By Robin McPherson Gamble
Monte’s is a family-oriented music hall located just down the road in Brownsboro, Texas. This establishment is the brainchild of Monte Bragg and his wife, Gaynell. Bragg said, “I built this place so families would have somewhere to go to have good, clean fun.” “There is no drinking, no fighting, and no cussing.” Monte’s includes a play area for children and an air hockey table for anyone inclined to play. As soon as you walk inside Monte’s, you are greeted like a long-lost friend. Two of Bragg’s grandchildren, Parker Bishop and Lexi Elmore, worked the door. The wives of the band members, Gaynell Bragg, Debbie Edmonson, and Nancy Lamb, cooked, took food orders, and waitressed during the three hour show. It’s $5 at the door to listen to the music and $10 if you want to buy food.
Bragg’s band, Monte and the Boys, celebrated their one-year anniversary on November 1st. The band included Monte Bragg on guitar and vocals, Larry Dunn on steel guitar and vocals, Larry Lamb on lead guitar, Gary Edmonson on drums and vocals, and Jr. Kirby on bass. BJ Copeland filled in on steel guitar for Dunn, who could not be there. Bragg, Lamb, and Kirby used to play together twenty-five to thirty years ago and came back together a year ago. The band is a family type deal. Everybody is equal.
Monte and Boys perform every Saturday night from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. during football season and will transition back to every Friday night starting on November 14th. They are located next to the high school stadium.
Monte and the Boys are a local favorite in the region. They play both old and new country music, rhythm and blues, gospel, and some Elvis songs, along with original music written by Bragg. Songs by Keith Whitley, George Straight, Chris Stapleton, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, Chuck Berry, and more kept the audience singing and dancing.
Bragg comes from a very musical family.Bragg cut a CD in Nashville that included original material and a lot of songs that his dad, Douglas Bragg, wrote. Bragg has sung on the Grand Ole Opry just as his dad’s band, Doug Bragg and the Drifters, did before him. “I stood in the same circle as dad did,” he said. “I used to fall asleep at night listening to my dad on the radio and wanting to follow in his footsteps,” Bragg said. Colby Cooper, his grandson, is following in his footsteps also and debuted on the Opry about a year and a half ago. Bragg has played venues such as the Louisiana Hayride and the Louisiana Opry. On Thursday nights, Monte and the Boys play at the Forty-Niners in Gun Barrel City.
“Brownsboro is the live music capital of Henderson county per capita,” said Cheri Romain, a regular at Monte’s. Romain was invited to sing a few songs with the band during the show and did a great rendition of Blue Bayou. Huey Olson, a 91-year-old regular patron, kept the ladies dancing and treated the crowd to a few of his songs that he sang with the band. Charles Teel, from Dot’s Place in Brownsboro, sat in on bass and sang with the band a couple of times.
Monte’s had a Halloween costume contest with prizes for first, second, and third. First place went to Bobby Bragg, who dressed as a hippie. Second went to John Damm, dressed as a priest. Third went to Kathy Jackson, dressed as a fairy.
