The Rocky Mountain Jamboree
This show was a regular Saturday night program heard over KLAK out
of Denver, Colorado in the late 1950s, early 1960s. Headlining this
show was the old "gravy sopper" Buster Jenkins and his band, the
Blue Grass Group. The could have also been the house backup band that
was called the Gravy Soppers Band as you will see if you browse our
pictures. The show took place at 4th and Grant Streets in Denver.
Buster was quite a fiddler in his day - he had won seven fiddling
championships and had mastered the five-string banjo as well as
the guitar.
The show also included a native of Belfast, Ireland who had only
been in the USA a couple of years, Gerry Butler. Roy Green stood tall
among the stars of this show, as he was about 6 foot five inches tall.
Bety Shubert would sing an occasional vocal and also provided rhythm
guitar accompaniment with the Gravy Soppers band that provided backup
on the show. The Country Boys known as Jim and Mike were all of 14 and 16
years old when they were performing for the Rocky Mountain Jamboree.
comedy routines were provided by none other than Bozo the Clown along
with a gal named Bezo.
The Gravy Soppers band included Gene Poole on the bass, Bob Burgame on lead
guitar, Buster Jenkins on the fiddle, Betty Shubert playing rhythm
guitar and Don Henningson on steel guitar.
Another fellow on the show was Johnny Chase who was a native Texan.
Then there was Charlie Waggoner who was from Fayetteville, TN and
born around 1936. He recorded on the Linco label and did emcee
work, comedy and vocals. The show had a brother and sister act by
the name of Bill and Joyce, who were natives of Texas. And Mike
Donner had appeared on the very first show of the Rocky Mountain
Jamboree and had been a crowd pleaser from the start.
In 1962, the Rocky Mountain Jamboree was said to be recording their
first LP album and was scheduled for release soon.
Some of the acts that were a part of the KLAK Rocky Mountain Jamboree
included:
- Buster Jenkins and the Blue Grass Group
- Gerry Butler
- Roy Green
- Betty Shubert
- The Country Boys, Jim and Mike
- Bozo the Clown and Bezo, comedy
- The Gravy Soppers Band
- Johnny Chase
- Charlie Waggoner
- Bill and Joyce
- Mike Donner
Credits & Sources
- Country and Western Scrapbook 12th Edition; 1962; Heather Publications;
2855 South High Street; Denver 10, Colorado
