From the Malden Press-Merit, July 27, 1972 MALDEN, Mo. — Two of America’s most popular country music entertainers will be appearing in person Saturday, August 26, at the Malden High School Gymnasium. The entire Porter Wagoner Roadshow unit — starring Wagoner, songstress Dolly Parton, comedian Speck Rhodes, and The Wagonmasters instrumental group — will be on hand for two performances, at 2:00 and again at 8:00 p.m. The show is being presented by the Junior Chamber of Commerce of Malden as part of their yearly fund-raising drive. Proceeds from the two performances will be used to finance the extensive list of community projects sponsored by the Jaycees. Wagoner and Miss Parton are top-selling recording artists for RCA Records. Their solo and duet recordings consistently achieve top-ten rankings nationally in the music industry trade publications, and Wagoner’s syndicated television series is regarded by the broadcast industry as the most popular and successful show of its type. It features the same entertainers and personalities who comprise the roadshow troupe. The show is seen locally on WMC-TV in Memphis and KPLR-TV in St. Louis. A country music superstar for nearly 20 years, Wagoner presently has over 25 RCA albums available. His countless hit singles include such memorable successes as “A Satisfied Mind,” which was released in 1954; “I Thought I Heard You Call My Name”; “Your Old Love Letters”; “The Green, Green Grass of Home”; “The Carroll County Accident”; “Julie”; and many others. Wagoner’s latest release is entitled “A World Without Music.” Since its release on June 26, it has received very favorable reaction throughout the music industry, including an endorsement by the industry’s leading trade publication, Billboard magazine, as a record likely to sell 500,000 copies. “Into the national popularity charts for country music.” Dolly Parton, Wagoner’s special featured female artist, also is a country music superstar, even though she is only in her early twenties. She has a distinctive soprano voice, and she already is recognized by her industry as one of its most brilliant new songwriters. Although, in comparison, Wagoner’s lengthy and illustrious career, Dolly’s stardom is just beginning, she already is head and shoulders above such “Just Because I’m A Woman,” “Joshua,” “My Blue Tears,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “Touch Your Woman.” Her July 11 release entitled “Washday Blues” has a lot of people excited and could prove to be her biggest hit since her “Joshua” No. 1 recording of “Joshua.” Both Porter and Dolly come from similar backgrounds: rural and financially difficult. Porter Wagoner was born near West Plains, Mo., and grew up in poverty with his parents on a small dirt farm. At an early age he learned fiddle, then guitar; soon he was singing, especially when working by himself in the fields. Although extremely shy, Wagoner sang and played guitar for customers in the grocery store where he worked as a clerk, following his family’s move into town. The store owner decided to sponsor a radio show featuring young Porter’s singing. This led to Wagoner’s first big break: a job at radio station KWTO in Springfield. This in turn led to a contract with RCA Victor Records in 1952, then to a performing spot on the Ozark Jubilee, which eventually originated for network television and radio in Springfield. Moving to Nashville in November 1956, Wagoner joined the Grand Ole Opry the following February — just when country music had begun an out-of-control popularity nosedive because of rock and roll. For three years, Wagoner and many other country performers had very hard times. But circumstances began improving late in 1959, and the world again resumed developing a fondness for country music, a fondness which was to become extraordinary. Late in 1959, Wagoner was invited to audition for a proposed television show, and his passed the test. Carried in only 17 or 18 markets during the first year, The Porter Wagoner Show ultimately was broadcast coast to coast, in over 150 markets. In some areas, its ratings surpass those of network shows. Dolly Parton was born in the hills of East Tennessee, near Sevierville, where she grew up amid attended school. By dictating lyrics to her mother, Dolly was writing songs even before she could hold a pencil. By age five, she clearly displayed vast talent and professional potential; and at that early age she was given a performing spot on Knoxville radio and television programs, and then continued on these broadcasts throughout her high school years. Within hours of her graduation from high school (1964), Dolly boarded a bus for Nashville. Her Uncle Bill Owens, himself a professional musician and songwriter, had moved his home and family to Nashville a few weeks earlier, and Dolly began working with him and living at the Owens home while she began the long process of getting herself established in Music City, U.S.A. She and Bill worked as a songwriting team at first; they were given a contract with a major Nashville publishing firm, and this led to some of their songs being recorded by important artists. One of these was “Put It Off Until Tomorrow,” now regarded as a country music “classic.” Soon Dolly was writing on her own and making records herself, and, by the time she affiliated with Wagoner, she had two hits to her credit. Both artists have maintained an enviable pace as solo artists for RCA Records. They also are regarded as the undisputed number one vocal duet team in country music, and, as with their individual or solo recordings, their duet singles and albums constantly appear in the upper rankings of the most important sales and popularity listings. Both artists appear on stage as solo stars, of course, but they generally conclude the roadshow appearances in their role as the famous duet team. These performances include a wide range of material, from clever novelty titles to the hand-clapping semi-gospel smash, “Daddy Was An Old Time Preacher Man,” written by Dolly and an aunt. Comedian Speck Rhodes, known for his missing front teeth and his wildly colorful checked suits custom made for his television and stage appearances, has an extensive vaudeville background. During the Depression, he toured with his sister and brothers all over the nation until, in 1944, the family settled in Memphis. There they did regional network radio shows and, later, their own television show. Although Speck no longer is with The Rhodes Family Show, it is still televised/recorded in Memphis. Rhodes, incidentally, was one of the original members of the team that successfully passed the audition for Wagoner’s television show. Speck continued to perform on his family’s Memphis telecasts as well until, by 1964, the demand for him to appear with Wagoner became such that he moved his wife and children to Nashville in order to join Wagoner 100 per cent. The Wagonmasters band, featuring the electrified five-string banjo of Buck Trent, is considered the most colorful and showy back-up group in country music. Its members have been with Wagoner for many years, except for Jerry Owens (drums), who joined the unit late in 1971. One band member, Don Warden, who plays steel guitar and who serves as Wagoner’s road manager and administrative assistant, has been with Porter for over twenty years. The Porter Wagoner Show travels over 100,000 miles per year in a customized touring bus which is equipped with three private staterooms and supplemented by many luxury facilities. It also has lounge areas, restrooms, color television, and stereo radio and tape equipment. Wagoner acquired this bus last September, and by the time the interior was fitted out with all the luxuries of home, it cost him over $100,000. About a year ago, Wagoner decided he was going to concentrate on bringing his stage shows into smaller communities rather than the large cities. He felt many country music fans were being deprived of top-name country entertainment, so he directed that his show would break away from the large-city circuits so that the entire family could enjoy big-name country music entertainment economically and within shorter travel distances. Ticket sales will be handled through the Malden Jaycees. The only advance tickets that will be sold will be for reserved seats and will be priced at $3.50.