A Living Legend will Close the Sopchoppy Opry’s 2007 Season

The Sopchoppy Opry will perform its 80th show on Saturday, November 24 at 7:00 p.m. in historic Sopchoppy High School Auditorium and the last for the 2007 season!  Talent Coordinator Bob Sims has the perfect show to end another year of great country, bluegrass and Gospel music!  South Bound’s special guests for the season’s finale are Hoot Gibson and H.J. Kuntry & Friends!

Lloyd E. “Hoot” Gibson, now 84 years old, is truly a living legend in country music!  His musical career spans more than 65 years and continues to grow today!  “Hoot’s probably the best known and loved musician in North Florida,” says Mac McWaters, Opry General Manager.  “For someone who began his career with Hank Williams, lived and flourished through the numerous fads of music and remained true to the country music tradition, he’s truly remarkable.  Hoot has done it and with a showmanship style and grace that is rare today in the field of entertainment.”

Over the years, Hoot has been a mentor to many young people aspiring to become country singers.  Quincy, Florida’s Billy Dean was one of those who made it to Nashville and maintains close ties with his lifelong friend, Hoot Gibson.  Dean surprised his mentor in 2006 by appearing at the Sopchoppy Opry unannounced to perform with Hoot.

Hoot Gibson’s classic country repertoire includes his signature song, “The Keys Are In The Mailbox (come on in)”, "Waltz Across Texas", "Calijah" and a host of other country tunes popular through the years.  Hoot always brings down the house with his rendition of Elvis Presley’s "Hound Dog"!  “Hoot’s love for the stage shines through every time he’s there,” say Bob Sims.  “What a great way to close out another fantastic year at the Sopchoppy Opry!”

Herbert J. “H.J. Kuntry” Carter was a regular on the Sopchoppy Opry in its formative years and played a very important part in the early success of the classic country show.  H.J. has been one of country music’s visionaries for many years and the path his life has taken shows a strong love for the music and a demonstrated willingness to make the sacrifices necessary to keep it alive and well for the generations to come.

H.J., after serving in the Marine Corps, returned home and began what he thought would be his lifelong career – a firefighter with the Tallahassee Fire Department. During those years with the TFD, he played music on the local night spot circuit and began writing his own material.  Soon he madea  recording of his work and felt the call to carry it himself to all the venues around the country.  So, he resigned his job with TFD, bought a Chevrolet pickup and started an epic journey on a tour of America!  During the next several years, H.J. visited and played his music in every state of the continental U.S., driving more than  300,000 miles in the same Chevrolet truck!  On his journey, H.J. stopped at every country radio station he came across and every Chevrolet dealership collecting a notebook of names and addresses as he went!  H.J. says it was an experience of a lifetime and made him appreciate the greatness of this GOD given land that we call America, our home!

Hoot Gibson and H.J. Kuntry and a brand new Southbound show, too!  Wow!  What a show!  More than two hours of great country music entertainment performed by some of the South’s best musicians and singers, all in a family atmosphere!  There’s plenty of convenient, free and secure parking spaces, too!

Come early and enjoy world class desserts and other delicious concessions!  Concession section and ticket office opens at 5:30 pm on show date!  All tickets are $8.  Purchase at the door or call ahead (962-3711) for reservations!

This is the last Sopchoppy Opry of 2007!  It’s time to renew and/or purchase 2008 season tickets!  Eleven great shows (the last Saturday night, January - November) featuring some of this area’s best country pickers and singers for just $77!

We will see ya’ll at the Sopchoppy Opry, November 24!

Story:  Jesse Quigg, Opry Publicist (volunteer)
Photo Credits:  Don Pace; Hoot Gibson and H.J. Kuntry-Opry Archives

This article originally published on November 11, 2007.

Written by :

mkwestmark

 

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