About Young Country
The Show
If you enjoy listening to a variety of great music,
then you will want to
check out the Young Country Music Show. A show filled with
fun and
listening pleasure for the whole family.
From todays country, to classic country, bluegrass,
gospel, and old time
rock-n-roll, the Young Country band entertains audiences all
throughout
northern Missouri and southern Iowa playing the favorite hits and
classics.
The Young Country Music theater is located in Laredo, Missouri
and holds
shows on most 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month. The show
features a
highly talented band, awesome vocalists, a relaxing and fun
atmosphere, and
talented, special guests from throughout the central U.S.
The most notable special guests include; country music
legend - Moe Bandy;
five time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year - Rhonda Vincent; and
SPGMA Award
winning Bluegrass groups the Martin Family and the Faris Family.
Local
entertainers include; Tate Stevens, Roxanne Gregg, Mike Bowman,
Donna
Rutt-Hensley, Leland Jones, Duane Simmons, Carl Walby and many,
many more.
Along with playing at their home theater, Young Country also
performs 'on
the road'. From Liberty Center, IA to Memphis, MO to Perry,
MO to Kansas
City, the band has played at fairs, in theaters and at schools in
front of
thousands of music listeners.
The band not only performs live concerts, they can
also be heard on
recordings. Even though the Young Country band has not yet
released a CD of
their own, they have been included on several CD's by others,
including 3
CD's by southern Iowa's Cowboy singer, Pat Meade.
Having great instrumentalists and vocalists has had
its 'little perks'
through the years. The group has been asked on several
occasions to help
other vocalists by being 'the band behind the singer'. One
special
highlight for some of band members was being asked to back
Nashville
recording artist Lionel Cartwright at the North Central Missouri
Fair at
Trenton on August 2000. Some of Lionels big hits include, I
Watched It All
on My Radio, Like Father, Like Son, and Leap of Faith. It
was truly a
memorable moment.
Many of the band members have performed with several
former, top artists
such as; Patty Loveless, Porter Wagoner, Barbara Mandrell, Randy
Travis,
Ernie Ashworth, Lonzo and Oscar, Cal Smith, Leona
Williams, Moe Bandy, Justin Tubbs, Freddy Hart, Billy Walker,
Hank Thompson,
Connie Smith, Pee Wee King, Roy Acuff, Billy Grammar, and Jumpin'
Bill Carlisle.
The most astonishing credit to this group of Young Country
musicians is that
combined, they have been playing music for over 300 years.
Todd Young
having fewest number of years at 22.
The Band
Todd Young started his career in 1984, playing drums for George
Bowe and
Cuz'n Puds Jamboree. In the mid 90's, Todd switched to
playing the electric
bass for the show and continues to play bass, as well as sing,
Emcee and
manage Young Country LLC. In addition to Young Country,
Todd plays bass for
Duane Simmons and White Water, and local gospel groups Abundant
Grace and
Fresh Anointing. "I love to play
music of all types, whether its country,
rock-n-roll, bluegrass or gospel. It's 'in the blood' as
they say. Some
people have gardens, some have horses or race cars or sports.
I have my
music," says Young.
Clitus Meeker has been playing the lead guitar for bands since he
was 12
years old. In the 1950's, during his high school years,
Clitus played with
a rock-n-roll group called the Teeners. Later, he joined up
with Duane
Simmons, Gene Wyant and Dean Wyant to form the group The Country
Gentleman.
The group performed several shows in Marceline, MO at the
Frontier Jamboree.
When Cuz'n Puds Jamboree opened in 1984, Clitus was once
again called to
play the lead guitar, and continued when Young Country took over
in 2000.
If ever there was someone who played like Chuck Berry, Clitus
would be that
person.
Gene Wyant plays the rhythm guitar for the group. As
mentioned above, Gene
was a part of the group The Country Gentleman years back.
He then teamed up
with Larry Deskins to play bluegrass music for a while until
joining up with
the group from Cuz'n Puds Jamboree. Gene also sings lead
vocals and
harmony. He is known for his smooth voice when singing the
classics.
Johnny and Carolyn Vincent have been playing bluegrass music all
their
lives. For years they have been known for their group, the
Sally Mountain
Show. This bluegrass show has become an annual event in northeast
Missouri.
It features the country's hottest bluegrass groups from across
the nation.
Being a 'family' formed bluegrass group, the Vincent kids were 'born'
with
instruments in their hands, and have gone on to pursue their own
careers.
They include Rhonda, who is currently the hottest ticket in
Bluegrass;
Darrin, who has been pickin' in Ricky Skaggs band since the late
1990's;
and, Brian, who still plays at Sally Mountain festivals. The
Vincent Family
has performed all over the US, including Frontier Jamboree.
Jamie Pauls is one of the most popular piano players around.
In 1979,
Jamie, who was born blind, started playing for the group Country
Sunshine
along with drummer Rick Phillips. In 1982, Jamie found his
calling and
began playing gospel music for the group His Song. In the
mid 1990's he
took over the piano for Cuz'n Puds Jamboree and in 1998 he helped
start the
group Fresh Anointing, which he is still a member of. Jamie
also teaches
Music Appreciation at North Central Missouri College in Trenton,
MO.
Ann Brock is the lead vocalist for Young Country. Ann began
her career in
music as a teenager when she was hired to sing lead and harmony
vocals with
a traveling country music show. During college she performed at
the Country
Junction Amphitheater at the Worlds of Fun Theme Park and at
Tiffany's Attic
Dinner Playhouse in Kansas City. She is well known as a disc
jockey for
KFEQ-AM Radio in St Joseph and for WDAF-AM Radio in Kansas City.
Ann and
her husband Terry, who is an accomplished fiddle player, have
played on
numerous country and bluegrass shows across the midwest in a
group known as
Fresh Cut Grass. When Young Country opened, Ann was invited
up as a guest.
She did such an outstanding job that Todd hired her full time
immediately
after the show was over.
Rick Phillips is the newest member of Young Country. He
took over playing
drums for the group in 2004. Playing the drums has always
been a part of
Rick's life. Ricks career began while he was still in high
school, playing
for country/rock groups, including a tour through Canada.
In the 1970's
Rick played along side Jamie Pauls in the Country Sunshine band.
In the
1980's Rick played with the super country/southern rock group,
Ludlow.
After the band broke up in the 1990's, Rick turned over a new
leaf in life.
He and his wife Brenda, along with others, started up the
Contemporary
Christian group Abundant Grace, which they are still a part of
today.
