By Robin McPherson Gamble
Brownsboro hosts live, local, family-oriented music at Dot’s Place, a local restaurant. Dot’s has an open mic night every Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Pizza, burgers, and more draw people in and have the parking lot overflowing. There are always a variety of musicians and people who don’t play but who come just to sing. Participants brought a bass, guitars, drums, a keyboard, and a harmonica. In the picking circle, participants take turns choosing songs and let audience members have a turn singing. “Anyone who wants to sing is backed up by the group,” said Charles Teel. Teel is in charge of the music and took over that position when the original folks overseeing the music stopped. Teel unusually plays bass and is the lead for evening’s musical festivities.
Most of the people at Dot’s played at a jam in Edom called The Shed. When it shut down, they needed a new place to play. Bobby Parker, one of the leaders of the original group, asked the owner of Dot’s, Dusty Wyes, if they could use his place and he agreed. “It’s always been a welcoming place and has remained a place where anyone is welcome. It has carried on the tradition of a country music format,” said Parker.
Regulars like Angie Johnson, 91, come to sing their favorites. Hank Williams’s songs are what Johnson prefers. Johnson brought a binder full of songs to choose from and has been coming to Dot’s for a while. She said she doesn’t really get nervous anymore singing in front of people.
Joe Fulgham brings his guitar and sings nearly every week. His repertoire includes songs by Mo Bandy, George Straight, and Hank Williams. Fulgham said, “Customers are the reason we do this.”
Teel said that historically, old country and religious songs are done at Dot’s. Rarely something from the 1980s get played. Husband and wife duo, David and Gay Morris, have been coming to the open mic night for the past eleven years. David plays bass and Gay plays the keyboard. Their favorites come from classic Country and Western and Rock’ n’ Roll genres. David Morris said Charlie Pride’s I’m So Afraid of Losing You Again is a great song to play and sing. The Morris’ just appreciate music and like the comradery and fellowship of the group. That’s the draw that keeps everyone coming back.
Huey Olson sang a Merle Haggard song, Sing Me Back Home. Monte Bragg played guitar and sang Walk Through This World With Me by George Jones. Gary Edmonson played drums and sang. He is also a member of Bragg’s band, Monte and the Boys. They support Dot’s Place to help keep live, local music going in the community. Edmonson said whoever wants to join in is welcome. Olson is also a regular at Monte’s Place and loves to support live music.
Otis Willis, known as the “Louisiana Flash,” played guitar and sang Time Marches On. He got his nickname from a friend back when he lived in Louisiana and was making quick trips to Texas and back. Willis said he has been coming to Dot’s for about five years and likes the good food there. He said everyone has become good friends and are like family to him.
Joe Graham has been playing guitar and singing for about twenty years and loves participating in the open mic night. “We’re all about the same age and we’re like a family,” he said.
