Joining us on our morning show is Ed Stelner, a member of Larry's Drifters.
They're going to be coming to Richland Center Saturday at the Richland Center City Auditorium.
And are you looking forward to the show?
We really are.
You know, we've got, we've, uh,
Got a lot of people around the area of Richmond center that could that drive quite a ways to see us play And so we've been talking to those folks and we're looking forward to a good time with a bunch of people
You have played at the auditorium before haven't you?
Yeah, we were there.
I believe it was last year.
We backed up a gentleman from Nashville called Bobby Bobby G rice We've known Bobby for many many years and
He called us up and wanted to know if we'd back them up and we had a great time and saw a lot of folks that hadn't seen in a while and it was really a good time.
And they will tell us a little bit about the band, Ed, and how long you guys have been together.
Wow.
Well, the band itself has been together for about seven years, but all of the band members have played since the 1970s.
So we're telling our age a little bit, but we all played in different bands throughout all the years and about seven years ago We we just got together all seasoned musicians a lot of guys are three of the guys played on the road With different artists and stuff like that and they all decided they was getting a little bit older in life We're gonna start staying around home.
So we got together and
And we do traditional country music.
I mean, we don't do the new country that I call rap.
I shouldn't say that, but I do.
But anyway, so we started playing together and it's been a good ride for us.
We've had a lot of fun doing it and met a lot of good people.
Do you find that you're getting all ages at some of your dances and shows?
Because it seems to me that younger people like that classic country more than they used to.
They really do.
As a matter of fact, we get a lot of requests for songs that are older than the people that are asking for.
If that makes any sense.
I mean, Johnny Cash, Jim Reeves, Waylon Jennings, you know, people that have all passed away.
And they're hearing it now and they're saying, do you know The Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash?
Yeah, we do.
In fact, we do.
And that's one thing that people kind of get a kick out of us is that we've got probably over 400 songs in our repertoire.
Some we haven't done in a couple years.
I mean, somebody will request something and we'll pull it out the hat and look at everybody and say, we're going to do it in this key.
And the guys are all polished musicians and we pull it off.
And people enjoy that.
Why do you think there is a love for that era, that type of music?
You know, I really think that the instruments that were used in that music are things that they don't see anymore, i.e.
the steel guitar.
It's got a sound of its own.
It's easy to dance to.
And a lot of the songs have some words that really make sense to people when they start thinking about the love for a woman or love for a man or the fact that which way is our country going?
You know, you go to Oakview from a Skogie that was brought out in the 1970s.
It talks about being patriotic and things like that.
So I think there's a lot of nostalgia in there and their mom and dad probably listen to it and they
And it brings back memories of those days too.
Yeah.
Many have told me that over the years.
They remember dad or grandpa having an eight track in the truck, you know, or whatever and brings back all those memories, doesn't it?
Yeah, it sure does.
And you know, unfortunately my age right now, I remember all that stuff.
I mean, you know,
we all
had to, when we were young, we all had to install our own eight track tape players in our, in our cars, you know, and get under there and try to figure out how to do that.
And it was kind of fun, but we always,
We always had a good time.
Tell me about the rest of the band, Ed.
Sure.
On Steel Guitar, we got a gentleman by the name of Dan Croninger.
Dan has been around many, many years.
He played with a group called Night Train.
Danny is kind of the go-to steel guitar player in the state of Wisconsin when somebody is looking for a
A national artist comes in and they need a stereo guitar.
They'll call Danny.
And he's been around, I think Danny has played five years now, if not longer.
On bass guitar, we got a guy by the name of John Ailsworth.
John played with a band called Road Heart and Put Up Wet.
And I always tease John.
All you got to do is look at John.
You can see he rode hard and put up wet.
But Johnny played on the road for quite a while.
And then we got a gentleman by the name of Matt Dunn, who's from the north side of La Crosse.
Matt played for several years all across the United States.
Played big guitar.
And then we got Glenn Collison from Aliva, Wisconsin.
And he plays drums.
And Glenn has played with many, many popular bands around the state of Wisconsin.
Probably one of the most popular bands that he played with was a group called Bear Creek.
And then myself, I play rhythm guitar.
And so there's five of us.
And I do all the singing.
And I'm blessed to have four musicians behind me that know their trade and enjoy what they do.
So we hear steel guitar.
Do we hear fiddle as well?
No, we do not have a fiddle player We do not have a fiddle player on special occasions.
We'll bring a guy in from North Dakota But economically it's you know more than five people in the band.
It just doesn't pay You know the venues can't afford it, you know, they have that many musicians up there anymore and it's it's getting a little bit tighter
as far as the economics are concerned.
Well, I know portions of the proceeds going out to the American Legion post here in Richland center and some to the auditorium renovation.
So I know you guys are pleased that the money is going back into the community too.
Absolutely.
Matter of fact, uh, we, it's kind of funny, but it's not funny because it comes from the bottom of our heart.
Everywhere we go, no matter what venue we're at, no matter what we do, we do salute to the veterans.
Um,
while you do the salute we raise our glasses to all the people that are currently serving united states armed forces we raise our glasses to all the people that have served united states armed forces and most importantly we raise our glasses to the folks that gave their lives while serving united states armed forces let us never forget if it wasn't for their sacrifice we would not be able to do what we're doing here today
Yeah, well said and of course with Veterans Day coming up as well.
It kind of fits right into that that format.
That's exactly right.
You know, and we, uh, we do, we do a couple of songs that, uh, are kind of a salute to the Vietnam veterans.
They weren't treated right when they got home.
Um, they were put in a set of circumstances that they didn't want to be there, but they were there and a lot of them couldn't talk about their, their past, but, uh, we, we,
Take the time to talk and recognize those people.
And then we do a little song called more than the name on a wall that the Statler brothers brought out many years ago.
And, uh, uh, we see a lot of tears in the crowd when we do that.
When you're playing at the city auditorium, do you have kind of a set playlist or do you kind of have kind of a skeleton made out?
And then you kind of improvise.
How does it work?
Well, you know, matter of fact, I talked to Danny or steal the car player yesterday and we're going to talk this afternoon.
I says,
We don't normally have a set list.
We start out with a couple songs and we see what the people are kind of wanting and we go from there.
But we're going to put together a set list but we are more importantly going to watch the crowd and we're going to encourage requests.
If people want to hear something and I know that the atmosphere there is not conducive to dancing.
But we're going to let the people know that that little bit of room that's in front of the crowd, if they want to dance to one of their favorite songs, they're more than happy.
We're more than happy to have them do so.
Well, that's really cool because people can be there and maybe help program the show a little bit too, can't
they?
Absolutely.
You know, if they've got a favorite artist, whether it be Buck Owens or Johnny Horton or Charlie Pride, it doesn't matter.
We can pull it off.
And we enjoy pulling it off.
Matter of fact, there's some songs we don't know all the words to it, so we'll do as much as we possibly can.
So is that enough?
And you know, that facility there that they're trying to renovate is phenomenal.
When we were there the last time, a lot of it was under construction.
But the acoustics in the place are phenomenal.
It's just a nice building to play in.
Yeah.
And since you've been there a year ago and, uh, they've done some renovations, they've got the balcony ready to go now too.
So it's, yeah,
I heard that.
And, uh, matter of fact, more importantly, they got the, they got the back door that goes into the stage so we can load in easier.
Last time we had to take about 20 trips on the elevator.
Well, that'll work out well.
What song, uh, you mentioned ring of fire, but what, what song kind of gets the best response, uh, from the crowd?
Sweet Caroline always brings, you know, that's not really country, but it's the song that we all, you know, in our 60s and 70s remember Sweet Caroline and everybody gets involved, you know, singing along with us and stuff.
So that's one song that we do that's not really labeled country, but it's a good old song that everybody knows.
Do you stay pretty busy the band are going to be booked here in the next months and this
kind of selfish We don't play a lot in November because of dear honey.
Oh
You know and so we got a lot of bookings in December In January and then the next year is we've already signed a contract with the American Legion and on Alaska, Wisconsin were there one Friday a month and
And then we've already picked up several festivals that will be playing next year.
With a five-piece band, it's very, very tough for us to play in a bar atmosphere because of the fact that it just doesn't pay for the folks to have a five-piece band.
So we do a lot of throws and a lot of special events.
So yeah, we're busy enough to be 16, 70-year-old guys.
Yeah, five piece band probably doesn't fit on a piece of plywood on top of the pool table very well.
No, no, no.
I remember doing that when I was 16 years old.
They had a two piece band with a mechanical drum and we used to sit on top of plywood in the pool table on the north side of lacrosse.
Good memories.
And I'm sure you'll be sharing some of those and you know, getting, uh, and some of those.
Yeah.
You know, and I want, I want the folks that are going to be coming out to the show to be relaxed, have a good time.
and get involved and, uh, you know, request a song, you know, you'd be surprised what we can pull off.
Good deal.
You don't know it.
You'll, you'll fake it.
I guess
that's, that's one of our sayings
and thanks for joining us.
We look forward to the show coming up Saturday night at the historic city auditorium and original center seven until 10.
Anything else that you'd like to add on behalf of the band today?
Other than the fact that we were looking forward to seeing a lot of folks that we haven't seen a while.
I remember one place I got to tell you this.
I don't know how many people are still going to remember it, but I remember playing at a place in Richmond center called the black cat lounge.
Yup.
Now was that was out in the country in Neptune or was that right here in Richmond center?
I believe it was out in Neptune.
Matter of fact, I backed up an artist that you might remember.
Her name was Brenda Lee.
Oh, wow.
Oh, that's big time.
She was there with her stepfather, who was Marvin Rainwater.
Oh,
Marvin Rainwater had the song, gonna find me a bluebird.
Right.
Okay.
I was, uh, I believe I was 19 years old at the time.
That goes back a few years.
Yeah.
But many, many remember that.
I know if they show up, they'll have a great time.
Wonderful.
And thanks for joining us and good luck to you and the band.
All right.
Thank you.
Larry's Drifter is coming to Richland Center Saturday night again.
Tickets will be available at the door for that show.