The Rio Grande Valley has a new form of entertainment. The Chicken House Opry, a take-off on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, is located in rural Hidalgo County about 10 miles northwest of Mission on Bentsen Palm Road.
The Chicken House Opry is at the newly-opened Music Valley Park.
Many of the Opry’s entertainers have had professional music careers and know each other from appearances at Fiddler’s Valley RV Resort in Mountain View, Arkansas during the summer months.
Many of the entertainers appearing at the Chicken House Opry this year were living in another park where they had professional quality jams. Some residents of the park were opposed to all the outside traffic created by people who had heard about their great jams.
So Bob "Punjo" Reed decided what they needed was a special park designed for musicians. Thus, the dream for the Music Valley RV Park was born. While it was a struggle to find a suitable site and get everything done, the park officially opened in December with 55 sites for recreational vehicles. While the park is open for everyone, music is to be the center attraction with Saturday night "Oprys" as the focus of their music.
Bob Reed started The Chicken House Opry’s show, last Saturday, with a rousing rendition of Act Naturally and opened the second half with an equally rousing rendition of Mama Tried. Reed is the author of over 1,200 songs and has recorded over 200 of them. His biggest hit occurred in 1968 with Fort Smith Arkansas Women. That same year, he was called "Mr. Personality" by Billboard Magazine. He was named Entertainer of the Year in Branson.
Reed is credited with the creation of Branson, Missouri’s All American Music Awards, Country Music News, and the Ozark’s annual tributes to Bob Willis and Hank Thompson.
Life has not always been easy for Reed, who was sentenced to a prison term at Leavenworth, the nation’s toughest penitentiary, for the crimes of another Robert Reed. He spent two years at "Leavenworth University" before the mistake was corrected and he was freed.
Earl Hill, who has been inducted to the Seattle Western Swing Hall of Fame in 2005, the Sacramento Western Swing Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Oklahoma City Western Swing Hall of Fame in 2007, played guitar throughout the show and sang Waltz Across Texas. Hill is best known for his characterization of Cootie Toot in the Toot Family.
Lucy Jackson, who raised two sons instead of heading for Nashville at a young age, is quickly becoming known for her musical talent as a singer and on the keyboard. Jackson sang old favorites such as Pick Me up on Your Way Down, Take Those Chains from my Heart, and Send Me the Pillow That You Cry On. She kept the keyboard hopping with lively sounds and sang accompaniment.
Jackson has recently joined the Toot Family act as Sister Cutie.
Al Prosser, who won an All American Vocalist Award from Families Advocating Moral Entertainment (FAME) in 1999, plays guitar and sings country western classics and western swing songs.
Ike Thurn, who received All American Musician awards in 1998 and 1999 from FAME, played trumpet and saxophone during the show.
Alma Reed dominated the second half of the show with a voice referred to by the late Hank Thompson, as “the purest voice I have ever heard.”
Other members of the band included Marvin Norman on fiddle, bass player Norman Burke and drummer Bill Almansen.
Between songs, Cajun comedian Charlie Le Blanc kept the audience in stitches with his stories of his uncle, Clay Bert, who worked nights sewing zippers in a trouser factory, "making flies by night."
The show ended with a gospel favorite, I’ll Fly Away, where the audience was invited to participate.
Future shows will include different entertainment. The Toot Family, which has had sellout crowds in parks around the Valley, will be featured entertainers on December 15. Boxcar Bob and Cactus Willie will be featured December 29.
January highlights include Troy Adams on January 5, Bill Brooks (Elvis impersonator) on January 12 and Bo Rivers on January 19.
Rich Bellert, cowboy poet, will headline February 2 while Wes Thibideoux stars February 9. Red Johnson will appear March 1 and Diamond Joe will headline March 8.
While the Chicken House Opry will be the main attraction of Music Valley RV Resort, there will also be four jams a week, each featuring a different kind of music: gospel, bluegrass, classic country music and a professional jam.
The park has a "pickin’ shed" built around a tree. The shed, when completed will have bench seats for musicians with a roof and wall to protect them from the elements. The shed is located next to the park’s cantina, which offers soft drinks, nachos, hot dogs and candy during intermission to those who attend the opera.
Although it is currently still under construction a performance theater, not a clubhouse, is planned. When complete it will seat 350 to 400 people with theater-style seats looking at the stage. Dressing rooms, a kitchen and even a laundry are planned for the completed building.
When completed, the park will have 105 RV sites.
Currently, there are no seats in the theater so those who come to the show should bring lawn chairs. Because the building is under construction, Saturday’s show was on a portable stage outside. Reed hopes the building will be completed in two to three weeks.