Terry Smith, a singer/songwriter with several memorable songs to his credit, comes to us from Nashville, Tennessee.  He's best known for his "Far-side Banks of Jordan," recorded by such artists as Johnny Cash and June Carter, The Statler Brothers, the Cox Family and many, many more well known artists.  We guarantee he'll capture your heart with his soulful songs, all as country as you can get. (www.terrysmith.us/songwriter.htm) 

Red Johnson, from Champlin, Minnesota, has been performing and writing songs since the mid-1960s, when his "There's a Grand Ol' Opry Show Playing Somewhere" was released on Capitol Records.  Red-headed Red is a hit with anyone who enjoys heartfelt songs about love, veterans, mom, and other such all-American subjects. (http://mkoc.com/RedJohnson/)

Miss Betty Rydell,’ is an introduction that has been heard in clubs, fairs, conventions, theaters, churches, radio and television throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Central America.  Singing a variety of songs and playing nine musical instruments, Betty has performed with Barbara Mandrell, Charlie Pride, Conway Twitty, Ernest Tubb, Tex Ritter, Carl Perkins, Marvin Rainwater and LeRoy Van Dyke plus other name performers.  Betty has won the coveted Entertainer of the Year Award presented by the Country Entertainers Association of the Upper Midwest

       Cactus Willie, from Emily, MN, is a musician and performer who was influenced by his Uncle Lester Flatt and his mom, who played guitar and sang with Ernest Tubb for a time.  His style shows hints of bluegrass, but he loves to sing all kinds of songs from many artists.  You'll enjoy the fresh new sounds of the good, old front porch stories and ballads, just the way you remember them in the barn dance/opry style shows from year's past.  Cactus Willie and Boxcar Bob perform in Minnesota during the summer months and in South Texas during the winter months. (www.cactuswillie.net)

     "Boxcar Bob" Selby hails from St. Paul, MN, and counts folk, gospel and country among his musical styles.  He loves to perform the songs of such artists as Johnny Cash, Jim Reeves and Marty Robbins.  He's appeared several times at the Midwest Country Music Theatre in Sandstone, MN, where he opened for Stonewall Jackson.  He sometimes performs with Cactus Willie as "The Cowboy & the Hobo," a duo that has been knocking the socks off fans wherever they play.  (http://homepage.mac.com/charlescasterl)

Sharon Lee was born in Mpls, MN. and has been singing since she was 3yrs old. Sharon has worked with the late Chill Helmin in his band, and  with other local musicians. She has been a regular member of Midwest Country Music theater since it's beginning in 1992. Sharon formed with her own
 band in 1986 and has performed in Minnesota and Wisconsin at local VFW's and Legions, and many private parties. Sharon's interest in country music stems from her father's involvment in music, when he and his sister sang together and toured with Slim


JAngie Senger

MCs for the True Country Music Festival include Rich Bellert (in photo at right), a talented cowboy poet from Excelsior, MN, who has performed at the Midwest Country Theatre in Sandstone, MN, and at events across the northern Midwest and in South Texas.

                                                         Charlie Nordlund,

from Cambridge, MN, Charlie is a guitar-maker and turkey-hunter from way back and loves to play and sing the old-time country music that we all used to hear on the Grand Ol' Opry, the Wheeling West Virginia Jamboree and the Louisiana Hayride. He makes his home in the Cambridge, Minnesota, area

Mike Wagner Drummer