jubilee, The Tidwell Jamboree (all three shows were always sell-outs!) as well as radio appearances on WHB, KIMO, KCMO and WDAF. It was about this time that Marvin met the love of his life, Norma Jean or "Sug," as she was called by family and friends. "I used to play with a guy by the name of Herb Hoflicker and we were playing with a band out of Wisconsin, Maggie & Scotty and the Two Cowboys. We were the openers for the comedy act, Homer & Jethro, who were almost as funny as Mike O'Roarke! When we came back from the tour, Herb introduced me to Sug. Herb kept telling me when we were touring, "You're really gonna like Norma (Sug). And of course, he was right, I really did." Marvin & Sug were married in 1959 when he was doing the Jimmy Dallas show and were married in a church instead of on TV as Jimmy had wanted. They made an appearance on-air just after the wedding, resplindent in her white wedding gown, he in his tuxedo. "Not long after," Marvin recalled "Jimmy Dallas moved to KMBC and I backed up greats like George Jones, Norma Jean (the singer), Buck Owens, Cowboy Copus, Skeeter Davis and many others. I was also involved in 'behind the scenes' work at various radio stations and one of my close friends was 'Cactus Jack' McCall, a popular disc jockey in those days. Jack was killed in an automobile accident on his way to work one morning and since he had no insurance, it was decided to hold a memorial concert to help his family. Hap Peebles ramrodded the show which was held at Kansas City, KS's Memorial Hall. After a celebration at the Town House Hotel in downtown KCK, we dropped all the Nashville stars off at Municipal Airport. Of course, that plane. a Cessna 210, tragically crashed in the mountains of eastern Tennessee, killing Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copus, Hawkshaw Hawkins and Randy Hughes."
Marvin worked for many other noteworthy stars after that including Kenny Price, Little Jimmy Dickens and Joe Stampley when he had a bluegrass band called the Back Porch Gang, and as a member of Hank Thompson's Brazos Valley Boys played Las Vegas, the Lincoln Center in New York City, Bob Wells' old hangout - Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa and many other venues for over 4 years. He was also with Hank in Muskogee when he was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. "I recently played with Hank in West Plains, MO which was like old times." I asked Marvin how he ended up playing at Annie's in Tonganoxie, KS. "I had played so many country shows around the area that my name had gotten around and Glen Smith, who had a place called Glen's Opry called me and asked if I would come out and play fiddle once in awhile. He wouldn't have me every week, but occasionally and would feature me on a few songs and I would back up the other folks in the band as well. This went on for a year or 18 months and this was about the time that Annie and Terry Dunavin bought the show. At first they would alternate, having a piano player one week, someone else another and maybe me the next. My spots got to be more frequent and finally Annie went to the band and asked them if maybe I shouldn't become a regular. I feel really blessed to work with this caliber of musicians and be in the family atmosphere we work in. Several months ago, I was involved in an accident near Oskaloosa, KS on the way to play with the band. Our van was so badly damaged, we weren't able to fix it and couldn't really afford a new one. David George and the rest of the gang organized a benefit, donating their talent, use of the theatre and all, letting fans in for free, letting them donate what they cared to and it helped so much that we have been able to get another van. The musicians and crew; the great fans.....they're just the best ever!" We think the same might be said about Marvin Bredemeier, the little man with the big heart laced with a gigantic dose of talent and ability!!!! (Below) Mike O'Roark & Marvin Bredemeier
Tonight's festivities kicked off featuring Jeff Elsloo's terrific dobro playing and Marvin's fiddle work on "Wabash Cannonball" and we haven't ever heard it done much better. Then it was Mike O'Roark doing a terrific job on Tom T. Hall's "The Day That Clayton Delaney Died," "Roustabout," the whimscal "Squaws Along The Yukon." "Wild Side Of Life," "Rose Of San Antone," "Try It One More Time With Feeling" and "Mailman" which had the place screaming with laughter. After "Maybelline," C. J. Sanders sang "Home Grown Tomatoes" and "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" featured some outstanding picking by Jeff Elsloo on his five-string banjo. Mike sang some beautiful selections from his gospel album, "The Baptism of Jessee Taylor," "Walking In Jerusalem," and "Crying Holy Unto The Lord," then sang "Muhlenberg County" and his signature song, "Freeborn Man." Marvin closed the set with some high-class fiddlin' on the "Orange Blossom Special." We also enjoyed seeing "Doc" Fuller whom we had heard so much about from Mike, pick and sing here tonight. He and CJ Sanders picked some great guitar while singing "Do I Feel High," "That's A Step In The Right Direction," "Walking The Floor Over You," "A Six Pack To Go," "Honeysuckle Rose" and "Gone At Last." Great job, all. This was an outing I wished we could have recorded for all of the folks that couldn't make it. Thanks to everyone that participated this evening.
