Talent Show

Joel Ray’s* is a long time locally owned restaurant and Country Music venue, and the place just happens to be a one-minute drive from our front door.  Most any Saturday night you can find a great time at Joel Ray’s as they conduct their weekly concert.  The house band and singers kickoff each performance with a full set of music, and second set is usually handed over to a famous musical act. 

I saw my first show at Joel Ray’s with Dana and her dad during my first week of residence in Kentucky. At that time, I was wondering if I would ever get a gig anywhere, let alone Joel Ray’s, a venue where singers/performers traveled from all over to participate.

Joel Ray’s proved me wrong about this assumption when they opened up their show to a night of local talent, otherwise known as a talent show.  Any participant was expected to commit to two Saturday nights at Joel Ray’s, performing one song the first time and two songs the second night.  I am going to address the second night now, the important night, the night where you found out how you did!

When we arrived, the show was in progress, and we got to see a whopping 30 seconds of music before it was time for us to go out to the greenroom, where participants were expected to congregate.  Dana and I listened and waited my turn for the first song I had picked to perform. We listened to Merle Haggard’s “Fugitive,” sung by Jodie Hicks, Loretta Lynn’s “You Ain’t Woman Enough to Take My Man,” sung by young Samantha, and many more.  When Faith Ann got up to sing, it would be my turn next to sing, “The Most Beautiful Girl in The World,” by Charlie Rich.  When it was time one of the singers in the band brought me forth, but not before we waited for Ronnie Benningfield to exit the stage, so I could play his piano.  I lead off the song, the band joined imperfectly, I started to sing and things went well.

Then an act came on that completely blew my mind, The Rockin Cowboyz.  These brothers, the drummer at age 8, and the guitar player at age 11, were bad to the bone.  The guitarist actually played Jimi Hendrix-style “Star-Spangled Banner” right there in front of us.  I mean, how did he even know what that song was to begin with!?  Moreover, who would have the guts to play Hendrix at Joel Ray’s, whoa!!!  Then, with the help of the house bass player, the Rockin Cowboyz launched into Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Pride and Joy,” tearing it up!  The kid has only been playing fora year and a half!  The kid drummer exhibited excellent talent as well.  This wasn’t just some boom chump bass snare action, the kid was already proficient with his ride and high-hat cymbals. 

Okay, I’m finishing up here. The second round went much as the first, with a spirit of praise for all who were participating in the green room. Hodgenville is a small town, if you are too competitive, you’re out!  Again it came time for Faith Ann to sing and I was escorted up to the stage much as before to sing Jerry Lee Lewis’s, “Great Balls of Fire.”  Things went well once again!

After another song from The Rockin Cowboyz and a few more from the house band it was time to announce the winners.  Tommy Turner began to announce the runner’s up, The Rockin Cowboyz coming in fourth. I couldn’t believe it, they must have gotten docked because it wasn’t Country Music, I mean, those guys were so good! Third runner up went to Kevin Edwards, another adult contestant who seemed to have Mickey Gilley’s blood coursing through his veins when he performed “The Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time”.  Second runner up went to Faith Ann, a sixteen-year-old gal with a moving voice, and then first runner up went to me!  I got to walk up and receive my trophy in the grandest of style, and I felt quite honored to be there.

First place went to Addison Barnes and boy, did she deserve it!  Another child contestant with an angelic voice.  Her rendition of “How Great Thou Art” knocked most any voice I’ve ever heard out of the park, wow!!!

So, I got a chance to perform at Joel Ray’s, and it looks like they are hosting another talent show at the end of March.  The talent show has been going on for decades at Joel Ray’s, and so I think they will keep it going.

Jay Henderson, the main man at Joel Ray’s, is an inspiration!  No matter what he goes through with his health he is bright eyed every Saturday night, running the venue and keeping spirits high with his comedy, what a guy.  He handed me my winnings at the end of the night and I was truly glad to have met him, I like him a lot.

*Joel Ray’s is how the establishments are known by locals.  In actuality, the restaurant’s name is “Kentucky’s Finest Family Restaurant” and the music venue is “Joel Ray Sprowles’ Lincoln Jamboree.