A group of Central Texas musicians frustrated at the lack of a local venue for a monthly country music revue will kick off their new Stars Over Texas Jamboree tonight at a place most didn’t realize existed until a few months ago: the Lee Lockwood Texas Scottish Rite Library and Museum’s 370-seat auditorium.

After agreeing earlier this year they’d like to start a regular revue to give local musicians and performers a chance to perform in a family-friendly, non-club environment, organizers Terry Roller, Andy Thomas, Johnnie Bradshaw and Jim Guest found themselves shopping for a suitable, affordable space.

The temporary closing of the Waco Hippodrome Theatre, which had rented space for some music revues in the past, narrowed the field of possibilities until a prospective show sponsor suggested to Bradshaw that the jamboree look into the Lee Lockwood’s auditorium.

Stars Over Texas Jamboree organizers Johnnie Bradshaw (from left), Andy Thomas, Terry Roller and Jim Guest find the Lee Lockwood Museum and Library’s auditorium an ideal place for their monthly event.
Duane A. Laverty/Waco Tribune-Herald

What they found surprised them— 370 cushioned seats, a carpeted and lit stage area, a 52-channel soundboard, video projection equipment and two side video screens plus a rear-projection screen at the stage’s back, room between the front seats and stage for dancing and movement, space backstage for dressing areas, balcony seating and air conditioning.

Better yet: the officials who run the Masonic facility were interested in renting the space and for an affordable price.

As a result, Waco’s newest live music show will debut tonight in a smoke-free, alcohol-free place many music fans in Waco — at least those without Masonic connections or who had never visited the building — didn’t realize was there.

The predominantly lineup will feature Gordon Collier, Kaley Caperton, Sonny Mac, Lorna Willhelm, the Turbevilles, the Brazos Valley Cloggers, Billy Roy Mitchum, Sheila Presley, humorist Jack Smith and The Stars Over Texas Band ( Guest, lead guitar and fiddle; Willie Kaluza, steel guitar; Larry Blanchett, keyboards; Bill Barr, bass; and Bobby Berry, drums).

Waco is no stranger to music revues. Charlie Burch has run his Branson on the Brazos revue for more than 10 years. Royce Montgomery has fielded a periodic revue for several years and back in the 1990s, Johnnie High’s Country Music Revue performed in Waco before moving to a permanent location in Arlington.

Jamboree organizers say their overlapping performing experiences and contacts should allow them to craft a successful program. Singer-songwriter Roller, a Baylor University professor of graphic arts, regularly performs at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth, with past experience at the Johnnie High Country Music Revue and the Cross Timbers Opry in Stephenville.

Musician Bradshaw has led bands in Central Texas for decades as well as running a talent firm and hosting a weekly Texas music program on KBCT-FM. Guitarist Taylor is back in country music after six years working with a Christian prison ministry at Gatesville. And guitarist and singer Guest played 11 years in Reba McEntire’s backing band as well as his work with the Temple country band Santa Fe.

“I’ve had some Branson experience, but I’m hoping we don’t copy Branson,” said Guest. “Don’t let the word ‘local’ fool you. There are some Nashville-class pickers in this area.”

The four said the jamboree would be a work in progress, with talent and programming tailored to what local audiences want. If successful, it might expand beyond a monthly offering with the possibility of the show playing in communities outside Waco. First, though, the jamboree has to get its feet firmly on the ground, Roller said.

“We need sponsors to step up and the community to support this,” he said.

choover@wacotrib.com

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