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Have
you ever wondered what it would be like to witness
a dream come true right before your very eyes? Those
who spent the evening at the Cindy Boehler/Jordanaires
concert Nov. 4th in Holdrege got to witness just that.
After months of scurrying back and forth to Nashville
and weeks of heavy promoting in this area, Cindy and
her "band for the evening", The Boys From
Kentucky, Big Al Weekly of KRVN and The Legendary
Jordanaires performed to a crowd estimated at 650
lucky audience members.
"It was just like sitting at home watching a
television special, it was all so perfect," one
concert goer was heard to say. Another added, "I
don't think I could have watched a better or more
professionally run performance. It was so much like
sitting and watching the Opry!"
Big Al explained to the audience as he introduced
Cindy that she had stepped away from the music business
over 15 years ago to dedicate herself to raising her
family, knowing full well that she may never get the
chance to fulfill her dream of performing on a large
scale again. But Boehler waited and her many years
of prayers and patience finally paid off in a big
way.
From the moment Cindy walked on stage it was evident
that she was in her realm. Not only did she look the
part in her custom Black Suede and Rhinestone jacket,
belt and shoes, she captured the audience with her
strong original songs and great covers of such classic
standards as The Tennessee Waltz
and Hello Central. Cindy and the Boys even
bested Big Al, poking fun at his custom Rhinestone
suit by placing strings of sparkling Christmas lights
around their shoulders while Cindy kept Al busy out
front with the audience. There were very few dry eyes
in the house when Cindy dedicated a song her producer
Steve Ivey had asked her to record, One Piece
At A Time, to two dear friends who had passed
away very young. At the end of her first set, Cindy
introduced special guest Hanna Robbins, a 9 year old
accordion player from the Riverdale area. As Cindy
knew she would, Hanna brought down the house with
Boehler replying, "now you know why I had her
come out after I was done! I think the only ones here
who can follow that are The Legendary Jordanaires!"
"I don't remember much about the first segment
of the show," Cindy admitted. "I was just
a little too keyed up and was running on instinct
and adrenalin. After I introduced my friends, The
Jordanaires, I had to go back and do a quick change
for the last segment, so I didn't get to see much
of their show. I'm hoping I'll get more opportunities
to work with them so I can watch them perform live.
I've seen them once at The Opry, but that's not enough!"
The Jordanaires set was filled with remembrances,
humorous stories and wonderful music ending in a stirring
tribute to our country and veterans in song. Again,
there were many damp eyes in the audience as Ray Walker
asked all of the veterans and service personnel to
stand and be honored.
The Jordanaires began the last segment of the show
by having The Boys change out the set while they talked
about how they had gotten to know Cindy and how special
she had become to them. Everyone in the house was
surprised and amazed when Cindy returned to the stage
in a stunning floor length evening gown. Walker, known
for his gift of speaking, was even held speechless
for a split second. "We've never seen her in
anything but her jeans and boots. Wow!" he offered.
After a minute of conversation, Cindy called Hanna
onstage again to bring her favorite pair of brown
cowboy boots and said "I don't think they will
believe it's me if I don't have my cowboy boots on!"
And with that, she kicked of her dress shoes and slipped
into the boots with the audience applauding her decision.
"I had never sung with the Jords up until that
moment. They always came into the studio after I was
done recording my traks and then added their own background
vocals. I had assumed we would have some rehearsal
time that day, but why I thought they would need to
rehearse, I have no idea! Ray told me that morning
that they would be there in time to do a sound check
and the "Meet and Greet" before the performance.
But when it was time to go out and sing with them,
it was like slipping into your favorite pair of shoes
. . . comfortable and loved," says Boehler.
It was evident from the beginning that the respect
between all of them flowed very deeply and that came
across in their music that night. They wowed the audience
with covers of old Gospel tunes originally recorded
by the Jordanaires and Patsy Cline in the late 50's
and early 60's. Gordon Stoker told the crowd those
were the only two Gospel songs she ever recorded with
them.
As they brought the evening to a close, a huge screen
descended from above while Cindy explained that she
had written the last song, "That's What I Come
From" for her mother, grand-mother and herself
about 10 years ago and had released it for her mother's
birthday in September on KRVN. "This will be
the first time I have ever sung it for her and is
one of the reasons she is sitting up in the balcony
where I can't see her. Mom, you should get the hanky
box now," she told her mother before she started.
And once again, the emotion and heart she put into
the song as well as an unexpected slide show for her
mother brought most in the crowd to tears.
The Boys From Kentucky were called back onstage to
do an unexpected rendition of "Will The Circle
Be Unbroken" with everyone which ended up being
one of the highlights of the night.
If you didn't get to see the performance, just find
someone who did and they will tell you that you just
might have missed the best concert they have ever
seen. Upon leaving, one concert goer was heard to
say, "Who would have thought we could have a
show just as good as The Grand Ole Opry in a little
town out in the middle of Nebraska!" And folks,
they did just that!
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