Howdy, Neighbor! Come on in!
Thanks for stopping by!
This is the OFFICIAL website of The Mellow D's. *** We're back home after a great trip to Key West, via Minnesota and Chicago! All went well until we crossed the border to re-enter Nebraska, and were confronted with the "Blizzard of ought-nine"!! With still about a hundred miles to go, I was concerned, but the folks here know how to drive in snow, and actually did it in a fairly sane manner which allowed us to get tucked in at home on Sunday evening. We've been having a great time on the road. We've been to Lester Prairie, Minnesota for a class on their proprietary software, which designs , engineers and prices wood-frame metal buildings. (If you need one, give me a call!) Then we went to Chicago to visit Jerry Havemann, my great friend since the sixties, when he played lead guitar in our band, The Casuals. We had a great visit, and jammed a while of course, trying to remember the old songs we performed back then. Great fun!! We are now in Apopka, Florida at my son Rick's home, where we enjoyed an absolute feast yesterday with family and friends. Our two precious little granddaughters helped Grandma bake pies. Based on all the laughter we heard coming from the kitchen, it must have been great fun. After the meal, I was challenged by teenage Grandsons to play a video game called "Rock Band", where you try to follow along by either singing or playing guitar. I had never seen it before, but I do know a thing or two about computers, so I quickly figured out what the game wanted... and blew them away. (Didn't hurt that I actually remembered all of the old rock songs they selected!) We just found out that we'll be performing for our church family in DeLand, where we once lived. That will be fun, and it will be terrific to see our friends there again. Then it will be off to Largo, to jam with Charley Groth. I always enjoy jamming with him. He is such a fine guitar player, I learn something from him every time, even though I don't play in standard tuning. I use an Open-D Tuning, and he knows so much about music that he can explain certain things even while we're jamming! Next Wednesday evening, Charley and The Mellow D's will perform at what Charley describes as a "Big Music Event", I have no idea what that means, but that makes it even more of an adventure. Then early (and I do mean EARLY) next morning, we'll drive to Ft. Myers, to embark on our high-speed catamaran boat trip to Key West. I'm a bit apprehensive because I've heard Key West can be a really bizarre, free-wheeling party-down place. I really don't know what to expect, especially during a big annual event like their Pirate Festival. I'm hoping I won't have to say "Don't Look, Ethel!" a lot. (If you don't understand that comment, go to www.youtube.com and search on The Streak by Ray Stevens.) Well, that's about it for the moment. *** Last Saturday night, one of the songs we performed at the Midwest Country Music Theater in Sandstone, Minnesota, was broadcast nationally on the RFD-TV network. Seeing Karen's face when she actually saw herself on TV was worth it all!
We are Larry and Karen Doran, and exciting things keep happening for us:
*** July 12, 2010: Whew! We just completed a weekend of music at the Riverside Music Festival at the Historic Bickle Farm in Crete, Nebraska. Charley Groth from Largo Florida was instrumental in getting this festival started last year. It was our first appearance there. Tex and Mary Schutz also came, along with Charley Reese, among others. The weather threatened to be a serious issue, but magically, it only rained overnight all weekend, and the days were warm and dry! We had a great time, sold some albums, and were warmly received by those in attendance.
*** March 24, 2010:
We've just been contacted by KAWL Radio in York, Nebraska, who asked us to perform a half-hour live radio show for them on April 14th at 4:30PM. We'll be performing some of our favorite country and gospel songs, and we'll unveil a few originals as well.
KAWL broadcasts at 1370 on your AM dial in this area. But even if you're not from around here, you can tune in to the live webcast at www.ktmsfm.com (KAWL & KTMX are sister stations), then click on the heading "KAWL Studio Cam" to watch us perform live!
*** March 7, 2010:
The jam session was a roaring success. Several folks commented it was the best ever! We just had a blowout great time, and apparently some other folks agreed.
*** March 6, 2010:
Today, we're hosting a jam session here in McCool Junction, for entertainers from all over. It's our way of recognizing musicians, and singers of classic country music, traditional country music, and bluegrass for their commitment and dedication to keep these genres alive and well in America!
This is not a show or a concert, and is not open to the general public.
But we have been asked to do host a couple of concerts this year, and we're considering it.
*** February 22, 2010:
We've just returned from our appearance on NTV this morning, and what a hoot that was!! Those ladies are so pretty, so easy to talk to, and so professional, it was really a lot easier than we expected. We were a bit nervous about being on television, but they made us feel so welcome and relaxed, we just had a great time. We sang a song about songwriting, called "I wish George Jones Would Listen to My Songs".
Leslie, Peggy and Zach, along with all the the crew and staff at NTV; THANK YOU!! You were are just terrific!
*** Weve been asked to appear on the television show "The Good Life", broadcast out of Kearney, Nebraska on NTV. It's a one-hour show magazine-style show scheduled at 9:00AM Monday through Friday. It's hosted by two very personable women, Leslie Means and Peggy Malzacher.
Our appearance is scheduled for Monday, February 22nd, and we're told they plan an interview and expect a live performance from us! We're having a blast!
The blizzards forced us to postpone our show at The Arbors in Lincoln, so we're headed there tomorrow to perform. It's our first trip to that venue, so we're excited about that.
We're also investigating the possibility of an appearance on the Big Al Weekley radio show, broadcast from Lexington, Nebraska. Stay tuned!
We got the chance to have a great jam with my friend, Jerry Havemann. He and I formed a band in the sixties called "The Casuals", which probably could have gone on the road as a tour band. But we were young, and were only in it for the fun. Karen insists that we were one of the finest rock bands of that era, and we did have a large following. One of my deepest regrets is that we never once recorded a performance by that band.
Jerry also introduced us to two other couples, really enjoyable fun folks. They took us to a great place to enjoy some Chicago-style pizza. Man, did they pile on the goodies!
Our Thanksgiving dinner with our family in Apopka was terrific, and the leftovers did NOT go to waste. Especially Karen's first-ever pecan custard pie, which she made from scratch.
If you think most of what I did on this trip was sit and eat, you're right! It's back to the treadmill for me!
On to Largo, Florida to visit our good friend, Charley Groth. He took us on a tour of the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs, a throughly Greek community and a fascinating place. Then to Clearwater Beach, absolutely beatiful. We saw dolphins playing near the pier! More sight-seeing and some terrific jamming with Charlie made our stay in Largo quite a treat.
Then we all headed to Key West on a high-speed catamaran. Wow! That thing really honks on! The Conch Train ride around Key West was an absolute must, don't miss that if you ever go.
The Pirate festival was not quite what I expected. Actually, I didn't know what to expect. I'd heard that things can get a bit wierd down there.
Anyway, here's a possible method they might have used to create this event. First, go to a big biker bar in New Jersey, and invite all of the bikers and biker babes with tattoos and body piercing to the Pirate Festival. Send them to the Salvation Army store to buy every scarf and string of costume jewelry in the place. Have them tie the scarfs and jewelry around their heads, necks, waists, wrists and ankles, then don some cutoff pants and sleeveless shirts, and head for Key West. Upon arrival, don't remind them to change their shoes. That allows folks like us to meet some really interesting pirates wearing biker boots, Nikes and Reeboks, carrying drinks and doing their best impersonation of Captain Jack Sparrow, or growling "Arrrr!!" at every possible opportunity.
Fortunately for us (I believe), we had to catch the catamaran back to the mainland before it got REALLY strange.
Still, it was a true adventure, and a most interesting trip. We also made several contacts for future performance opportunities, in DeLand, Sarasota, and even in Key West! So another future trip is not out of the question.
Which brings to mind the fact that we are professional touring musicians, available for bookings. If you have a need for some quality family entertainment, or know someone who does, send them our way or let us know!
We're always interested in new venues and places to see, and making new friends!
OK, so what's our next big adventure? I'm thinking, I'm thinking!
*** Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving day yesterday!
We've also discovered that our trip to Key West coincides with an annual Pirate Festival there. ARRRR!! (Just practicing).
*** Our internationally known guitar-virtuoso friend, Charley Groth, has invited us to Florida for a two-week tour in November, and we've accepted.Charley is working on booking arrangements, and of course there will be an opportunity for us to see our kids and grandkids. One of the highlights will be a trip to Key West. We've lived in Florida, but never made it down there. Charley surprised us by saying he'd never been there either, in spite of being a Floridian for many years. So here we go again!
*** On Saturday September 19, 2009, we performed shows at the Midwest Country Music Theater in Sandstone, Minnesota. It was an eleven-hour trip, but it was worth every mile!
We've also discovered that our trip to Key West coincides with an annual Pirate Festival there. ARRRR!! (Just practicing).*** Our internationally known guitar-virtuoso friend, Charley Groth, has invited us to Florida for a two-week tour in November, and we've accepted.Charley is working on booking arrangements, and of course there will be an opportunity for us to see our kids and grandkids. One of the highlights will be a trip to Key West. We've lived in Florida, but never made it down there. Charley surprised us by saying he'd never been there either, in spite of being a Floridian for many years. So here we go again!*** On Saturday September 19, 2009, we performed shows at the Midwest Country Music Theater in Sandstone, Minnesota. It was an eleven-hour trip, but it was worth every mile!
We've also discovered that our trip to Key West coincides with an annual Pirate Festival there. ARRRR!! (Just practicing).*** Our internationally known guitar-virtuoso friend, Charley Groth, has invited us to Florida for a two-week tour in November, and we've accepted.Charley is working on booking arrangements, and of course there will be an opportunity for us to see our kids and grandkids. One of the highlights will be a trip to Key West. We've lived in Florida, but never made it down there. Charley surprised us by saying he'd never been there either, in spite of being a Floridian for many years. So here we go again!*** On Saturday September 19, 2009, we performed shows at the Midwest Country Music Theater in Sandstone, Minnesota. It was an eleven-hour trip, but it was worth every mile!
The folks there are adamant about keepin' it COUNTRY, and of course that suits us just fine. We're excited about performing for them, because they broadcast those shows nationwide on the RFD-TV channel. Kathy promised to call us when our segment would be aired, so as soon as we know, I’ll let you know here.
The RFD-TV folks do a terrific job of supporting classic country music, providing us with another chance to once again enjoy so many of the old shows we loved, like the Porter Wagoner Show, The Wilburn Brothers, Pop Goes the Country, and more. Some are the original shows from the early Fifties, when TV was still black and white.
We just had a terrific time, wouldn’t have missed it for anything. I told them it was an item on our “bucket list.” You know, those are the things you really want to accomplish before you kick the bucket. We’re so glad we had the opportunity to do it. But now that we’ve done it and know how much fun it is, we’re hoping we can do it again!
I would change one thing, however; our route. On Sunday, I decided to take the I-35 to I-80 and highball it back home; it turned into another eleven hour trip! Who cares, it was so much fun, I’d do it again in a heartbeat!
*** Back on the 21st of June, we performed a Classic Country Gospel Music show at the Double D Ranch in Ashland, Nebraska. We were well received and had a great time there also.
But sadly, I must report that the Double-D Ranch is no more. Health issues and a struggling economy have just proved too much for those nice folks to overcome. I hate it for them, and for the fans and entertainers that will sincerely miss the music, food, fun and fellowship that they shared with all of us.
*** Our music page now contains some award-winning original song samples, and news about our album, "For God, Family, Country". It's our fourth release, and the response to it has been terrific.
And we've finally completed our next album, "Howdy! From the Mellow D's" It's got some great classic tunes on it, and more of my original work. I'll get more info and some samples loaded soon.
Next, we'll be working on a Christmas album (no, really, we do plan to have it done before Christmas!)
And we've got some of the songs ready for a classic rock album, featuring songs by Buddy Holly, the Everly Brothers, and the like.
*** For those who are new to this site, we are Larry & Karen Doran, “The Mellow D’s”. Since our last name begins with the letter “D” and we do perform in a mellow manner, “The Mellow D’s” was the only logical choice for our group name! And if you say it fast, it sounds like “melodies” which is a pretty good tag for a couple of musical entertainers.
Thanks to a man who gave me a guitar when I was seven years old, I’ve had a love for music all my life. I’ve developed a unique and distinctive method of playing guitar, but my real passion is for singing.
Karen kept her talent for harmony well hidden until just a few years ago. She says, “I knew if you found out, you’d drag me on stage in front of a lot of people!” Well, I did find out, and she was right. She has now developed into a poised and professional entertainer, as well as a terrific singer. I am SO proud of her!
Karen’s real passion is for live theatre, and I’m a big enough ham to be one of her actors. In return, she agreed to sing beautiful harmony to complete The Mellow D’s!
Our biggest accomplishment so far was being inducted into America’s Old-Time Country Music Hall of Fame in August, 2006! Jerry Havemann, my good friend and lead guitarist from our 1963 band “The Casuals”, drove across country to witness the event, which made it even more personal and special. Wow! We’ve won numerous other awards for our talent, and you can review those in the pages that follow.
We are just plain excited about the doors that have opened for us and the opportunities presented to us. Playing and singing country music is a passion for us!
If you're looking for a pleasant performance with a good dose of good clean family fun, we are just what you're looking for. We can tailor our performances to Traditional Country, Classic Country, 50's Rock and Roll, Camp-meetin' Gospel, Country Gospel, or any combination of those styles of music.
Tappin' toes, clappin' hands, and smilin' faces, that's how we like our audiences!
Check out our other pages for our schedule, pictures, and music samples!
Here's our contact information if you'd like to obtain booking information, rates, etc. We like hearing from you!
The Mellow D's
Larry and Karen Doran
Box 218
McCool Junction, NE 68401
Home: (402) 724-3151
Cell: (402) 724-2474
larry@themellowds.com
karen@themellowds.com
