Abita Opry Media - 2003-03 featuring the Abita Strings, Harold Cavallero, Broken Grass, Gary White, Ghost Town and 190 Express

MEDIA - AO2003-03

The Abita Springs Opry is a series of music concerts held six times a year and is produced by a nonprofit organization, Abita Opry Inc. The show has the mission of preserving and presenting Louisiana "Roots" music. Our music is played primarily acoustically, in its original form.

Our main thrust is old-time Country, Bluegrass, and traditional Southern Gospel music, but we often present other forms of traditional Louisiana music such as Cajun, Zydeco, Irish, or other types that reflect the many different groups of people who are part of our diverse culture.

Abita Strings

This home town bluegrass ensemble is one of the Opry's "House Band". Setting the pace for every show, the Abita Strings have taken Traditional to another level.

Harold Cavallero, Ken Schwartz, & Pat Flory
Dobro player and steel guitarist Harold Cavallero became a professional musician when he was 13 years old, just two years after he first picked up a Dobro. By the time he was 14, Cavallero was playing gigs in New Orleans on Bourbon Street. He played in the Crescent City with a group known as the Evening Star String Band, specializing in the sound of country music as it was played during the '40s and '50s. His bandmates in the Evening Star String Band include vocalist and guitarist Patrick Flory, Gina Forsyth on fiddle, and Mary Howell on vocals and bass.

Broken Grass
A bluegrass-based collective sound of jazz and country groove. The sextet features vocal harmony from four of its members, as well as hypnotic jazz-influenced guitar playing by Zacc Harris.

Gary White
Gary White is a Covington native who decided about four years ago to take a chance. He took a world globe, gave it a spin, shut his eyes and pointed. He ended up in Germany and has been there ever since, spreading the blues, country and folk music of South Louisiana.

190 Express
190 Express is a three-piece group from Elton LA. The Esters have been playing together since about 1994. Stan plays the lead guitar and does the lead singing. Glenn is Stan's cousin. He plays rhythm guitar and joins in on the harmony. Grace is Glenn's wife. She plays a very unique stand up base she calls the suitcase base and joins in on the harmony.

190 Express plays all over Texas and Louisiana. They play for festivals, churches, retirement homes, fundraisers, family reunions, theaters, and on radio stations. A sample of performances, to name a few, are the New Orleans Jazz Festival, Old South Jamboree and Abita Springs Opry. With the love of gospel, bluegrass and old time country music and the help from fans they are looking for a great future. Their favorite saying is, "If we can make at least one person forget their pain or problems even for a moment we have accomplished something worthwhile".

Christian Serpas & Ghost Town
Christian Serpas - vocals, acoustic guitar
Jeff Oteri - drums, vocals
George Neyrey - electric guitar, vocals
Brent Roser - bass guitar, vocals

If Christian Serpas grew up anywhere, it should have been in Memphis in the 1950's. He has a style that can be compared to Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Buddy Holly and Hank Williams. Ghost Town rocked the Opry like never before.