For good entertainment at a good price, while helping a deserving organization, the place to be on February 23 is the 11th Annual Rio Grande Children’s Home Music Fest to be held at the La Joya Performing Arts Center in La Joya.
The RGCH is home to 36 abused or neglected children, ranging in age from a few months to 17 years. The home is committed to provide the best possible care for children in a loving and Christian environment.
Music Fest is welcoming back Rich Bellert as producer, entertainer and master of ceremonies. Rich has produced and emceed country music events in both Minnesota and the Rio Grande Valley. He and his wife, Betty, spend their winters at Aladdin Villas in Mission, where they manage and produce the entertainment for the park. They spend their summers in Excelsior, Minnesota.
Opening the show on February 23 will be Bob "Punjo" Reed and Country Gold, Reed’s band that also features Lucy Jackson, Ike Thurn, Alma Reed and Bill Amundson. Reed is one of the developers of the Chicken House Opry, which features good, old-time entertainment.
Reed has been entertaining folks for over 50 years. Starting at 16, he found a niche for making people clap their hands and laugh. As a young man he signed a contract with Cinema Pictures’ Arco Records in Hollywood, the company that produced his first hit, "They Blame Me." Since then, he has written over 1,200 songs and recorded nine albums. In 1991, Reed created Branson’s All American Music Awards.
In 1997-98 Reed took home two Families Advocating Moral Entertainment (FAME) Entertainer of the Year Awards. Now he heads the awards group. In 1993, he formed the music group, "Ooty-Cooty-Pooty Toot" and later added Sister Cutie. Since then, the group has entertained thousands of people. Reed plays the part of Pooty.
Lucy Jackson is one of those entertainers who can do it all–sing, play music and do comedy. Ike Thurn has been a recording studio musician for over 50 years. Bill Amundson is one of the top drummers in the country. And Alma Reed is known for the clear quality of her singing voice.
New to the lineup this year is the Link Family, a family band featuring Mom, Dad and five children from Lebanon, Missouri. Rachel, the oldest daughter, brings a strong lead to the group and sings harmony while playing mandolin, guitar and bass. Kyle plays all instruments on stage, but prefers banjo. He sings lead and harmony. Aaron sings lead and plays mandolin. John, who is eight, plays old-time spoons, sings lead, and is learning mandolin. Mom plays the rhythm guitar and bass and sings lead and harmony, while dad provides the foundation sound with the bass fiddle, sings bass, and drives the bus and manages the business. Lance Keeler, Rachel’s husband, is soundman and a vocalist with the family.
Lance was nominated Bass Performer of the Year in 2008 in SPBGMA Midwest. Becky was named Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year in 2008 for SPBGMA Midwest.
Another new performer this year is James Marvell, who was lead singer for the 60’s group, Mercy. In 1969, the groups skyrocketed to the number two spot in “Billboard,” magazine with their million selling, "Love Can Make You Happy." They share the top 10 with Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and The Beatles. They followed up with another Billboard hit, "Forever." Marvell soon became disenchanted with the trappings of stardom because drugs were rampant and the promoters "weren’t exactly paragons of virtue." Instead, he felt called to move in another direction. He decided to devote his life’s work to Christ and arming himself in the war against drugs.
"I felt the mission to go into country music and steer kids away from drug abuse," states Marvell. With Buddy Good, another member of Mercy, who shared his feelings, he formed the group Country Cavaleers, which disbanded in 1976. Marvell then went solo and turned his attention to Gospel music touring America with evangelist Leroy Jenkins’s Crusades Across America. He later performed in "Prophesy," a gospel show at WSM and they worked with Willie Nelson in Branson.
Tommy Helms is also new to this year’s line-up. Tommy grew up in a family with musical tradition. His grandfather, George Helms, was sought after as a hoedown fiddle player. His dad, Marion, played the guitar and sang in church and taught Tommy early guitar playing.
Helms’ new release is in keeping with the Helms family tradition of good country, folk and gospel music. Tommy is best known for his tributes to the late Burl Ives, whom he resembles. At Music Fest, Helms will be singing songs made famous by Ives.
A Winter Texan favorite, Vance Greek, will be returning for his fifth appearance at the RGCH Music Fest. Greek is recognized as having one of the premier male voices in America. In the 80s he was featured male vocalist on "Country Gospel" on the TBN network. He was invited to join the "Legends in Concert" in Las Vegas but chose Branson instead. “Baby I Do,” a nostalgic song from the 1950s became the number one song on the New York Music Review pop charts. In 1997, four more of Greek’s songs were part of a Treasure Costa Records “Mitch Chandler” CD. They included "Look What You Do to Me," “I See Love,” "Heartache," and "Homesick for You." "Getting Ready to Go," went to number two on country charts in Australia and "I See Love," went to number seven in Germany.
Also returning this year is Red Johnson, who has been writing and singing his own music for over 50 years. He bought his first guitar at age 12. While in the military he earned the nickname "Minnesota Hillbilly" because of his music style. He is best known for the song he co-authored with Bud Auge, "There’s a Grand Old Opry Playing Somewhere." His trademark song, "Veterans Day" was a tribute to the 20 sailors killed in Vietnam aboard the USS Newport News. At the 2005 RGCH Music Fest, he performed "Circles on the Wall," a tribute to the men who lost their lives in Vietnam. He has appeared on RFD-TV and many cable outlets nationally with a show that originates in the Midwest Country Theater at Sandstone, Minnesota.
Show emcee Rich Bellart is best known for his cowboy poetry. His unique style of delivery is very entertaining. While the poetry that he selects to share with audiences is not his own, Bob Everhart, president of the National Traditional Country Music Association, says, "cowboy poetry is best done by cowboys and that’s what Rich Bellert is. His friendly face helps him put over his stories and poems that are based on cowboy life."
Rich has appeared on stage and the Midwest Country Theater in Sandstone, Minnesota and the RFD-TV Network on Direct and Dish TV. In September of 2007, Rich won second place in the Reciter Series Division at the National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo in Hot Springs, South Dakota.
The Rio Grande Children’s Home Music Fest provides a great musical experience for everyone who chooses to come out and support this event.
In addition to the talent lineup of professional performers there will be two performances by La Joya Independent School District students. Group Folklorico Tabasco, a program designed to give immigrant students a tool to connect to their new home, is now recognized as a "jewel" in the La Joya ISD and is a program that has been widely copied throughout Valley school districts. Each year, students at LJISD entertain thousands of Winter Texans with their annual Folkloric concerts, which feature traditional dances of Mexico and South America. In addition, the Mariachis and Folklorico have been invited to perform for dignitaries such as Presidents George H. Bush, William Clinton and former Texas Governor Ann Richards.
LJISD has the largest dance program in the state with over 2,000 students involved. The program offers dance technique, ballet, tap, jazz and modern dance. Each year, 150 students try out for the coveted 40 spots in the Folklorico. Many of the students go on to earn music and dance degrees in college.
The La Joya High School Jazz Band will also be performing during the pre-show.
Tickets are available for $12 at the Rio Grande Children’s Home in Mission, the Buckner office in Harlingen, RCGH Thrift store in McAllen, Alamo Chamber of Commerce, the Winter Texan Times office at 1217 N. Conway, in Mission, and the Bible Book Store in Harlingen. For more information, call (956) 585-4847.