A nice-sized after Thanksgiving crowd greeted us as we arrived at Countryside Hall tonight, just a smidgen south of the Cameron, MO city limits on US 69. Dancers and spectators alike gather here each and every Friday night to enjoy classic country music by the Countrysiders composed of owner/operator, emcee and lead singer Wayne Hoover, Billy Dean Bennett on lead guitar and fiddle, wife Lisa Marie Bennett on drums, Bill Rankin on steel guitar and Bill Gann on bass. Shirley Hoover's full service snack bar stayed busy also as she dispensed hot dogs, polish sausages, homemade chili, candy, popcorn, coffee and soft drinks to this enthusastic bunch.
The familiar strains of "Ragtime Annie" from the fiddle of Billy Dean signaled the beginning of tonight's festivities and he was to return later singing the whimsical Tracy Byrd tune "Watermelon Crawl," Buck Owens' "The Keys In The Mailbox," The Derailers' "Waltz Of The Angels," Johnny Tilotson's "Talk Back Tremblin' Lips" and once again putting bow on strings, fiddled both the old bluegrass tune "Maiden's Prayer" and "Tennessee Waltz." We've always enjoyed hearing Wayne Hoover sing a country song and tonight he was definately "on his game" with Conway's "I've Already Loved You In My Mind," Marty Robbins' "it's Your World," Freddie Hart's "I Just Took A Trip To Heaven," Faron Young's "Wind Me Up," Dave & Sugar's "Queen Of The Silver Dollar," Johnny Bush's "What A Way To Live" (our request), "What Made Milwaukee Famous," "Washed My Hands In Muddy Water" and Jerry Lee Lewis' "Whole Lotta Shakin'."
Bill Rankin played some beautiful steel guitar numbers here tonight beginning with "Born To Lose," "Blue Hawaii," "Beggin' To You," "Playboy," and "Step Aside" along with some great backup work on the dobro. Lisa Marie Bennett got a big hand as she sang "I'm Putting On My Walking Shoes," the upbeat "Rockin' Robin," Loretta's "Coal Miner's Daughter," Ricky Van Shelton's "I've Cried My Last Tear For You" and others. Walk-ons tonight were Charlie Curtis, who has been recovering from a motorcycle accident and reports he is feeling much better after breaking two ribs and injuring his back in the incident. Tonight Charlie did a super job with a song first released by Patsy Cline, "If I Could See The World Through The Eyes Of A Child" and Johnny Cash's "I Still Miss Someone." Elmer Clark was up next and he showed off his vocal talents with Gene Watson's "Farewell Party" and "Chattanooga Shoeshine Boy." Our pal Wayne Leslie's mellow voice was a perfect fit for Eddy Arnold's "Welcome To My World" and a Dottie West hit, "Don't Touch Me."
Little Peggy Horstman, with 12 couples of dancers to manouver, called the Virginia Reel as the band played "Down Yonder." We hope these folks enjoyed the dancing as much as we enjoyed watching them. Art Damgar gave it everything he had as he sang "Your Cheating Heart" and "Swinging Doors." George Vincent played the spoons as the band accompanied him with "Old Time Rock 'N Roll" and (hooray!) an encore of "Ragtime Annie." Wayne Hoover closed the evening with a Keith Whitley tune, "I've Still Got A Honky Tonk Heart." (Below) top - Peggy Horstman calls the Virginia Reel as the band plays "Down Yonder" bottom - Dancers crowd the floor during the Virginia Reel
