ARCHIVES of prior"What's New"
are available from links
at the bottom of this page
MANY OF YOU WILL RECALL THE REMARKABLE "YOUNG ELVIS" PERFORMER, DEAN Z, WITH WHOM I LAST WORKED AT A CASINO IN SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA IN 2005.
HE'S APPEARING HERE IN BRANSON AT LEGENDS IN CONCERT, BUT HIS SATURDAY NIGHTS ARE DEVOTED TO HIS AMAZINGLY GOOD ROCKABILLY BAND "THE FABULOUS GIMPS".
NOT LONG AFTER I ARRIVED AT CLUB 57 WHERE THEY'RE CURRENTLY PLAYING. DEAN CALLED UP THE FIRST OF TWO GUESTS TO SIT-IN WITH THE BAND.
WHAT A NICE SURPRISE TO GET A GREAT RENDITION OF "JOHNNY B. GOODE" FROM THE GIMPS AND BILL MEDLEY!. YES, THE BILL MEDLEY, SURVIVING HALF OF THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS! DEAN THEN CALLED UP HIS SECOND SURPRISE GUEST OF THE EVENING. I'M LOOKING AROUND AND WONDERING WHO COULD POSSIBLY FOLLOW BILL MEDLEY...AND DEAN CALLS ME! HE TOLD THE CROWD OF MY BACKGROUND AS A ROY ORBISON TRIBUTE PERFORMER, AND WE PROCEEDED TO TEAR INTO A BLAZING COVER OF ROY'S "OOBY DOOBY". THE CROWD WAS UP AND JUMPING AND AN OBSERVER TOLD ME LATER HE THOUGHT I GOT AN EVEN BIGGER RESPONSE THAN MEDLEY.
I WON'T MAKE A CLAIM LIKE THAT MYSELF, BUT I'LL SURE REPORT IT WITH A BIG SMILE.
I'LL BE BACK ON THE ROAD AS ROY ORBISON WITH "ROCK & ROLL HEAVEN" , THIS TIME AT THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND -- CHECK THE 'SHOWS' PAGE!
AND, STARTING SEPTEMBER 7, 2010, LOOK FOR MY TRIBUTE TO CONWAY TWITTY AT "LEGENDS IN CONCERT" IN MYRTLE BEACH, SC... I'LL BE APPEARING THERE THROUGH OCTOBER.
"WHAT'S NEW" SUMMER, 2010 - BRANSON, MO UPDATE: None.
As of Sunday, September 5, 2010 the situation remains unresolved.
My sincere thanks go out to all for the many comments
and messages of support.
"Superstars of Country" show closes, "NO PAY, NO PLAY"
On August 17, 2010, I ended my participation in the "Superstars of Country - Live in Concert" show because the producer, BARRIE CUNNINGHAM (dba SUPERSTARS LIVE IN CONCERT, LLC and BC ENTERTAINMENT, Las Vegas), citing personal financial difficulties, failed to pay members of the cast for their July 20 to August 15, 2010 performances at the Superstars Live Theatre in Branson, Missouri. These fees were guaranteed by contracts between the parties. None of the principal acts received their full pay, and at the time I departed, Mr. Cunningham was also in arrears to band members, back-up singers, stage hands and members of the technical crew who made the shows possible.
I did not arrive at my decision to leave the show without careful consideration. In nearly 20 years onstage, at hundreds of venues and working with untold numbers of different promoters, producers and clients, I have never been forced to take such an action.
It was my hope that Mr. Cunningham and I could come to terms in private for the payment of his outstanding debt to me, and it would not ordinarily be my decision to make a public statement such as this. However, to my fans and my friends...I must ask your indulgence and proceed, as he has scheduled to re-open the show and a number of my fellow tribute artists need to be made aware of the situation in Branson before signing contracts to appear in this or any other of Mr. Cunningham's productions.
I welcome the opportunity to answer questions from other members of the industry.
Brian McCullough
Fauxorb@AOL.com
(413) 885-3262
Text of my original JULY/AUGUST "WHAT'S NEW" follows:
"Greetings from the "Superstars Live" theatre in Branson, MO"
"After a delay to accommodate long-awaited renovations to the theatre, "Superstars of Country - Live in Concert" opened on July 15th. Seeing the theatre all renewed, fresh and modern, is a draw for even the locals, as it sat empty for years after having been the home of gospel artist Cristy Lane. Even with a "soft" opening - no big hoopla or special announcements - we've had a good response, and the audience has nice comments when we go out to the lobby for our "Meet and Greet" sessions.
ENLARGE
ENLARGE
ENLARGE
The show features tributes to Garth Brooks by Scott Parsons, Carrie Underwood by Harmony Deen, Shania Twain by Ashley Hayes, Keith Urban by "Little Tony" Kouns, and a certain Conway Twitty performer with whom you may be familiar. The producer chose to open with Conway, saying that it was a solid act and of the kind of quality that right away would signal to the audience the kind of show they were in for.
Nice words, I thought.
I'm followed by Shania and then Keith Urban, and after a short intermission, Carrie Underwood, and then Garth swings in and wraps it all up. We return to the stage for our real-life introductions as part of a patriotic finale of Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA. That song has become such an enduring part of Branson shows that the audience members always come to their feet with hands over hearts.
Early every Saturday evening at the nearby "God and Country Theatre" they host a 45 minute TV/webcast modeled after television's "Tonight Show". Called "Branson Live", and open to the public, the "guest stars" featured are acts from many of the most popular shows around town. I had just enough time before having to be onstage at my own theatre to drop by with a few Conway tracks, sing a bit and visit with host Jimmy Ponder and sidekick Perry Edenburn.
View me on "Branson Live" DOWNLOAD TO PLAY
55MB QUICKTIME FILE
THE ROSE
DON'T CALL HIM A COWBOY -- INTERVIEW --
IT'S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE
(RUNTIME 20 MINUTES)
DOWNLOAD
....BILL MEDLEY WAS MY SECOND CELEBRITY SIGHTING FOR THE WEEK. EARLIER I HAD BEEN OUT TO BREAKFAST AND INTO THE LITTLE CAFE WALKED JIM STAFFORD AND THE COMIC GALLAGHER. YOU'LL REMEMBER STAFFORD'S HITS "SPIDER AND SNAKES" AND THE VERY FUNNY "COW PATTY", AND OF COURSE YOU KNOW ABOUT GALLAGHER'S ABILITY TO STRIKE FEAR INTO THE HEARTS OF WATERMELONS EVERYWHERE
....STAFFORD HAS HIS OWN THEATRE AND A HOME HERE, AND IS OFTEN CALLED BRANSON'S MOST POPULAR ENTERTAINER . GALLAGHER, WHEN NOT SURROUNDED BY REMNANTS OF SMASHED FOODSTUFFS, IS A DOUR BALD GUY WITH A FRINGE OF GREYING HAIR. HE HAS DESCRIBED HIMSELF AS LOOKING LIKE A BOWLING BALL WEARING A HULA SKIRT, AND I CAN'T DISAGREE.
....AS THE WEEKS FLY BY HERE IN THE ENTERTAINMENT CAPITOL OF THE OZARKS, I'LL UPDATE MY LIST OF 'RARE BIRD' SIGHTINGS AND KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP OF ANY SPECIAL NEWS.
My downtime is in short supply with shows at two and eight pm every day but Monday, but I am finding my way around the town and getting the necessary things done. I've found the cleaners, the bank and the Wal-Mart, so it's all good. Having been here five years ago helps, but things change in this town every season. If you've never been to Branson, think Vegas - without the gambling. It is a show town almost exclusively, with over one hundred productions going on. No, I am not exaggerating. Everything from breakfast shows with impersonators of Mark Twain or Red Skelton to matinee outings with Elvis and evening performances by Andy Williams, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jim Stafford, Mickey Gilley, Moe Bandy, the Gatlin Brothers, the Osmonds, Tony Orlando and dozens and dozens more. Branson is also happy to have a new Waltzing Waters, with brightly lit fountains dancing to musical accompaniment, and an enormous replica of the Titanic aimed at the main drag offering tours and artifacts from the doomed liner. Couples come to town to wed on the Grand Staircase.
If you have seen the Branson promotional ads on TV,
you've heard the announcer say "Someone you love is appearing in Branson"
Let me borrow that long enough to say in return,
"Someone appearing in Branson loves you!". Brian
"NO PAY, NO PLAY" 
On August 17, 2010, I ended my participation in the "Superstars of Country - Live in Concert" show because the producer, BARRIE CUNNINGHAM (dba SUPERSTARS LIVE IN CONCERT, LLC and BC ENTERTAINMENT, Las Vegas), citing personal financial difficulties, failed to pay members of the cast for their July 20 to August 15, 2010 performances at the Superstars Live Theatre in Branson, Missouri. These fees were guaranteed by contracts between the parties. None of the principal acts received their full pay, and at the time I departed, Mr. Cunningham was also in arrears to band members, back-up singers, stage hands and members of the technical crew who made the shows possible.
The producer chose to open with Conway, saying that it was a solid act and of the kind of quality that right away would signal to the audience the kind of show they were in for.
