As Garry & Mary Bichelmeyer took some well needed time off to visit relatives in Kentucky and stop in Nashville to show em how it's done, some of the area's great musicians and singers stopped by to share their talents and make this a truly fun evening. The evening began in the same fashion as it always does, with Gordon Riley and the band, including ace drummer John Malone playing it's unofficial theme song, "Gordon's Boogie." Larry Dean started the program with a Bob Wills' classsic, "Miles & Miles Of Texas" and a tune probably made most famous by Dean Martin, but recorded by many, "You're Nobody Till Someody Loves You." Larry returned later with a great Merle Haggard number, "Mama Tried." Gordon Riley was up next and sang a tune that Alison Krauss most recently recorded entitled "Another Day Another Dollar," then joined the band in a super instrumental of "Buckaroo." "Mighty" Marvin Bredemeier, who plays fiddle each Saturday night at Annie's Country Jubilee, was outstanding as usual playing Bob Wills' "Milk Cow Blues," "The Waltz You Saved For Me" and a little later, a "Hoe Down Medley" (which included "Ragtime Annie"). It was great seeing David Purcell in his accustomed spot again here tonight and he sounded as great as always, singing George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today," Garry Bichelmeyer's "Northern Star," Willie's "Remember Me," "On The Road Again" and "A Once In A Lifetime Thing." We always look forward to hearing Art Covey strum & pick that mandolin and sing and tonight it was a couple of our favorites, "Fallen Leaves" and "Life Is Like A Mountain Railway."
Our old friend, Jimmy Rodgers from Odessa, MO came all the way up to sit in tonight, playing bass in place of Mary Bichelmeyer and, if you've never had the pleasure of hearing him, supplying us with some of his phenominal vocals as only he can. Beginning with Willie's "Ain't It Funny How Time Stips Away," he followed with George Strait's "Ace In The Hole," Bob Wills' "My Window Faces The South" and Claude King's "If I Ever Need A Lady I'll Call You." Great stuff, Jimmy! Jess Richardson, whose Westline Jamboree is held in the small town of Westline, MO (strait east of Louisburg, KS) every other Wednesday got a huge hand as he sang Bob Wills' "Time Changes Everything," Marty Robbins' "Don't Worry 'Bout Me," his version of "Another Day Another Dollar" (actually first recorded by Porter Wagoner and written by Wynn Stewart) and Kris Krisofferson's "Help Me Make It Through The Night." Audience favorite Jerome Oberlin and his squeeze-box (all button accordian) was in the house as well tonight and did a fine job with "Rose Of San Antone" and "Maiden's Prayer" while Annie Little sounded super as well singing "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" and "Just In Case You Change Your Mind." Ron Fine put his beautiful voice to good use with "I'm Crying My Heart Out Over You" and "I Love You Because You're You" before Larry Dean closed out the evening with George Jones' "Family Bible." (Below) l. to r. Jimmy Rodgers, Jess Richardson, Annie Little, Ron Fine
