Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Champagne Country

No, we didn't take a wrong turn and end up in France! Champagne Country is the moniker for the music played here at the campground by Vern and Rita Davis. They relocate to Medora each summer from Casper, Wyoming, and play a 4-hour set most nights during the summer. This is their 28th year. Vern plays guitar and sings songs from his deep repertoire of country and cowboy songs. Rita doesn't sing but plays the bass and keyboard. They specialize in taking requests from the audience. One night Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville" was followed by Don Ho's "Tiny Bubbles." Vern is 80 years old. In his younger days, he wrote several country hits and recorded in Nashville. He told the story of the time back in the early 1970s when he and his band got their big break to go on a nationwide tour. The night before they left, his drummer and bass player quit the band. Vern managed to find some last-minute fill-ins but they didn't work out. End of tour. Bye-bye big break. We've really enjoyed their songs and stories every night. Tonight is their day off and I really miss walking over and listening.
This guest vocalist will stick to blogging after his cameo with Vern and Rita Davis.

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