Chicken House Opry Cast

Bob ‘Punjo’ Reed leads the Chicken House Opry, serving as producer, talent coordinator, writing set lists for each show, writing comedy skits, handling advertising and promotions, etc., he is the guiding force behind the Opry’s success. Reed has worked in and out of Nashville for more than 45 years, recorded nine albums and 10 singles, loves great music and great comedy. Having worked with such greats as Hank Thompson, Leroy Van Dyke, Vern Gosdin and more. Reed also produced Pee Wee King’s Greatest Hits Album. The entertainers entertainer Reed is a natural on stage. “I love to see people laugh!” Reed said. Punjo Reed endorses Dean Markley Guitar Strings and Audix Microphones.

Lucy Jackson started singing in front of people when she was 9 years old. Lucy learned the piano so quickly that her teacher couldn’t keep up. Lucy went on to win several talent contests in and around the area where she grew up in Louisiana. It all shows when watching her on stage of the Chicken House Opry. The legend Hank Thompson, after using Lucy for some shows, said, “She can do it all…..keyboard, sing, and comedy. And she does them all very well.” Lucy won the Comedienne of the Year award in 2009.

Ike Thurn (pronounced ‘Tour-In’) has been in the music business a long time. His first professional gig came when he was in high school in northeast Iowa. 1945. Wasn’t too long until the now legend Pee Wee King heard of Ike’s talents and hired him to work with his band.Tennessee Waltz, Detour and many others were number one hits for King. Ike and Punjo have been working together in the entertainment business for 20 years.

Special Guests each week, Jay & Tammy Roy are the most awarded duo in American entertainment history. For four consecutive years Jay won the Musician of the Year award and he has four Guitarist of the Year awards as well. Tammy has picked up her share of the awards along the way, too. Vocal Performance of the Year, Bass Guitarist of the Year and more. This couple will do more than 120 shows in south Texas in about 4 months.

Junior Fulks was born and raised near Mountain View, Arkansas. He was singing as far back as he can remember. Junior comes from a family of entertainers, musicians, story tellers…..and outlaws. He is a descendant of Cole Younger (Jesse James), but doesn’t get into that part of his family tree. While his singing is legendary throughout the Ozarks, Junior’s storytelling’ is rapidly gaining national fame. He loves to ‘show out’ as he calls entertaining.

Marvin Judd got his start in the music business from his mother who would sing and play her guitar or play her dobro or play her mandolin or play her…..a very talented lady who also instilled the desire in Marvin to ‘pick and grin’. He progressed so well that he was soon playing in different bands. While his musicianship was good, his vocals were even better.
Marvin was inducted into the George D. Hay Hall of Fame in 2009.

Jerry & Helen McCullough have not been in the entertainment business as long as many others, but their commitment to become a vital link in the Chicken House Opry’s off-Broadway comedy skits has proved itself time and again. Plus Helen demonstrates a mixture of jig dancing with hillbilly clogging that pleases crowd after crowd. Together they appear in the Opry’s ‘Trip To The Doctor’, a comedy skit that fans come back time and again to see.

John & Paula Nordrum are two genuine people who give their all to what ever they are doing. John can repair just about anything; Paula handles the concession stand, working long and hard after each show to be ready for the next show. They appear in several of the comedy skits Thibodeaux vs. Saddam Who-Sain, The Travel Agency and more. The Nordrum’s love of the Chicken House Opry is evident as they strive to please every guest.

Dar May is the latest to join the Chicken House Opry. From a childhood of ranching in southwestern New Mexico, Dar headed west to Arizona. He retired from real work to get more involved with music, mainly western swing, old country and some bluegrass. “I simply love playing music,” Dar said. “And when I can’t play music (sore fingers!) I go fishing. It’s a tough life, but somebody’s gotta do it!”  He lives near Mountain View, Ark.

Rich Bellert is one of America’s top Cowboy poets, having won four consecutive national Western Humorist awards. He helps Reed with MC’ing the Opry. Two years ago Rich lost his sidekick, best friend, best pal and wife of 60 years, Betty, who worked side-by-side with him. The last two years have been tough on the award winning humorist. The Winter Texan Times conducted a poll of Winter Texans in late March of 2011. In the Personality category Rich won, receiving 3 more votes than Punjo Reed who responded with, “Wait! Wait! I’ve got four more ballots to send in!” Fun and laughter abounds at the Chicken House Opry. Rich will appear time-to-time on the Opry.

Russ Guyer is an individual that loves music, good music and plays just about every musical instrutment
known to man and, too, he sings great songs. Russ has been one of the most popular entertainers to come out of
the great state of Iowa. From shows to dances he does it all, and does it all very well. Russ is scheduled to be with
the Chicken House Opry this winter in Mission, Texas. “It will be our best group of entertainers since opening five
years ago,” said producer Bob ‘Punjo’ Reed.

Fiddlers Valley RV Resort in Mountain View, Arkansas is the sponsor of this page. 30 amp and 50 amp, full hookups, bathhouse, free laundry, free WiFi, TV cable at many spaces, cook shack, clubhouse, Wild Horse Theatre and more. One and one half block from the world famous courthouse square where musicians come from around the world come to pick and grin!

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