The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE — The Virginia Opry, Appalfolks of America’s country music show that was founded on Oct. 17, 1992, inducted 10 bands into The Virginia Opry on stage at The Historic Masonic Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 5.
“All of the band leaders and members of each band, along with the two female vocalists we inducted this month, have now received their official certificates and The Virginia Opry’s membership cards,” said M. Ray Allen, director of The Virginia Opry.
The 10 bands that were inducted will be performing under the banner of The Virginia Opry in 2020.
The names of the bands, and the location where each band is based, are:
• Michael Hoover and his Show Band, Stafford;
• Robby Meadows Band, Luray;
• Brian Buchanan Band, Harrisonburg;
• Glen Shelton Band, Lynchburg;
• Keith Bryant and Steve Hoke Band, Lexington;
• Gentlemen South, Lexington;
• Joey Robinson Duo, Roanoke.
Bands located in The Alleghany Highlands that were inducted are Crimson River, Moonshine Express, and Ray Tucker and Friends.
In addition to the 10 bands, Jana Allen, an actress and vocalist who is a member of SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Film and Radio Artists) and the emcee of The Virginia Opry, and Denise Glass, a Patsy Cline tribute artist from Jonesville, were also inducted.
The Virginia Opry now has 36 members.
“I have scheduled four shows for The Virginia Opry at the Historic Masonic Theatre for 2020, and our show on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, featuring Crimson River, Ray Tucker and Friends with Pico Road Band as the opening act, will open The Virginia Opry’s 29th performance season with our other shows set for Friday, April 24; Saturday, June 27; and Saturday, Aug. 8,” Allen continued.
The Virginia Opry has hosted such nationally prominent groups as The Freight Hoppers that gained fame as frequent guests on Garrison Keillor’s “Prairie Home Companion” show.
Also, such prominent groups and recording artists have performed on The Virginia Opry as guests: the late Dan Seals, Keith Bryant, Bruce Allen, Michel Hoover, Bob Campbell, The Lonesome River Band, The Farm Hands, The Darrell Webb Band, and Robby Meadows’ Pony Express Band.
“On May 2 of this year, I signed a contract with the Highlands Media Group that moved the home of The Virginia Opry from The Historic Masonic Theatre to 103.5 Big Country at WKEY Radio Station in Covington, and that contract has enabled Appalfolks to move its headquarters from the theatre to the WXCF Studio Building that we are currently restoring here in Clifton Forge in order to establish Appalfolks of America Recordings,” Allen concluded.
The contact telephone number for booking The Virginia Opry is (540) 962-1133, the number for WKEY radio station.
Jonathan Brackman is the designated contact person at the radio station to coordinate inquiries about booking The Virginia Opry with Appalfolks.
