It was just an incredible evening's entertainment here at Dennis Dittemore's Big Creek Country Show which is located on the square in Pleasant Hill, MO. From the time the curtain opened with Larry Ellis fiddling "Snowflake Breakdown" until the final curtain closed there was hardly a pause in the high energy packed evening. Larry returned later with the old fiddle tune “Bill Cheatum” along with his customary bevy of corny jokes (what does a guy have who has a car with a Toyota transmission, a Ford interior and a Chevy engine? 3 years & 2 months in prison). Jim Lower, who did a fabulous job all evening on lead guitar, Kevin Hoff on drums, Mike Campbell on bass and the rest of the band gave the audience a sample of what was in store with "Raisin' The Dickens." Jim was to return a little later with "All My Old Friends" and "I'll See You In My Dreams." As well as owning and emceeing the Big Creek Country Show every Saturday night, Dennis Dittemore is blessed with one of the finest male voices around and tonight he got a big ovation as he sang Alan Jackson's "Chattahoochee" and Marty Robbins' "Love Me." Debbie Martin (or Debbie Erikson for you radio listeners) sounded so good as she sang “It’s A Girl’s Night Out” and Crystal Gayle’s “I’ve Got My Baby On My Mind” and somewhat later, Dennis’ wife Cindy Crowe Dittemore used her beautiful voice to sing “Desperado” and then joined Dennis, Debbie & David Taylor as the Big Creek Quartet sang some Easter favorites: “He Touched Me” and “Rise Again.” Our friend Phil Hilton did a magnificent job on the keyboards, tonight playing Jesse Coulter’s “I’m Not Lisa” and “Canon In C.”
We’ve heard a lot of great singers throughout the years and one of the best we’ve run across is Pleasant Hill native Mike Bowman. As a matter of fact, along with Anne Brock, he graces the very first photo we published in our Artist’s Pages several years ago. Tonight he sounded as good as ever, showing his versatility on numbers such as Jim Ed Brown’s “Pop A Top Again,” Merle Haggard’s “Things Aren’t Funny Anymore,” Johnny Duncan’s “It Couldn’t Have Been Any Better,” “Corina, Corina” and Merle’s “My House Of Memories.” Great stuff!!
We couldn’t remember where we’d seen Wade Benson Landry until he began to perform and then we recalled he used to open for Buck Trent when he had the early morning show at the Dinner Bell Theatre in Branson where, like this evening he combined his unbelievably hot fiddling with Cajun, traditional country, western swing and gospel music. Originally from Abbeville, Louisiana, to hear Wade tell it, he’s 122% Cajun and his side-splitting Cajun humor certainly proves that. Formerly with the Mel Tillis show, the Grand Ladies show and Silver Dollar City’s Echo Hollow as Branson’s Fiddle Player of the Year as well as Buck Trent’s, Wade along with wife Teresa Bowe Landry now have their own show, “Swingin’ Cajun Style” at the God and Country Theatre in Branson (417-334-6806 for information or www.godandcountrytheatre.com). Wade began his set with perhaps the most famous Cajun song of them all: Hank Williams Sr.’s “Jambalaya” and then it was Ray Price’s “Invitation To The Blues” and “Big Mamou.” Later, “San Antonio Rose” was followed by “Faded Love/Maiden’s Prayer” and “Cajun Fals Do Do” or Cajun Street Dance. We found Wade to be a terrific entertainer and one you won’t want to miss whenever you get the opportunity.
Wade’s wife, Teresa Bowe Landry you might say, was born to be an entertainer. Her dad, George Bowe (or Cuz’n Pud as he is more commonly known as) owned and operated an opry in Laredo, MO for many years where many Grand Old Opry stars would stop by and visit and is a wonderful singer, picker and comedy genius in his own right. We understood from Teresa that he was with his other daughter tonight who, with her husband is now operating the Ft. Scott Jamboree in Ft. Scott, KS. (We will be visiting there next Saturday.) After returning from Nashville where she had resided for the past 5 years, Teresa and Wade were married this past January and now call Branson home. Make no mistake about it…..this little gal can sing! Beginning with one of our favorite Janie Fricke songs “Do Me With Love,” it was Brenda Lee’s “Too Many Rivers,” a Bob Wills classic “Sugar Moon,” Buck Owens’ “Excuse Me” and Patsy’s “Sweet Dreams.” Great job Teresa!!
The only thing that would come close to beating any of this would be Larry Ellis & Wade Landry playing twin fiddles on the “Orange Blossom Special” and wouldn’t you know it? That’s the way this terrific evening ended! Happy Easter everyone! (Below) top- Wade Benson Landry & Teresa Bowe Landry bottom – the fabulous Mike Bowman