|
 The
Kentucky Opry had a very humble beginning at the junction of Highway
68 and 641 in Draffenville on April 25th, 1988.
The Campbell family had been to Branson, Missouri many times and
saw the great shows there and brought that same music show concept
to Kentucky Lake.
Crowds were quite small at first;
several of the band members can remember nights when there were
20 -25 customers in the audience. One night that first
year, the
entire show was performed for 7 paying customers! There were more
people than that on stage!
Crowds
grew because of word-of-mouth advertising. By the end of 1988, the
little Quonset building was overflowing. Plans started
being laid
to build a bigger building. In the fall of the next year, 1989,
a new 520-seat theatre was started, and the first show
was performed
in the new building on New Year's Eve, 1989, with over 600 in attendance.
For additional info, please read Clay's book.
- One original band members still with the show: Scottie Henson as Uncle Jud Crowfield, along with Clay, Clayton, Cody & Casey Campbell.
- Original member Buddy McDaniel died of cancer in August of 2006.
- Steve Helm on steel guitar started in 1990.
- Al Griggs (drums)joined the Opry cast in 1990. His brother Ronnie (bass player) joined in 1991.
- Vickie Vaughn (vocalist) came on full time with the Opry in 1999.
- Trio: Jasmine Davis (vocals and fiddle), Blair Joseph (vocals and fiddle), and Vickie Vaughn
- Logan Oakley (lead guitar) joined the Opry cast in January of 2006.
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The Kentucky Opry Guestbook
