The Country Classics
Fantastic Quebe Sisters Band At Llano Opry Saturday
Submitted by Tracy Pitcox: The Llano Country Opry will be staged on Saturday, May 9, (2009) at the Lantex Theater in downtown Llano. The show begins at 7:30 PM and admission is $12.00 per person. Tickets are now on sale at the Llano Chamber of Commerce, Llano National Bank, Lively Computers in Kingsland, KNEL radio in Brady or by phoning (325) 247-5354.
The Quebe Sisters Band will headline the monthly show. Just off of their recent appearance on the Marty Stuart Show on RFD TV, this will be the first time the Quebe Sisters have performed at the Llano Country Opry.
Since their musical journey began in 1998, Grace, Sophia and Hulda have been covering a lot of ground. In the beginning, the Q’s started taking fiddle lessons from Sherry McKenzie (Joey’s wife) and later from Joey, learning traditional Texas-style fiddling. From the start, all three sisters demonstrated astonishing talent and determination and a real love of music. Shortly thereafter, the girls began entering fiddle contests and had success early on; winning several State, regional and National fiddle championships.
The Quebes musical repertoire has since grown to include a wide variety of traditional styles, especially western swing, hot jazz and swing standards, western and cowboy songs, vintage country and bluegrass. In addition to their fiddling, the girls enjoy the challenge of singing vintage style 3-part harmony.
A partial list of their favorite bands includes Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, the Sons of the Pioneers, Billy Jack Wills, Spade Cooley, Andy Parker and the Plainsmen, the Quintet of the Hot Club of France, Benny Goodman’s various groups, Ray Price and the Cherokee Cowboys, the Mills Brothers, the Boswell Sisters, the Andrews Sisters, the Beatles and Hot Rize.
As for musicians, a partial (very partial!) list includes Ella Fitzgerald, Django Reinhardt, Marty Robbins, Tommy Duncan, Patsy Cline, Faron Young, Merle Haggard, Joaquin Murphy, Alex Brashear, Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant, Jethro Burns and Charlie Christian.
As for fiddlers, a very partial list includes Benny Thomasson, Major Franklin, Orville Burns, Terry Morris, Norman and Vernon Solomon, Jim “Texas Shorty” Chancellor, Eck Robertson, Jimmie Don Bates, Kenny Baker, Svend Asmussen, Stephane Grappelli, Joe Venuti, Tommy Jackson, Louis Tierney, Johnny Gimble, Paul Anastasio, Buddy Spicher and Joey & Sherry McKenzie.
When the girls aren’t playing music, some of their other interests include reading, eating, playing with their dog “Dixie”, cooking, talking and eating.
Joey McKenzie’s first musical experience began at the age of 11, tuning the instruments his father had around their house – a guitar, a mandolin, a tenor guitar, and a tenor banjo Around the age of 12, Joey started learning a few chords and licks on each of the instruments and has been playing them ever since. When Joey was 17, he became interested in playing the fiddle after becoming friends with Texas fiddle legend Benny Thomasson.
“I went to fiddle contests just playing rhythm guitar, but I wasn’t really inspired to play the fiddle. When I got the opportunity to back Benny up in a few contests and hear the way he played, all I could think about was trying to learn to play the fiddle!”
It wasn’t long before Joey began competing himself and has since won well over 100 fiddle contests and several awards on other stringed instruments. Some of his awards include 3-time World Champion Fiddler, World Series of Fiddling Champion and 5-time Texas State Guitar Champion.
Other entertainers on the Llano Country Opry will include Lee Beck, Kimberly Murray, Charley Walton, Justin Trevino, Sammy Geistweidt, Bucille Snotgrass, Shane Lively and Don Ricketson. Tracy Pitcox will MC the show.
For more information about the Llano or Mason Country Opry, log on to www.heartoftexascountry.com
Related posts:
- Dottsy To Entertain At Llano Opry On Saturday
- George Hamilton IV at Llano Opry
- Swingin’ Cajun Night With Wade Benson Landy At Llano Opry
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