Gillioz Theatre

Rebirth of a classic

By Michael A. Brothers
News-Leader
Sunday February 25, 2007

They're calling it a revival. The five principal members of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils will come together this spring for two performances at the newly renovated Gillioz Theatre.

The shows, on May 11 and 12, mark the first time in 26 years that Larry Lee, John Dillon, Steve Cash, Michael "Supe" Granda and Randle Chowning have shared a stage in their hometown.

Ticket prices haven't yet been set, but are expected to be finalized soon. They'll go on sale March 5.

"We should do this while we can," Cash says. "That's why we're using the word 'revival' for what it means — a rebirth, a renewal."

The group, which began as a collective of songwriters in 1971, went on to worldwide fame with hits such as "Jackie Blue" and "If You Wanna Get to Heaven."

The Gillioz concerts come at a time when the musicians, now in their 50s and beyond, are finding a renewed interest in playing with one another, and are discovering that their fans are as loyal as ever — 35 years after the Daredevils' debut album.

Dillon says he not only expects to see "a lot of the people who were there at the very beginning with us" in May, but he won't be surprised to see their kids in the crowd, too.

"It's like the old quilt on (the cover of) the first album," Dillon says. "You pass it down from generation to generation."

The performance will be preserved for posterity and an even wider audience than the 2,200 total tickets available for the two shows.

A crew from KYTV will be on hand to record video to air at a later date, and the footage could end up packaged as a DVD as well.

Shining again

Though the musicians have always remained friends since first coming together to write and record songs, Chowning and Lee had both left the band by 1981.

An assortment of other musicians filled in the gaps around Cash, Dillon and Granda in the '80s and '90s as the band continued to tour, even though its recording career was largely over after seven albums and a handful of radio hits.

But recently, there's been a revival going on: a gig here and there in Wisconsin and Georgia, a free show in 2004 that drew some 3,000 people to the grand opening of a bank in Nixa, re-issues of the band's entire back catalog on CD.

But the catalyst for the May shows goes back to three nights at the Wildwood Springs Lodge in Steelville in November.

When Lee and Chowning returned to Springfield in 2006, after living and working in Nashville for many years, there was talk about bringing them back into the mix and doing a few shows.

"When they moved back it started to become more feasible to think about doing something like that," Cash says.

But by the time Chowning and Lee returned to the fold last year, Dillon had backed off of touring to focus on his advertising agency, Meridian Creative Alliance.

Then came the offer to play three nights at Wildwood Springs, a rustic 1920s getaway tucked into the hills above the Meramac River near Steelville.

The five musicians, Dillon included, decided to do it.

(Buddy Brayfield, the sixth founding member of the band, left the music game years ago to practice medicine in the Lake of the Ozarks area.)

"It was kind of an ice-breaker in a way," Chowning says. "We hadn't done anything in 26 years with all the originals, all the principals."

The results took them all by surprise. Not only did they fall right back into a groove playing and singing with each other, but fans showed up from all over the country and even from England and Australia.

"It kind of overcame me, really," Dillon says. "I couldn't believe it."

Some fans, like Tom Schroeder and his wife Jiniwin of Cole Camp, didn't come from as far, but have been Daredevils fans from the start. Hearing Lee, Dillon and Chowning sing harmony together again was worth the wait for Schroeder.

"They're fun," he says. "They always have been."

Now his son Eli, 8, and daughter Harper, 10, are into the Daredevils and the whole family plans to be at the Gillioz shows in May, "as close to the front row as we can get."

Held in the main hall of the lodge, the Steelville shows were mostly acoustic affairs, with the audience of about 150 fans right up next to the band.

"It was just like being in a living room with the band," says Benny Smith, a longtime business associate and merchandise manager for the Dares.

"It was cozy and everybody sure had quite an experience."

Including the musicians, who played about a half dozen of their new songs.

"They got a taste of something new," Smith says.

Ideas collide

Then the band got a taste of something old — the 80-year-old Gillioz Theatre in downtown Springfield, restored to its original splendor after years of fundraising and renovation.

"I was speechless," says Cash of the first time he walked into the newly restored venue.

Lee had a similar reaction on a recent tour of the place.

"I was up on stage looking out and I thought, 'If we ever play Springfield again, we should play here,'" Lee says.

Nancy Dornan, president of the Gillioz board, says she's always thought a Daredevils concert would be a great way to get people into the theater once restoration was complete.

"And now it's happening," she says.

Michael Scott, general manager at KYTV, also sees further potential for these kinds of concerts at the Gillioz. Scott and KYTV have long wanted to sponsor a live-music television show based in Springfield, but until now haven't had the right venue to pull it off.

Plans were already in place for the station to shoot four live concerts there this summer when the Daredevils started inquiring about open dates.

So Dornan, Scott and the band decided to merge their ideas for the May shows.

Though the Daredevils' concerts will be broadcast at a later date, Scott says plans are for the other three concerts to be broadcast live, with local and regional bands taking the stage.

"We think the venue is absolutely gorgeous," Scott says. "What a terrific place to showcase some of the great talent we have here."

The artists have not yet been booked for the three live broadcasts, but if successful, Scott and Dornan hope the idea can blossom into a regular monthly music series.

"I don't want to get too nostalgic on this, but this station in the 1950s and early '60s was known for producing a nationally televised music show," Scott says, invoking the memory of the "Ozark Jubilee."

"And as we look at where we want to go in the future, local is the key."

But right now the focus is on the Daredevils and on what Dornan and the musicians expect to be two sold-out shows in May.

"This should be elegant, crazy, fun — exactly what we are," Cash says.

This site brought to you by

Ronald and Nancy Reagan Center Jim D. Morris Arts Building Gillioz Theatre
325 Park Central East Springfield, MO 65806 417-863-7843


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Rebirth of a classic By Michael A. Brothers News-Leader Sunday February 25, 2007 They're calling it a revival. The five principal members of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils will come together this spring for two performances at the newly renovated Gillioz Theatre. The shows, on May 11 and 12, mark the first time in 26 years that Larry Lee, John Dillon, Steve Cash, Michael "Supe" Granda and Randle Chowning have shared a stage in their hometown. Ticket prices haven't yet been set, but are expected to be finalized soon. They'll go on sale March 5. "We should do this while we can," Cash says. "That's why we're using the word 'revival' for what it means — a rebirth, a renewal." The group, which began as a collective of songwriters in 1971, went on to worldwide fame with hits such as "Jackie Blue" and "If You Wanna Get to Heaven." The Gillioz concerts come at a time when the musicians, now in their 50s and beyond, are finding a renewed interest in playing with one another, and are discovering that their fans are as loyal as ever — 35 years after the Daredevils' debut album. Dillon says he not only expects to see "a lot of the people who were there at the very beginning with us" in May, but he won't be surprised to see their kids in the crowd, too. "It's like the old quilt on (the cover of) the first album," Dillon says. "You pass it down from generation to generation." The performance will be preserved for posterity and an even wider audience than the 2,200 total tickets available for the two shows. A crew from KYTV will be on hand to record video to air at a later date, and the footage could end up packaged as a DVD as well. Shining again Though the musicians have always remained friends since first coming together to write and record songs, Chowning and Lee had both left the band by 1981. An assortment of other musicians filled in the gaps around Cash, Dillon and Granda in the '80s and '90s as the band continued to tour, even though its recording career was largely over after seven albums and a handful of radio hits. But recently, there's been a revival going on: a gig here and there in Wisconsin and Georgia, a free show in 2004 that drew some 3,000 people to the grand opening of a bank in Nixa, re-issues of the band's entire back catalog on CD. But the catalyst for the May shows goes back to three nights at the Wildwood Springs Lodge in Steelville in November. When Lee and Chowning returned to Springfield in 2006, after living and working in Nashville for many years, there was talk about bringing them back into the mix and doing a few shows. "When they moved back it started to become more feasible to think about doing something like that," Cash says. But by the time Chowning and Lee returned to the fold last year, Dillon had backed off of touring to focus on his advertising agency, Meridian Creative Alliance. Then came the offer to play three nights at Wildwood Springs, a rustic 1920s getaway tucked into the hills above the Meramac River near Steelville. The five musicians, Dillon included, decided to do it. (Buddy Brayfield, the sixth founding member of the band, left the music game years ago to practice medicine in the Lake of the Ozarks area.) "It was kind of an ice-breaker in a way," Chowning says. "We hadn't done anything in 26 years with all the originals, all the principals." The results took them all by surprise. Not only did they fall right back into a groove playing and singing with each other, but fans showed up from all over the country and even from England and Australia. "It kind of overcame me, really," Dillon says. "I couldn't believe it." Some fans, like Tom Schroeder and his wife Jiniwin of Cole Camp, didn't come from as far, but have been Daredevils fans from the start. Hearing Lee, Dillon and Chowning sing harmony together again was worth the wait for Schroeder. "They're fun," he says. "They always have been." Now his son Eli, 8, and daughter Harper, 10, are into the Daredevils and the whole family plans to be at the Gillioz shows in May, "as close to the front row as we can get." Held in the main hall of the lodge, the Steelville shows were mostly acoustic affairs, with the audience of about 150 fans right up next to the band. "It was just like being in a living room with the band," says Benny Smith, a longtime business associate and merchandise manager for the Dares. "It was cozy and everybody sure had quite an experience." Including the musicians, who played about a half dozen of their new songs. "They got a taste of something new," Smith says. Ideas collide Then the band got a taste of something old — the 80-year-old Gillioz Theatre in downtown Springfield, restored to its original splendor after years of fundraising and renovation. "I was speechless," says Cash of the first time he walked into the newly restored venue. Lee had a similar reaction on a recent tour of the place. "I was up on stage looking out and I thought, 'If we ever play Springfield again, we should play here,'" Lee says. Nancy Dornan, president of the Gillioz board, says she's always thought a Daredevils concert would be a great way to get people into the theater once restoration was complete. "And now it's happening," she says. Michael Scott, general manager at KYTV, also sees further potential for these kinds of concerts at the Gillioz. Scott and KYTV have long wanted to sponsor a live-music television show based in Springfield, but until now haven't had the right venue to pull it off. Plans were already in place for the station to shoot four live concerts there this summer when the Daredevils started inquiring about open dates. So Dornan, Scott and the band decided to merge their ideas for the May shows. Though the Daredevils' concerts will be broadcast at a later date, Scott says plans are for the other three concerts to be broadcast live, with local and regional bands taking the stage. "We think the venue is absolutely gorgeous," Scott says. "What a terrific place to showcase some of the great talent we have here." The artists have not yet been booked for the three live broadcasts, but if successful, Scott and Dornan hope the idea can blossom into a regular monthly music series. "I don't want to get too nostalgic on this, but this station in the 1950s and early '60s was known for producing a nationally televised music show," Scott says, invoking the memory of the "Ozark Jubilee." "And as we look at where we want to go in the future, local is the key." But right now the focus is on the Daredevils and on what Dornan and the musicians expect to be two sold-out shows in May. "This should be elegant, crazy, fun — exactly what we are," Cash says. This site brought to you by Ronald and Nancy Reagan Center Jim D. Morris Arts Building Gillioz Theatre 325 Park Central East Springfield, MO 65806 417-863-7843