Ray Stevens: Upcoming October CabaRay concerts

Hello fans of Ray Stevens!! The month of September has flown by and here we are on the last day of the month and so it's time to take a look at the upcoming October CabaRay concerts. There will be five concerts from Ray in the month of October. How can that be for a month that has 4 weeks in it? Well, he's added a Thursday concert. As you can see from the photo it's almost as if Ray is saying "come see me at the CabaRay" and I hope you all will do so if you hadn't already. I am pretty sure some of you live so far away that it would probably be impossible to make the trip to Nashville. However, if you live just one State away or if you're actually in Tennessee and have yet to make the drive to Nashville to see Ray at his CabaRay showroom I highly encourage you to. There's not a terrible seat in the venue and if you choose to you can add a dinner to your experience. Also, there's a piano bar and a gift shop to visit while there. Ray Stevens will be in concert during these dates in October: 7th, 14th, 21st, 26th, and 28th. You can click this CabaRay LINK and plan your trip to see Ray in concert. 

Ray Stevens: CabaRay 2023 concert season Officially underway

Hello Ray Stevens fans!! Given the Ray Stevens concert last night at the CabaRay showroom it's now official... the 2023 concert season is underway! I came across a post on social media last night featuring a couple of photos from 2023's opening concert. The concert goer praised the show and remarked that he'd previously had an opportunity to meet Ray in person in 1980 but wasn't able to...but he said he was finally able to meet Ray in person all these years later (43, to be specific!). He posted a photo of himself and Ray. I was happy to see the post from the concert goer for a couple of reasons. First, it gives us all a glimpse into the fun had by those fortunate enough to attend a concert at the CabaRay. Second, it gives us a glimpse into the visuals. My brother and I went to the showroom back in 2018...a once in a lifetime thing for us given the distance we traveled...but as I wrote about in several blog entries back then I felt visiting the showroom in person was something I just had to do. Branson, Missouri is still way too far away. Ray performed at his own theater down there in Branson for 5 seasons (1991, 1992, 1993, 2005, and 2006) but when Ray opened the CabaRay in 2018, west of downtown Nashville, I made it a point that I'd somehow get down there. 

Now, from where I live, Nashville isn't as far away as Branson but it wasn't a short distance, either. The concert goer didn't get into any specifics as to what Ray sang. I don't know if Ray continues to occasionally insert newer songs into his set list or if he sticks to a standard set list of what he feels a general audience would be the most familiar with. There were several songs that he performed in his episode of Larry's Country Diner a couple of months ago...and I'd be interested to know if he performed any of them last night at the CabaRay. The songs were "Cup Holders", "When Bubba Changed His Name to Charlene", and a song he'd previously debuted on an episode of Huckbee, "Where Are All The 12 Year Old's?". Ray also performed on Larry's Country Diner "The Gambler and the Octopus", from his most recent album, Ain't Nothin' Funny Anymore. Ray Stevens performs at the CabaRay every Saturday night and later in the year an additional concert night will also be added. It may be a Thursday night as in years past. You can learn all about the CabaRay when you click the official LINK. 

Ray Stevens: CabaRay concerts return in 5 weeks

Yes...you read the title of this blog entry correctly. In just 5 short weeks the Ray Stevens CabaRay showroom will kick off the 2023 concert season. As in past seasons the concerts will heavily favor Saturday evenings and then expand to an occasional Thursday. The first concert of the 2023 season will take place on March 11th and when you visit the CabaRay website, for now, there's a large announcement across the screen advertising that the tickets are on sale. They went on sale less than a month ago back on January 11th...I wrote a blog about it...but now we're 5 weeks from that first concert of the year. 

I touched on the fact that this will be Ray's fourth full season of concerts at the CabaRay. 2018 and 2019 were full seasons whereas there wasn't much of a concert season at all in 2020 because of the pandemic and then there were a handful of concerts in the latter half of 2021. He returned to a full schedule of concerts in 2022 and now we're heading into the 2023 concert season. If you're doing the math right along with me this should've been his 6th consecutive concert season had the pandemic never happened. Purchase your tickets to the CabaRay by clicking HERE. 

Here's Ray performing "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town" at the CabaRay. Now, keep in mind, this is just the performance area of the showroom. There's also a piano bar, gift shop, and numerous tables and chairs lining the hallway where fans can sit and talk. There's a balcony area, too, that overlooks the piano bar. Ray's trophy case is a sight to behold as are the dozens of photos and paintings that line the walls. Some of the paintings are by Bobby Goldsboro. 

Ray Stevens: "C.C. Rider" CabaRay performance...

Hello all you Ray Stevens fans!! Ray Stevens will be in concert at the CabaRay for three Saturday evenings this month. Tonight (May 14th), then the next two Saturday evenings (May 21st and May 28th). Earlier this morning Ray uploaded a performance of "C.C. Rider" from the CabaRay showroom. Some may know of that song from the Las Vegas-era concerts of Elvis Presley...but it's origins go farther back. Ray doesn't sing the entire song...what he does is he performs several lyrics, repeatedly, with a lot more emphasis on the music. It's a song that concert goers say is one of the songs he performs so it's part of his current set-list, I assume. Looking at the performance it appears as if it's the concert opener...and so apparently he's changed the opening number from "Such a Night" to "C.C. Rider". 

I was at the CabaRay in 2018 and he opened with "Such a Night". Now, obviously, every performer changes their set-list and their concert opener from time to time but isn't it funny that once you see a recording artist in person the set-list on that night tends to become a permanent fixture in your mind? 

A lot of the recording artists I'm aware of prefer opening their concerts with an up-tempo song...either one of their recordings or a well-known sing-a-long to set a mood...then, by the middle of the concert there's more ballads inserted. 

It's only my assumption but I feel that recording artists of Ray's generation, who have accumulated years of recordings, often find that there's limited slots in a set-list to insert newer songs since the audience often shows up to hear the songs they're familiar with. Ray's set-list is built around several signature songs...a few of them performed as a medley...with less than a dozen slots for new songs (specifically, songs from a current album or a song that hasn't been recorded yet but is being tested for audience reaction). Ray has never recorded "C.C. Rider", by the way, but he performs it at the CabaRay. To read about the CabaRay showroom and purchase your tickets to a Ray Stevens concert click HERE.      

Ray Stevens: CabaRay Saturday Night, October 16th...

A hello one and all to all the fans of Ray Stevens who stop by this blog entry or stumble upon this blog entry! Those of you attending a concert at the CabaRay showroom tonight you'll probably be treated to a performance of Ray's current music video hit, "Hoochie Coochie Dancer". I came across a comment on Ray's social media by a recent concert goer who said that he enjoyed seeing Ray perform the song at the CabaRay last month...so, apparently, Ray was trying the song out on the fans at his CabaRay concerts before the music video emerged on YouTube. There's three concerts left during the month of October. Tonight's concert and then the concerts on October 23rd and October 30th. There will be four concerts in November on the 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th. As of this writing there isn't going to be any Christmas themed concerts in December...but that might change the closer we get to December. The month of December at the CabaRay has Ray performing concerts on the 4th, 10th, 11th, and 18th. Now, Ray may indeed bring out the decorations and insert Christmas songs into the set list as he did in 2018 and 2019 but as of now there isn't any advertisements for a Christmas-themed CabaRay production this year. 

If you'll notice for the month of December there's two dates back to back. Ray will perform a rare Friday night concert on December 10th. He's doing this because Christmas Eve falls on a Friday this year so that means Christmas Day will be on a Saturday. Now, obviously, Ray isn't going to be putting on a concert on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and as far as I know he won't be putting on a New Year's Eve concert on December 31st the following week, so, in an effort to have four concerts in December he's adding a Friday show on December 10th. Now, having said that, it isn't out of the realm of possibility that if there's demand that perhaps he'll put on a New Year's Eve concert as he previously did in 2018 and 2019. That's just my assumption, keep in mind, for as of now there isn't a New Year's Eve concert scheduled. New Year's Eve falls on a Friday this year. On the upcoming CabaRay concert calendar there isn't any concert scheduled for December 31st...but if they decide to put on a concert that night I'll blog about it.

<--- Don't you just love seeing that Country Music Hall of Fame plaque? Ray was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2019. A long overdue honor. Anyway...the doors open at the CabaRay at 5pm. This is when the Piano Bar opens. Ray takes the stage beginning at 7:30pm. There was a contest on Ray's Facebook page last week. It was a contest running from October 11th through October 15th. The prize was two free tickets to the CabaRay. The contest required people to Like AND Share a specific Facebook post on Ray's page. The winner of the contest was announced yesterday and it was someone I've known of, online, for more than 10 years. If you visit Ray's Facebook page and search the posts you'll discover the winner's name. I didn't enter the contest because I knew I'd have no way down there. Tickets to the CabaRay concerts can be purchased HERE. The information box on the page I left a link to shows the Box Office hours. On Saturday the Box Office actually remains open until shortly before show time at 7:30pm...most people, who don't choose to purchase a dinner before the concert, walk up and buy their tickets on the day of the show at the ticket window. If you purchase your tickets online and choose to pick them up in person you'll need to, obviously, go to the CabaRay ticket window/Box Office during business hours and pick up your tickets in person.  

Ray Stevens: The 2021 CabaRay Season...

It's me once more...and later tonight Ray Stevens will be in concert once again at his CabaRay showroom. The 2021 CabaRay season got underway last Saturday and tonight is the second concert of the season. Ray plans on having concerts at the CabaRay every Saturday night at 7:30pm. However, the fun begins more than 2 hours prior to the concert. The doors open at 5pm to the Piano Bar. When you attend a concert you'll be able to visit the Piano Bar and hear John Jonethis. You will also be able to freely walk around within the CabaRay and look around at the art work and photography that's hanging along the walls. Since you'll be in ear shot of the Piano Bar no matter where you happen to be inside the CabaRay you can walk around and still hear the piano playing and singing. There's an upstairs area...I call it a balcony area...but it's the size of your typical hallway. You can sit up there and look over top of the Piano Bar. There's also an area upstairs, right in front of the elevator doors, housing a lot of Ray's awards...a trophy case. Now, I'm going by my memory of the time I was at the CabaRay in 2018. I don't know if the trophy case is still in that location or if they moved it downstairs. The trophy case looked packed to us but we were told that there were still a lot more certificates and plaques that had yet to be put on display and they were in the process of doing that. My guess is they brought in a second trophy case. Anyway, whenever photos show up of Ray signing autographs the trophy case is always behind him...so I don't know if everybody who wants their photo taken with Ray or have something autographed by him all have to go upstairs. That's what has me thinking that at some point a trophy case was installed downstairs...but yet there could be two...one upstairs and one downstairs. For all things CabaRay visit the website HERE.

Given that today is the 20th anniversary of 9/11 I will make an assumption and say that he will sing several songs with a patriotic overtone at tonight's concert: "Thank You", "Dear America", perhaps the medley rendition of "Everything is Beautiful / United We Stand", or he could sing each song in their entirety. Music videos were made of each of those recordings. "Dear America" came along in September of 2016...at that time, if you do the math, we were looking back on the 15th anniversary of 9/11. On this 20th anniversary let's all take a listen to "Dear America". The video, from September 6, 2016, was filmed in widescreen format...unlike any of his other music videos. Since the video is in widescreen and the embed isn't you'll have two areas of space above and below due to the video not being in it's proper size. It appears letterbox. When you watch the video on YouTube it'll be in it's proper widescreen format...but when you embed widescreen/letterbox video content from there and onto a blog the video box will appear in the standard square shape...as seen below. The wife of Ray's keyboard player wrote this song. His name is Jon Hamrick and her name happens to be Connie Jo Hamrick.

Ray Stevens in Renfro Valley this Summer...

This is super early to promote an upcoming appearance from Ray Stevens considering it's February 4th and the concert isn't going to take place until late June of this year...a lot of things can happen between now and then...but according to the Headliner Concert page on Renfro Valley's webpage the one and only Ray Stevens is scheduled to make an appearance in Renfro Valley, Kentucky on June 21st at 5pm. This is Father's Day...and I've read many social media posts from a lot of younger people and middle aged people who often comment that Ray Stevens is their father's favorite or that they're a father and Ray is one of their favorite entertainers. Well, since Ray is scheduled to appear in Renfro Valley on Father's Day you could perhaps take your father to a Ray Stevens concert...or just go to the concert regardless of it being Father's Day. This is the first concert appearance for Ray outside an occasional guest appearance on the Opry since the opening of his CabaRay showroom in 2018. He doesn't go on tours due to his performance schedule at the CabaRay and even though we're months away from the concert in Renfro Valley the tickets, not yet priced, go on sale next month.

Renfro Valley concert; June 21, 2020

The advertisement banner states that the tickets go on sale March 19th but there's a website that sells concert tickets to various performance venues and they have the on-sale date as March 18th. So, if I were you, I'd call the Renfro Valley phone number and see which date the tickets go on sale. It's important to order tickets the day they go on sale, or to at least have a strong couple of days, for several reasons. The main reason is that ordering early enables you to have a wide variety of seats to choose from...the closer it gets to concert day the less likely the 'good seats' are available. The other reason I feel it's important to have a strong showing on the day tickets go on sale is because it shows the owner of the venue that there's a demand for his appearance. I don't think Renfro Valley's concert policies are like this but some venues, if ticket sales don't meet a predetermined quantity within a targeted time frame, the concert will eventually be canceled usually a month or two before it's schedule date and more often than not this quick rush to cancel typically happens before a general public even becomes aware that a concert had been scheduled.

This isn't anything new...that kind of practice has gone on for decades with any recording artist...but it's something that isn't talked about much because of the awkwardness it creates for a venue's owner and the headlining performer; but again, I don't think the Renfro Valley policy is like that. If you're seriously planning on going to Ray's June 21st concert call their number on March 18th/March 19th to receive more information. Their number can be found on their Contact page which you can access HERE. By the time early March rolls around there should be a ticket price available. He's the only artist on Renfro's Headliner Concert 2020 roster that doesn't have ticket information posted. I'll post more about this appearance later this year as it gets closer to June 21st. In the meantime most of my posts surrounding concerts from Ray Stevens will be tied to his CabaRay. The third season of concerts gets underway on March 12th and tickets are on sale now. I'll post more blog entries about this as February fades into March.

Ray Stevens: CabaRay visit from Loretta Lynn...

Well, now, let me be among those that have made mention of the surprise visit of Loretta Lynn at the Ray Stevens CabaRay showroom! A couple of days ago news broke that Loretta made a rare public appearance following a stroke she suffered a couple of years ago and that appearance happened to be at the July 5th Ray Stevens concert at the CabaRay. Countless blog sites and on-line news sites that feature country music immediately shared the information and it became something of an event for a couple of days. A video clip of Ray on stage at the CabaRay shown up on YouTube and in it he made the announcement of Loretta being in the audience. The camera panned over to Loretta and those she was attending the concert with...they were seated in the Owen Bradley booth...obviously a very appropriate area considering Loretta's classic recordings for Decca/MCA in the late '60s and into the late '70s were produced by Owen Bradley.

If you visit the YouTube page containing this video clip you'll notice, as of this writing, there's 69 thumbs up and 2 thumbs down. When I seen that I thought to myself 'who in the world could dislike a video giving reverence and respect to Loretta Lynn?' but then I had to remind myself that there are vicious, cruel people on the internet who take great joy in being a killjoy. That's why I rarely post links to YouTube videos and prefer embedding them because you're spared the reaction from wet blankets and those with an ax to grind but I made mention of what I seen because of how pathetic people can be when it comes to thumbing down a video clip simply for the joy of it.

Anyway...here's the video...



Those not familiar with the interior of the CabaRay will need some explanation: There are six booths inside the dining area and they're named aftter legendary record producers. There's a booth named for Owen Bradley, Chet Atkins, Fred Foster, Shelby Singleton, Jerry Kennedy, and Billy Sherrill.

In this YouTube clip Ray takes you on a tour of the CabaRay and you'll see the VIP booths as he walks around the showroom. The tour is from an episode of his CabaRay Nashville television series which is why you'll hear applause at certain moments. The presentation is noticeably edited because during the episode that the guided tour was originally featured in he performed some songs associated with those record producers in between the segments of the showroom tour. Ray's showroom is in it's second season. It opened in January 2018 and closed down for the holidays following Christmas and it's second season got underway in March of this year. 



Visit the CabaRay website by clicking HERE. Once there, of course, you'll find all the information you'll need. You can also visit the site by clicking HERE. In that link you'll be taken to an article containing news of Loretta Lynn's CabaRay visit plus it features an embed of the video clip above and a nice photo of Ray and Loretta taken before or after Ray's show...I assume afterwards...but it's hard to tell. Either link will take you to the CabaRay website.

Ray Stevens CabaRay Concerts 2019...

Hello all once again!! As I've often mentioned in a lot of my previous blog entries if I hadn't written one in awhile it's more than likely there's not much happening in the career of Ray Stevens that's been publicly released for conversation/discussion or I imposed a hiatus on myself so some of my previous blog entries can be discovered by those that come across this particular blog several days or weeks later. If I were to write several blog entries in a day's time it creates the practice of blog burying whereas a blog written earlier in the day gets buried by blog entries written later in the day, etc. etc. and in this day and age with short attention spans it's not necessarily a good idea, I think, to engage in blog bombardment. Anyway..it's technically been a week (my last blog entry being February 3rd) and so I figured it's a good a time as any to create a new blog entry. As you can tell from the blog entry title this one is centered around the upcoming season of concerts at the CabaRay showroom. I'll be closing this blog entry with the bigger image of the CabaRay but I didn't want to have that particular image up top...it looks more visually appealing (to me) as a blog entry closer due to it's banner design. I've began previous blog entries with the larger version of that image before...but I prefer it as a closer.

It's been nearly a year since my brother and I attended a concert at the CabaRay (March 1, 2018) and the day I selected to attend happened to be on a Thursday night. The CabaRay had it's grand opening late in January of 2018...not necessarily the ideal time to kick off a performance venue in the midst of winter weather...but I've assumed the reason for that kick-off was tied into his professional connections to Nashville with the fact being that he moved from Georgia to Tennessee in January of 1962 and his birthday being January 24th...so several factors may have played a part in the CabaRay opening it's doors to the public in the month of January. By the way...the photo above depicting the showroom's red letters in the evening/night hours...as my brother and I were driving away from the showroom you could see the letters from the interstate and yes there was some sadness overcoming me as we drove further and further away...I didn't want to leave. Now, obviously, you could see those red letters in the daytime but it was neat to see the letters in bright red lights. If I recall correctly I made mention of the CabaRay letters and the overall exterior design in my review of our trip to Nashville. Search the archives over on the right hand side of the page in the March 2018 section.

Just exactly when does the upcoming concert season at the CabaRay get underway?? Well, the first concert of the season will be on a Thursday. The date being March 14, 2019. In the early months there's three nights of concert performances (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) just as there had been last year. By the time the summer vacation season rolls around it reverts to Friday and Saturday nights for the bulk of the year and then it gradually slips in a Thursday performance as the calendar gets closer to the holiday season. You can visit the CabaRay ticket page by clicking HERE. Once you open the page click the calendar forward arrows to open up the month of March. The dates containing a concert is circled. You can click on any month of the calendar to find concert dates, of course. If you click on a specific day you'll then be taken to a page where you can purchase tickets for that specific day of the week. The floor seats come with a dinner. If you prefer to just attend a concert without the dinner or any of the other perks then there's balcony seating. You'll still be getting a great view of the concert and of Ray but without the dinner experience.

Given that Ray is to release brand new recordings at some point this year and some on-line music videos along the way I'm making a guess that the CabaRay gift shop will probably be an exclusive location to purchase the new projects until they become available for on-line purchase through his web-store but then again the projects may become available through his on-line web-store prior to their availability on Amazon and other on-line sites that sell music. As of this writing there's not been any concrete information released concerning any future projects and in what manner they would become available...all I know is what you know from his most recent interview which took place a couple weeks ago prior to his birthday. We know there will be a music video at some point and a series of CD's containing songs he's recorded over the last number of years. You can read that interview by clicking HERE.

Ray Stevens: Additional Concert Dates Announced...

Hello fans of Ray Stevens!

In case you hadn't taken a look at the Ray Stevens tour page yet or hadn't seen his most recent Facebook post there have some additions to his Here We Go Again Tour. The tour date I previously mentioned for Ontario, Canada at the Casino Rama on October 9th is on his tour page now. A couple of other dates have also been added...first off on November 14th he'll mark his return to the Renfro Valley Barn in Mount Vernon, Kentucky. The other additions are far off in the future: a concert date scheduled in Bremen, Georgia for April 16, 2016 at the Mill Town Music Hall and a concert at the Blue Gate Theater in Shipshewana, Indiana on May 21, 2016.

You can read all about those additions and other concerts previously announced by going to Ray's EVENTS page at his official website. His next concert takes place on September 12th in Branson, Missouri. I've been thinking of what song from Ray's current CD could make for a comical music video and I've decided on "There Must Be a Pill For This". I also thought of Ray, in chicken costume, acting out "Pickin' on the Chicken" in video form. That one could also be rather amusing.

PURCHASE CD HERE

Ray Stevens in Franklin, North Carolina June 12th...

Hello to all the Ray Stevens fans!! Did you all have a "Shriner's Convention" celebration yesterday? If you have no idea what I happen to be talking about search the right side of the page for the archive section and click the blog entry about a "Shriner's Convention" celebration and you'll understand. Today, though, about half an hour ago, I learned that Ray Stevens is going to appear in concert in Franklin, North Carolina at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts. I visited their site but my computer connection seemed to act up and so I'm not going to post an URL. Instead, I'll post the venue's phone number. The concert is scheduled for June 12, 2015 at 7:30pm. The venue's number is 1-866-273-4615. If you prefer searching for the venue's site rather than calling the number then go ahead and do so. The site may not have any issue with your computer's connection speed as it did mine. This is the first I've seen of a confirmed concert appearance for 2015. He's been on a book tour, of late, but this June appearance is going to be an actual concert. I am assuming that there's going to be much more concert announcements to come. This is just one date in June...there may be concert appearances yet to be announced for the months of May, July, August, etc. etc. and more appearances yet to be announced for the month of June. For the time being, though, the Franklin, North Carolina concert is the only one that's been announced. If I happen to come across more concert date announcements I'll make mention of it. Of course, this being February, I'll make mention of this concert later on as it gets closer to June. It might be sold out by then...one never knows.

Let's Discuss Ray Stevens, Part 37...

Hello all the fans of Ray Stevens!! On this final day of September 2012 it's also the day after a concert from Ray Stevens in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. I came across a picture of Ray and a few of the fans from Saturday night's concert and I also came across some reaction on a certain social network site from those who enjoyed the concert. The venue was officially sold-out but I don't know if it were completely sold-out because the seating chart on September 27th shown just two open seats still available for sale. I assume those final two open seats were taken at the last minute but whether they were or weren't it was indeed a packed venue.

I was not able to make the trek to Renfro Valley this time around but I did see him there in 2008 and then I saw him in the summer of 2009 in Nashville, Indiana. This concert appearance was a few months before the on-line music video explosion of "We The People" on You Tube and so there wasn't an official political segment to his concerts at that point in time.

That particular music video, released on-line in December 2009, and it's equally successful subsequent follow-up releases allowed him to insert a political segment into his concerts. When I saw him in concert a few years ago, one of the songs he performed was "Thank You", a salute to the military, and another was "If 10% Is Good Enough For Jesus", a song about taxes. Those were the only topical/political songs of the night...but he did tell some politically oriented jokes from a conservative point of view.

Now, obviously, none of us in attendance at either the 2008 or 2009 concerts had any idea of just how submerged in political humor that Ray would become...but by the late summer of 2010 with his two massively popular political music videos garnering millions of on-line views simultaneously it was crystal clear that Ray Stevens had found himself another creative outlet to experiment with as well as a new avenue for musical expression. The series of politically oriented music video releases spawned an audio release, We The People, which contains 22 songs on 1 CD and a bonus DVD of a few of those music video releases.

Ray hasn't issued a CD of new political songs for 2012 but he has issued a double project, available in both CD and DVD format, of a fairly recent concert. The two projects are titled Such a Night: 50 Years of Hits and Hilarity and Patriots and Politics. The first project is the first half of a concert while the second project is the second half of the same concert. His recent concerts have been split between the non-political half and the political half. The Patriots and Politics DVD can be found HERE. Once there you can navigate around and search for all the other projects at his store, too.

Ray Stevens: Comedy Music Magnet, Part 3...

On this early Sunday morning I come with a link to nearly 170 pictures of Ray Stevens that were posted at the Imperial Palace's Facebook page. One picture in particular, the third picture in row 6, looks as if he's doing an impression of Groucho Marx. Comments are open to the public...even those who weren't able to appear.

Ray's next couple of concerts for 2011 will take place in Canada at the Scotia Bank Convention Center in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Ray appears at this venue on back to back days: November 28th and November 29th. His appearances are part of what's called the Winter Festival of Lights. Lorrie Morgan, based upon the venue's web-page, is a co-headliner but there's no information regarding whether or not the two will share the same stage or if in one concert Lorrie plays the part of the opening act and in another Ray returns the favor so it's difficult to determine how the concerts are going to be presented. Those who are planning on going to the concert can easily find out information by calling their number: 1-800-563-2557 or sending an e-mail to tickets@WFOL.com

Since the first concert is going to take place 8 days from now it would make more sense to call the venue directly using the number I supplied. You can also visit this link to see the information that I just wrote about. The venue seats 5,000 people so I'd not wait until the last minute to inquire about the concert.

Meanwhile, the following Imperial Palace Facebook link will take you to the pictures showing Ray on stage at various moments in the concert Saturday night.

Ray Stevens In Biloxi, Mississippi...11/19/2011

Good Monday morning...it's the start of another work week...but for those down in Biloxi, Mississippi you all have a chance to see Ray Stevens in concert at the Imperial Palace this coming Saturday night, November 19th. The information is contained within the link provided. On November 28th and 29th Ray Stevens will be in Niagara Falls Ontario, Canada at the Scotia Bank Convention Center.

The latest releases from Ray Stevens include a CD of serious songs...re-recordings of some of his obscure songs from the '80s on a CD called Bozo's Back Again. In addition to that CD there's also the DVD release of Internet Video Hits that I wrote about a couple of blogs ago. In the political vein there's Spirit of '76 which was released earlier in the year at his web-store prior to it's nationwide release a couple of months ago. That CD features 11 songs...4 of the songs have become You Tube music video sensations: "God Save Arizona", "The Skies Just Ain't Friendly Anymore", "Obama Budget Plan", and his latest, "Mr. President - Mr. President".

Who: Ray Stevens

When: November 19, 2011

Venue: Imperial Palace Casino, Resort, and Spa

Where: Biloxi, Mississippi

Time: 8pm

Ray Stevens...An All-Around Entertainer...

I've not posted much about this upcoming Ray Stevens concert because it's so far in advance but yet **with tickets on sale now** it's always a good idea to purchase tickets well in advance just in case there's a mad rush in the weeks leading up to the show and they become limited. Ray Stevens will do two shows at Pigeon Forge, Tennessee on October 21st. There will be a 3pm show and an 8pm show. The venue is the Country Tonite Theatre and details of all the shows can be found after clicking that link. There will be a lot of other country music legends putting on shows at the venue, too. Ray takes the stage on October 21st. I've seen Ray Stevens in concert twice and hope to see his show again if he tours around my area. I saw his concerts in 2008 and 2009...months before he began recording political music and having widespread You Tube success with his music videos. It would be great to see him in concert post-We The People fame.

This coming Sunday, for those who get the RFD-TV channel, Ray Stevens will be the featured guest on Hee-Haw. The episode originally aired in September 1972 as the first show of the season. The other guests on that episode include Arlene Harden and Dizzy Dean. I'll obviously be watching...I watch the show every Sunday night...and this time it'll be even more great with Ray making a guest appearance. 10 weeks later another episode with Ray as a guest will be airing. That episode originally aired in November 1972. According to some of the web-sites that chronicle episodes of vintage TV shows Ray will only perform "Along Came Jones" on the September 1972 episode and then "Gitarzan" on the November 1972 episode. I find it strange that the site only lists him performing 1 song per episode when the pattern is to have each guest sing 1 song per half hour. It's also strange that two 1969 songs were performed on a show that aired in 1972 unless those performances were taped in 1969 during the show's first season on CBS but weren't cleared for airing until 1972!? Perhaps his involvement with Andy Williams' NBC programs during 1969-1971 prevented Ray from appearing on a CBS program? It's a mystery that remains unsolved. Whatever the case, this Sunday I'll find out just what all Ray performed and if he participated in any of the comedy sketches.