Entertainers at the fair draw big crowds

The SEMO District Fair has been a main venue for national entertainers performing in the city for about 30 years.

Although the fair had brought in musicians and other entertainers almost since its inception, it didn't start featuring nationally known acts until 1976 when Brenda Lee and Mel Tillis performed.

In the decade prior to that, some entertainers had been the Wilburn Brothers in 1964; The Advancers, a girls quintet from Advance, Mo., in 1965; little-known Porter Wagoner in 1966, who would hit it big in the early '70s when he sang duets with Dolly Parton; Bobby Lord and Johnny Western from the Grand Ole Opry Show in 1967; and Larry Good and the Countrymen in 1968.

In 1977 Ray Stevens, best known for the song "Everything is Beautiful" and comedy songs such as "Gitarzan," performed. A Southeast Missourian article from June 16, 1977, reads: "Known for his ability to write successfully in every area of contemporary music makes Mr. Stevens a musical rarity."

In 1978 Mickey Gilley and the Oak Ridge Boys made appearances at the fair, and in 1981 Johnny and June Carter Cash performed. Earl James, 1981 Fair Board president, said in a July 16, 1981, Southeast Missourian article, "We're doing something that I've always dreamed about. We're bringing in quality entertainment, and we can compete with any of the other fairs around, even the state fair."

On the day of Cash's performance, the Southeast Missourian ran an article announcing, "This is it. ... The night that thousands of country and western fans have been waiting for."

The fair has attracted Tammy Wynette, Waylon Jennings and The Judds.

Neal McCoy and the legendary Charlie Pride took to the stage in 2001.

Last year the southern rock group The Marshall Tucker Band wooed the audience with "Heard it in a Love Song" and "Fire on the Mountain."

Most performers over the past 30 years have been household names, but in 1955 Minnie Pearl was not well known outside Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry show. Two years after she performed at the SEMO District Fair, Minnie Pearl was on her way to becoming the undisputed queen of country comedy.

She was known for her hopelessly styleless knee-length country dresses, her straw hat decorated with colorful plastic flowers and $1.98 price tag, and her cheerful shout of "How-dee! I'm just so proud to be here!''

Following a May 1, 1957, appearance on  NBC-TV's top-rated "This Is Your Life," hosted by Ralph Edwards, Minnie Pearl began making many more appearances on NBC-TV shows hosted by Tennessee Ernie Ford and Dinah Shore as well as Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show." 

In the 1960s, she branched out to "The Carol Burnett Show" and "The Jonathan Winters Show," whose producer, Sam Lovullo, recruited her as a cast member of "Hee Haw" in 1969. On that wildly popular show, she reached a wider audience than ever for the next 21 years.