I recently chatted with Branson resident and accomplished songwriter Pat McManus about the day he met legendary vocalist Johnny Mathis. It was 1975 and producer John Florez asked Pat to come down to Studio ‘A’ in the RCA building in Hollywood to sing on a recording session.

Pat shared ‘I went into the control room at Studio ‘A’ and there was John Florez, Musical Director D’Arneill Pershing and the recording engineer, Grover Helsley. They were in the middle of recording and I don’t remember if it was my eyes or ears that first made me realize that it was none other than Johnny Mathis in the studio. I was fresh from Nashville and there right in front of me was the man behind ‘Chances Are’ and ‘Wonderful Wonderful.’’

‘After the singing stopped, John told me to go in and introduce myself and sing the back-ups on the song. It turns out that Johnny was doing a cover tune on Neil Sedaka’s hit, Laughter in the Rain, a song that I knew, thank goodness! We were going to double the chorus parts, but Johnny said that it sounded like I could do it by myself just fine. I’d never heard sweeter words in my life. The cut went on the album ‘When Will I See You Again’ released in 1975.’

‘I ended up working with John Florez on several more projects after that trial-by-fire day in Studio ‘A’. I also got to know D’Arneill, who was Johnny’s Musical Arranger and Conductor for many years . It has also been fun to get to know his brother, D’Vaughan Pershing, Andy Williams’ Musical Director in Branson.’

Since that fateful meeting, Pat McManus has gone on to write seven number one hits for artists like The Oak Ridge Boys (American Made) and Reba McEntire (Little Rock) and is still an active writer and producer.

‘Johnny is one of the nicest people in show business, and he always has been’ says Pat. ‘His voice is one-of-a-kind and his talent is a masterpiece. Johnny’s a true American musical treasure.’‘

The incomparable Johnny Mathis will be in concert with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra at the Mansion Theatre Friday and Saturday evening, September 26th and 27th at 8 PM. Call 800-785-1550 for tickets.

_ Top Photo: Courtesy of Station Wave

– Bottom Photo: A cover shot of “When Will I See You Again’ (c) 1975 Columbia Records

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Golf Magazine, one of the world’s most respected periodicals for golf enthusiasts, announced in its September 2008 issue that Branson Creek Golf Club, located in picturesque Ozark mountains of southwest Missouri, has been named as one of the ‘Top 100 Courses You Can Play’ in 2008-2009. Branson Creek is making its third consecutive appearance on the prestigious Golf Magazine list.

Branson Creek Golf Club is managed by Scottsdale, Arizona based Troon Golf®, the world’s largest golf management company with international offices in Australia, Hong Kong, Switzerland, and Dubai. Founded in 1990, Troon Golf overseas operations for more than 200 courses located in 31 states and 31 countries.

Mark Ophoven, Branson Creek Golf Club’s General Manager & Director of Golf shared “The kinds of accolades that we have received through the years from entities in the industry such as Golf Magazine, have helped confirm that our mission to create spectacular golfing experiences at Branson Creek is on target. I am proud of each and every member of our dedicated team at Branson Creek and Troon Golf®.”

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Hey kids- it’s flashback time! Close your eyes for a second and let the clock in your mind wander backwards through the 90s, then through the 80s and as you approach the 70’s, slow down when you get to December of 1973.

Can you remember what we’re you doing 35 years ago? Maybe you were in grade school or high school or were off working in the world. And even if you were just a glint in your parent’s eyes, keep reading, a little history never hurt anyone!

It’s been asserted that music has always been a measure of the times. So let me ask you this. Who would you have heard if you’d turned on your car radio back then?

In December 1973 Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight and Sly & the Family Stone all recorded soulful popular songs. There was Jim Croce, Stevie Wonder and the one-and-only John Lennon. His good Beatle chum Paul McCartney (and Wings) charted a hit that month, as did Helen Reddy and Barbara Streisand. But do you want to know who caught everybody’s ears with a song that just seemed to come out of nowhere?

Well …drum roll, please……. On December 29, 1973 Branson’s very own resident funny man, Jim Stafford, rose to #3 on the Billboard Magazine Music Charts with his runaway hit- ‘Spiders and Snakes.’

Come on, admit it! You remember these classic lyrics:

She said, “I don’t like spiders and snakes
And that ain’t what it takes to love me you fool, you fool
I don’t like spiders and snakes
And that ain’t what it takes to love me
Like I want to be loved by you”

It was a silly coming-of-age song that just happened to go Gold for Jim and put a smile on everyone’s face.

And now, Billboard Magazine once again recognizes ‘Spiders and Snakes’ as #43 on The Billboard Hot 100 Country Songs during the magazine’s First 50 Years.

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Test your knowledge- take the Branson Quiz!

Answers can be found at the bottom of the page. Good Luck!

1. The population of Branson is:
(a) 706 (b) 3552 (c) 7500 (d) 11,100.

2. How many guests visit Branson each year?
(a) 2.1 mil (b) 11 mil. (c) 5.2 mil. (d) 7.9 mil

3. How many miles is it from Springfield, MO to Branson?
(a) 112 mi. (b) 35 mi. (c) 76 mi. (d) 18 mi.

4. What county is Branson in?
(a) Stone (b) Branson (c) Shepherd (d) Taney.

5. Name the three area lakes near Branson.

6. How many theatres are currently operating in Branson?
(a) 52 (b) 23 (c) 76 (d) 40

7. What percentage of visitors come to Branson from more than 300 miles away?
(a) 12% (b) 30% (c) 76% (d) 65%

8. Approximately how many lodging rooms are available in Branson?
(a) 4,000 (b) 18,000 (c) 8,000 (d) 25,000

9. Approximately how many restaurants are there in Branson?
(a) 444 (b) 333 (c) 76 (d) 111

10. What is the name of the river that was dammed to create the area’s three lakes?
(a) Nile (b) Arkansas (c) Ozark (d) White

Thanks for playing- more to come! Let me know how you did!

** Thanks to the City of Branson for supplying the facts and figures!

Answers: 1.(c) 2.(d) 3.(b) 4.(d) 5. Table Rock, Taneycomo, Bull Shoals
6.(a) 7.(d) 8.(b) 9.(a) 10.(d)

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The American Bus Association, representing more than 1,000 Motorcoach and Tour companies in the United States and Canada, has recognized Branson, Missouri’s Ozark Mountain Christmas season as one of the Top 100 Events in North America for 2009.

Running from early November through the end of December of each year, activities center around two main themes: Branson’s Annual Veterans Homecoming and the area-wide festival, Ozark Mountain Christmas.

But you don’t have to wait until 2009 to experience this internationally acclaimed event!

Branson’s 2008 Veterans Homecoming In 2008, the Veteran’s Day holiday kicks off the season with great fanfare when Branson’s Veterans Homecoming, America’s largest event supporting and honoring the nation’s veterans, takes place November 5-11, 2008. The Homecoming showcases dozens of activities including an exciting opening ceremony, special theatrical shows, numerous military reunions (such as one for the legendary Tuskegee Airmen), a Veteran’s Day Parade, an event to remember our country’s POWs/MIAs, and much more.

New in 2008’s Veterans Homecoming is the 233rd Anniversary of the Founding of the United States Marine Corps. This November 10 event includes a dinner, a dance and the traditional Marine Corps birthday celebration featuring Oliver North (Lt. Col-ret USMC) as the keynote speaker. And of course, popular entertainer Tony Orlando performs his always inspiring show, The Yellow Ribbon Salute.

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Team Garmin-Chipotle’s Christian Vande Velde (USA) crossed the finish line in downtown St. Louis to safely hang onto the Missouri Tourism Yellow Jersey as overall winner of the 2008 Tour of Missouri.

Vande Velde, winner of Branson’s Stage Three Individual Time Trial on Wednesday, September 10, successfully maintained his 18-second lead in the 52.3 mile Stage 7 circuit race over second place General Classification winner Michael Rogers (AUS) of Team Columbia, and over Svein Tuft (CAN) of Symmetrics’s, the third place finisher in the overall championship.

Vande Velde, 32, who currently resides in Boulder, Colorado, finished fifth in the 2008 Tour de France.

After his Tour of Missouri win, Vande Velde told Tour of Missouri officials “I didn’t expect to win the [Branson] time trial, but from then on, it was game on with everyone throwing everything at us, trying to take away the 21-second gap I had from the time trial. In the end, I was happy that everyone gave us such a fight because the win means that much more to us.”

Congratulations to Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin-Chipotle, all 200 competing cyclists and the Tour of Missouri staff and volunteers for delivering a tremendous 2008 Tour of Missouri!

–

Photo Courtesy of Team Garmin-Chipotle

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Lemont, Illinois native Christian Vande Velde, riding for Team Garmin-Chipotle, won Stage 3 Individual Time Trials of the Tour of Missouri in Branson this afternoon. His victory on the difficult 18 mile Branson course propelled him into the Tour of Missouri overall lead.

He completed the hilly Ozarks course in 39 minutes 52 seconds, 20 seconds ahead of Australian and three-time world time-trial champion Michael Rogers of Team Columbia. Svein Tuft of the Canadian Symmetrics team was third with a time of 40:25, and defending champion George Hincapie (USA) of Team Columbia was fourth.

Vande Velde, 32, has enjoyed a fruitful 2008 including a 5th overall finish at the Tour de France and a 3rd overall finish at the 2008 Tour of California.

Great Britain’s Mark Cavendish, who wore the yellow jersey as the winner of the first and second stages of the Tour of Missouri, finished more than four minutes behind Vande Velde.

Vande Velde photo courtesy & copyright of Team Garmin-Chipotle.

Cavendish photo courtesy of BransonTourist.com

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Louis E. ‘Lou’ Schaefer, former Mayor of Branson, passed away early Tuesday morning, September 9 at the age of 80. He served as mayor from 1995 to 2007 in an unprecedented six consecutive terms.

A champion of strong economic development, Mayor Schaefer led Branson through periods of robust, unparalleled growth. From 2004 through 2007 alone, more than $580 million worth of new construction was undertaken with the creation of the Branson Convention Center and hotel complex, Branson Landing and the adjacent waterfront expansion, and the development of Branson Hills in the northern sector of the city. During his tenure, Branson reportedly expanded its city limits from eight square miles to its present 20 square miles.

In 1996 Mayor Schaefer, long noted for focusing on critical environmental issues, organized a regional conference on water quality which became the precursor to the highly-touted James River Basin Partnership. Under his direction, Branson became the first city in Missouri to install phosphorus removal/retrieval equipment on its wastewater treatment plants. Additionally, Mayor Schaefer took advantage of annexation to remove hazardous septic systems which threatened the area’s watershed.

A proud member of the United States Marine Corps, Mayor Schaefer was a prominent supporter of Branson’s daily commitment to our nation’s military. During the Veterans Homecoming, the nationally recognized annual event honoring and welcoming Veterans to Branson, it was not unusual for him to make personal appearances at dozens of the events held during the seven day events each November 5–11.

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Wednesday 9/10 1:30pm

A view from my office of the individual time trials for the Tour of Missouri elite cyclist race. This is just before the ardous uphill climb during the 18 mile trek. Stay tuned for updates!

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In an article written by Marcus Kabel for the Associated Press/ Salt Lake City Deseret News entitled ‘Family Friendly Branson Weathers Tourism Slump’ a simple message rings through:

Branson’s tourism industry enjoys some resiliency during these trying economic times.

Quoted in the August 31, 2008 piece are Dan Lennon, V.P. of the Branson Area Lakes Chamber of Commerce, Peter Herschend, Co-founder of Herschend Family Entertainment, which in Branson owns Silver Dollar City, the water park Whitewater, Celebration City, Showboat Branson Belle and various other attractions, and Steve Morse, an economist and director of the Tourism Institute at the University of Tennessee.

Some interesting observations:

> The daily hotel rate in Branson is 75% of the national average.

> Average show ticket prices in Branson are only 25% of what they are in Las Vegas. Tickets are often times $100+ on Broadway in New York.

> In 2006 and 2007, Branson’s visitor numbers grew approximately 14%, compared with 3% nationally.

> The City of Branson reports that nearly 60% of Branson visitors originate from outside a radius of 300 miles. 28% come from between 100 and 300 miles and 12% of visitors are defined as local.

> Branson is on track to hit the projected 3% growth in tourism goal for 2008.

To read the full Branson article visit Salt Lake City’s Deseret News at: www.deseretnews.com

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