Branson 101: What celebrities perform in Branson? Part 1
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Dispelling the myth that Branson, Mo., offers only country music, stars like Cathy Rigby in Peter Pan, Dionne Warwick, the Cowsills and the Osmonds are performing here through the Christmas season. Country music enthusiasts can still find something to suit their tastes in performances by Neal McCoy, Joe Nichols, Mel Tillis, Pam Tillis, the Oak Ridge Boys, Sons of the Pioneers, Roy Clark, Mickey Gilley and more.
One of country music’s most recognizable faces, Roy Clark, returns to Branson at the Tri-Lakes Center for a limited engagement. Clark contributed to Branson’s tourism boom as the first country star to open his own theater in Branson, the Roy Clark Celebrity Theater, in 1983 where headliners such as Mel Tillis, Box Car Willie, Ray Stevens and Jim Stafford appeared. Clark hosted Hee Haw and is a member of the Grand Ole Opry. His honors include a Grammy and many country music awards such as comedian, entertainer and instrumentalist of the year. With hits in the Top 10, his recordings include Thank God and Greyhound and Yesterday When I was Young.
A stream of stars followed Clark to Branson in the early ’90s. This was started by the national spotlight shining on Branson through articles in Time, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and People and on television when 60 Minutes proclaimed Branson the “live music capital of the entire universe.” Those stars included Andy Williams, Wayne Newton, Barbara Mandrell, John Davidson, Tony Orlando, Bobby Vinton, Mel Tillis, Glen Campbell, Mickey Gilley, Charley Pride, the Lennon Sisters, the Osmond Brothers, Pat Boone, Pam Tillis and the Oak Ridge Boys.
Last year the Oak Ridge Boys put their name on a theater that was built for Glen Campbell in 1994. The legendary quartet will perform there for 12 dates in the fall of 2009. The Grammy Award-, Country Music Association Awards- and Dove Award-winning group’s hits include Elvira, American Made and Bobbie Sue. They have earned gold, platinum and double platinum and number one singles spots on national charts.
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With 17 of his 39 hit songs topping the country charts, Mickey Gilley is a legend. Because of his Pasadena honky-tonk, Gilley’s, and the popular movie, Urban Cowboy, Gilley is credited with making the cowboy hat a fashion statement and helping country artists more than double their album sales. In Branson, the Urban Cowboy Band, the Urbanettes and Gilley present a musical medley of his hits, including his signature Room Full of Roses and Don’t the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time. Recuperating from a recent fall, Gilley said he will return this autumn and in the meantime his sidekick, Joey Riley, is filling in for him at the Mickey Gilley Theatre on the famous Highway 76.
Mickey Gilley
Across Highway 76 at the Jim Stafford Theatre audiences have been laughing out loud with Jim Stafford for two decades. Stafford combines comedy with classical guitar performances and creates heartwarming stories and hilarious antics from everyday life. Acclaimed as the “Victor Borge of the guitar,” he is famous for his million-selling records, Spiders and Snakes, Cow Patti and My Girl Bill.
Also at the Jim Stafford Theatre is the award-winning Moe Bandy, a long-time Branson performer. Bandy loves Branson audiences. He said, “Even though I continue touring, coming back to Branson feels good because of the great audiences.” His shows are packed with his hits like Americana and Bandy The Rodeo Clown.
Across town and at his own theater, Yakov Smirnoff delivers a laughter-packed show celebrating almost two decades in Branson. Smirnoff’s personal coming-to-America experience is touching and his take on American culture is hilarious. His genuine love for America is apparent and his patriotism is contagious. Smirnoff’s accomplishments include books, CDs, movies, TV appearances and a successful Broadway show.
Also at Yakov’s theater is Neal McCoy, country music superstar and two-time Entertainer of the Year, for 43 show dates. Yakov said, “…Neal’s show is more than a concert, it’s more than country music, it’s a high energy entertainment experience packed with a variety of musical styles and it’s dynamite fun!” McCoy’s chart topping hits include Wink, No Doubt About It and For A Change.
Performers declared national treasures
Two men, Ray Price and Andy Williams, and one group, Sons of the Pioneers, on the Branson roster can claim “national treasure” titles.
One of America’s stars who crosses musical boundaries, Ray Price will be in Branson at the Tri-Lakes Center for September and October performances. For hits such as For the Good Times, San Antonio Rose and Make the World Go Away, Price was inducted into Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame, but he has perfected styles such as honky-tonk, country, pop, blues, jazz and anything in between. He has been compared to Frank Sinatra and declared “a national treasure” by the Los Angeles Times.
Sons of the Pioneers Photo by Japheth Campbell
Designated “national treasures” by the Smithsonian Institution, the legendary Sons of the Pioneers are back for their fifth season at The Shepherd of the Hills Pavilion Theatre. Their harmonies and signature hits like Cool Water and Tumbling Tumbleweed are just a few reasons for their many awards and recognition: longest continuous performing group of all time; more than 3,000 compositions to their credit; induction into the Western Music Association, National Cowboy and Singing Cowboy Halls of Fame; their music inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame; and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Known as the “Emperor of Cool” throughout the United Kingdom, Andy Williams was called a “national treasure” by Ronald Reagan. His craft has earned him 18 gold and three platinum albums and three Emmys. He has starred in films, hosted the Grammys, sung at the Super Bowl and starred as himself in a soap opera. Williams will be performing his variety show and his Christmas show.
Other shows at Andy Williams’ Moon River Theatre include stars Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers and Paul Revere and the Raiders . Bill Medley is a Grammy Award winner and Rock and Roll Music Hall of Fame inductee. Past Righteous Brothers number one hits are You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’, Unchained Melody and You’re My Soul and Inspiration. Hits from Paul Revere and the Raiders such as Kicks, Louie, Louie and Indian Reservation are a few of the group’s many music chart toppers.
Andy Williams Photo Courtesy of Branson/Lakes Area CVB
Another chart-topping group also featured at the Moon River Theatre is The Comets, real, live and authentic. The Comets was the “the first band to fuse country and western with rhythm and blues to create rock ‘n’ roll.” Featuring all five of the surviving members of Bill Haley and the Comets, they perform hits such as Rock Around the Clock, Shake Rattle & Roll and See Ya Later Alligator
