The second anniversary of Jones County’s old time music show took place last week with an appreciative crowd and plenty of county music. Paul Moncrief, the owner, originator and a performer in the show, was delighted with the celebration, although it was bittersweet because of the absence of his wife, Lois, who was in the hospital for heart problems.
“I had no idea what I was doing,” Moncrief said about putting the opry together. “I went into this blind. I just knew I wanted to do something for this community.”
The Ole Clinton Opry takes place every Friday night and averages 200 people.
The ‘Opry house’ is a converted truck shop that sits beside Moncrief’s home on Old Highway 18. The shop was just a shell when he began, and it now has pews for seats, a stage, a performer’s dressing room, two handicapped assessable bathrooms, ceiling fans, heating and air conditioning, a professional sound system with speakers and a mixing board, and a concession stand.
The anniversary celebration began with a covered-dish supper, and before performances started, Reverend Steve Johnson of Bradley Baptist Church led in prayer as he did two years ago at the show’s opening.
Although Moncrief sang four songs during the show and was masters of ceremonies for the event, he had gall bladder surgery only a week ago.
By showtime the building was filling up, including a busload of senior citizens from Bellevue Baptist Church in Macon, and the stage was filled with musical instruments, microphones and cowboy hats.
The first song ‘Fraulein’ was performed by Moncrief. The other vocalists who sang at the event were regulars of the show and took turns singing favorite selections one after another in a fast-paced show that had something for every taste in county music from old classics to new releases.
Admittance to the show is free, but donations are accepted for upkeep of the facility.
