Karl Shiflett and Big Country Show

BJ Kirkpatrick Entertainment
Karl Shiflett and Big Country Show

Karl Shiflett and Big Country ShowChrystal Opry House at Melody Ranch brings Karl Shiflett and Big Country Show to their stage on October 3rd.  The doors open at 6 pm and the high energy show begins at 7 pm.  Admission for Karl’s show is $12 at the door. Pre-show tickets for $10 may be purchased by sending a check to Bill Hayes at   1989 White Mound Road, Sherman, TX 75090.  Your tickets will be waiting for you at the door.

The Karl Shiflett and Big Country Show have been bringing classic “country” music to audiences for over 20 years.  Their traditional sound based on the bluegrass music of the 40’s and 50’s, comes from the use of single ribbon microphone.  This antiquated technology fuses the sounds of the bluesy mandolin, the fleet banjo and the graceful fiddle into one remarkable instrument.

This Texas based group is probably best known for their highly entertaining Retro stage show The Karl Shiflett and Big Country Show.  They call it “Real Country Music” that is deeply rooted in original Bluegrass and aims to capture the spirit and style of live bluegrass music of the classic era.
Officially starting in 1993, the band eventually gained national recognition in 1999 when the group signed with bluegrass record label Rebel Records.  The Karl Shiflett and Big Country Show became a household name literally overnight when their debut release went to the top of the charts.  Their latest release “Take Me Back” takes listeners back to a time when classic country ruled the airwaves.  The album is a collection of tunes Shiflett grew up listening to, songs by Don Gibson, Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, Bob Wills, Faron Young, Willie Nelson and Floyd Tillman.

In addition to wide spread radio airplay the group continues to receive worldwide exposure on RFD-TV as guest on the popular Cumberland Highlanders as well as the program Crossing the Cumberlands on Rural-TV network.  The Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show has been recognized many times throughout their careers by organizations like IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) and SPBGMA (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America) for their musical contributions to the industry as well as their efforts to preserve a classic musical art form.

The Chrystal Opry House is located 1.5 miles west of Tom Bean or 6 miles east of Howe on FM 902 and a half mile south on White Mound Road. No alcohol is permitted and there is no smoking inside the climate controlled building. Seating is provided. Persons interested in performing at the Chrystal Opry House should contact Bill Hayes at 903-546-6893 or http://www.chrystalopryhouse.com.

Ronnie McDowell Concert

BJ Kirkpatrick Entertainment

Ronnie McDowell ConcertDickerson Productions is bringing Ronnie McDowell to the Chrystal Opry House for a concert on Sunday, September 27th for a 5 pm Matinee.

Best known for his visual and vocal resemblance to Elvis Presley, Ronnie McDowell enjoyed a series of Top Ten hits during the first half of the ‘80s. He was born in 1950 and raised in the small town of Portland, TN. He started singing publicly while serving in the Navy in the Philippines.  He hit big in 1977 with “The King Is Gone”, a tribute to Presley written immediately after the singer’s death. McDowell capitalized on the exposure to land another hit, “I Love You, I Love You, I Love You” in 1978. The following year he was tapped to sing the vocals for an Elvis movie starring Kurt Russell.  Other hits by Ronnie include “Older Women”, “Wandering Eyes”, “Watchin’ Girls Go By”,  “You Made a Wanted Man of Me”, “In a New York Minute” and “You’re Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation”.

Tickets may be purchased by phone at 254-498-3564 or 903-546-6893.  Tickets may also be purchased at the door. General Admission tickets are $25. VIP tickets are $45 (for seats on first two rows.)
Concessions will be available beginning at 6 pm when the doors open. We have brisket sandwiches, hot dogs, candy, ice cream, coffee, water, sodas, and popcorn.

The Chrystal Opry House is located at 1977 White Mound Road, Sherman, Texas which is 1.5 miles west of Tom Bean or 6 miles east of Howe on FM 902 and a half mile south on White Mound Road. No alcohol is permitted and there is no smoking inside the building. Seating is provided. Persons interested in performing at the Chrystal Opry House should contact Bill Hayes at 903-546-6893 or http://www.chrystalopryhouse.com.

Autumnal Equinox

BJ Kirkpatrick News
Autumnal Equinox

Marking the Passage of Time

Spectators will gather this week to witness an event that has been recorded for thousands of years. On Wednesday, September 23, Austin College faculty, staff, students, and guests will gather on campus in the IDEA Center, home of the natural sciences, mathematics, and computer science. The IDEA Center’s solar observatory, which marks the position of the sun on the floor of the building, will highlight the arrival of the Autumnal Equinox in Sherman as the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky. Members of the community are invited to the free event, which begins at 1:00 p.m. in the Oscar Page Atrium of the IDEA Center.

Dr. David Baker, Chair of Physics Department and Director of the Adams Observatory, will explain the significance of the equinox as it occurs.   A beam of sunlight will pass through a gnomon hole in the roof and move across the atrium floor.  At local noon (actually 1:18 p.m.), the Sun’s image will align with the equinox marker, the Chinese symbol of the Sun.

“I believe this event gives students and the larger community a sense of scientific progress and the passage of time,” said Dr. Baker. “We normally don’t pay attention to how quickly the Earth rotates in our everyday lives.” Watching the sunbeam arrive at the equinox marker is a special yet fleeting moment. “Within a split second, sunlight hits the equinox marker perfectly,” he said. “It’s mesmerizing, almost magical.  And then the Sun marches on.”

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.