In 1991, the Cattedrive Jamboree opened its doors at the Jimmy Burke Activity Center in Deer Park, Texas. With the help of the City of Deer Park and City Secretary Sandra Watkins. Pat Varley, a City of Deer Park employee, birthed the show using karaoke tracks originally. It was sponsored by the Cattledrive Barbeque in Deer Park. The idea was from previous performances from Pat Varley at another Opry, located in Magnolia, Texas.
The show was successful and eventually turned over to Don Wester who was managing the sound for the Cattledrive Jamboree, in 1992. Don put out the word, hired a live band, and continued a few shows at the Jimmy Burke Activity Center. The first members of the maiden voyage of the Hometown Opry were Lynn Owens-Bass, Rick Burton-Drums, Mike Moore-Steel Guitar, Neal Carpenter- Guitar, Felix Hayslip-Fiddle and Don Wester-Producer/Sound.
Don Wester was then introduced to Debbie Lamb, who was the Director at the East Harris Country Activity Center, the show was brought over to East Harris County Activity Center and the Hometown Opry was born!
For all the years the show has consisted of some of the top musicians in Texas along with top talent from Texas, Louisiana, Nashville, and all places in between!
Hometown Opry is known as the “Opry Diamond in Texas”. Our crowds did suffer during covid, and some shows had to be cancelled. When the shows were allowed to continue, the seats were limited due to covid restrictions, but the show survived and we are back to full operation and have been this past year!
This show is because of so many people who have helped us support the show each month, we are so thankful for Leroy Stanley, the late Ronnie and Patsy Yates, William and Tommianne Davis, Billy and Karen Brown, Diane Stanley.
Our show staff at this time is a huge help in the continued operations of the show: Billy Brown & Ken ‘Spider’ Dearinger – Setup
Matt Pettit – Sound, Mickey Cline – Administration, Victoria Matias- Coordinator for East Harris County and Pat Varley – Public Relations.
The continued support by the multitudes that come every show are what makes this show a success. It is for you that we work so diligently providing you the quality of entertainment that you can only find at the Hometown Opry!
Our current band staff includes: Rick Burton-Drums, Jeff Duncan-Fiddle, Johnny Foster-Keyboard, Kari Halvinka-BG Vocals, Lynn Owens-Bass, Brian Thomas-Steel Guitar, Wayne “Animal” Turner-Lead Guitar, Don Wester-Producer. As you can see some of the original band members are still with us today, each musician has an extraordinary history of being involved with some of the most loved country music entertainers from here to Nashville! As well as being song writers, and studio musicians, you would be amazed at the history some of these folks have.
