It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
The thing that I like most about this season is the music. We sang Joy to the World in church last Sunday. No, not the “Jeremiah was a Bullfrog” tune by “Three Dog Night”. This one- Joy to the world, the Lord is come – Let earth receive her King. There are so many good ones. The First Noel, Silent Night, O’ Little town of Bethlehem, Oh, Come all Ye Faithful and many more. Then I am reminded of a Christmas 1955-56 that I got my first record player, ‘Bout the size of a 12 pack carton, with some Red and Green colored 45’s. It was grand. And all the fun songs of the holiday, Jingle bells, Jingle Bell Rock, White Christmas, Blue Christmas, Christmas Don’t be Late by Alvin and the Chipmunks and later Feliz Navidad and Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer! But I played them so much that I actually wore them out. I had a Christmas song curfew issued by my folks. NO playing after Gunsmoke and Bonanza come on. Today, they start playing Christmas music the minute after the turkey is carved on Thanksgiving. That’s almost too many carols. Did you know that some classic carols were written and performed by an Okie? Gene Autry, Okla. was the home of the Singing Cowboy. A star on TV and movies, Gene Autry is credited with being one of the top five most influential pioneers in Country Music. Back in the Saddle Again was his first big hit in the 30’s. But he also wrote and recorded- Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Here Comes Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman. All became Christmas classics. Gene Autry was not only talented, he was a shrewd businessman and gathered much wealth but he always had a charitable heart. He was a great representative of Oklahoma. Live Music this week. “Grannie’s Nightmare”will be rockin’ at The Vault in Van Buren. Sat. at 8 pm, this Sports Bar and Grill will be Rockin’! Catch this show. And speaking of charitable hearts, Grannie’s Nightmare has a favorite charity, The LeFlore County Boys and Girls Club. The fundraiser this year has been focused on their cool t-shirts. They are on the merch table at every place that they play. Grannie’s Nightmare has a crew called The Wild Bunch- Jerry Martin, Jeanette Felker Dunn, Jason Bandy Barbara Mccarty that handles the table.So far the band has donated over $600 to the club. Contact me or Rocky Sumpter for info to order a shirt. Thanks to the band and staff for being so generous and charitable. Rumor has it that Billy Hoffman is back in the saddle again. He will join “The Asphalt Cowboys” on Sat. 17th on stage at Choctaw Casino Gilley’s in Durant. Maybe they can play Poteau again soon. Dawn’s in Red Oak starts the weekend on Thurs. 15 with “The Shady Oak Troubidors”. Friday 16th, Glen Rogers will be singing for the diners. Sat. 17th, “Oklahoma Moon” brings their music for the dancers. This band has some of the area’s finest country music. Make plans on being there. Music starts at 6 pm on Thursday and 7 pm on Friday and Saturday.
“Oklahoma Moon” will play this Thursday 15th from 6-9 pm at the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in Downtown Muskogee in the Frisco Freight Depot. It is a beautiful music hall with a stage and displays of pics, records and memorabilia of Oklahoma Musicians. It’s quite an honor to be invited to this venue and the guys deserve it. Their hard work and practice shows in their harmony and tight arrangements of Country favorites. It will be a great show. It is easy to find and a safe, NS/ND venue.
“The Al Grzech Trio” will be at the LeFlore County Historical Museum on Next Tues. 20th from 6-7 pm. This is at 303 Dewey Ave. in beautiful Downtown Poteau. Just across the street from Warehouse Willies. Al Grzech/piano, Dale Fraze Sr/drums and David Hoffpauir/guitar, play jazz tunes that are just a taste of how interesting and entertaining this genre of music can be. I am sure that it will be a focus of the upcoming holiday season. So put on your Christmas sweater and take someone with you to share the music and mistletoe. They have more than a dozen decorated trees in the contest for the best and purtiest Christmas tree! They are all prize winners. The Lowery Hotel is beautiful, all in Red and Green and White wreaths and lights. Stop by and enjoy during the week- Tues. thru Sat. from 11 am til 3 pm. Thanks to Museum Director David Deaton and staff for all the hard work.
Next week, there will be a few places with music . Most are closed to let staff get family time. I will also try to have a short list of Christmas dinners available for families in the area. Take time to read the Letters to Santa in the Poteau Daily News. Thanks. For info, contact me at 918-649-5736 or tj.wiles61@outlook.com.
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