Matt is in town for a special project
Branson, Missouri was once a mecca for world-famous live entertainment. Nestled away in the beautiful rugged Ozarks in Southwest Missouri, it once attracted millions of visitors each year with shows covering every genre and variety.
Throughout the ’80s into 00s, stars such as Mickey Gilley, Barbara Mandrell, Roy Clark, Glen Campbell, The Oak Ridge Boys, Mel Tillis, and others called Branson home. By the mid-90s, the city boasted more than one hundred performances each day, allowing stars to make millions of dollars by headlining residencies at their theaters on a strip much like Las Vegas. Branson was seen as a great alternative to touring while still performing regularly.
By 2015, Branson’s theater shows became less attractive with many high-profile and longtime entertainers leaving town. In 2014, Jim Stafford’s iconic theater was under new ownership but retained his name. However, a new demographic and change in the touring industry have forever altered the landscape of the city that was once flourishing with high-profile celebrities. Many of Branson’s iconic theaters, including Stafford’s, are being demolished to pave the way for new attractions, but some musicians are still finding success, such as Mickey Gilley.
Matt Bailey is in town working on a special project and is catching some shows. In this guestless episode, Matt talks about seeing Gilley and Johnny Lee, two of country’s most prominent singers who gained fame during the Urban Cowboy movement in the 80s. We also discuss Branson’s impact on the industry and tease Matt’s project.
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