If you were a patron of the Station House restaurant back in its heyday at the Chattanooga Choo Choo, you won't want to miss the Riverbend act on the Unum Stage on Sunday, June 11, at 9:30 p.m.
Nineteen of the restaurant's singing waiters and waitresses are reuniting to serve up a show comprised of fan favorites during the 30-plus years the Station House was open. They'll be backed by a five-piece band led by Tim Strickland, on guitar, Ward Wilson, drums; Tom Lifsy, percussion; Doyle Wright, keys; and Dana Harding, bass.
The Station House Gang singers include Landis Batts, Robin Rogers Grant, Danny Hawkins, Matt Cordell, Kenny Herron, Laquada Camp, Cheryl Strickland and Amanda Jones.
Also, Eli Beard, Michelle Holder, Allan Brooks, Billy Graham, Eddie Bolin, Courtney Reid, Jerry Cooper, Karen Phillips, Phil Malone, Steve Huff and Michael Adair.
"Tim Strickland was band leader from the beginning in 1978 until the Station House closed in 2014. He was the glue that kept the band together," says singer Karen Phillips. "He has charted everything. The band has been working on this show since the first of March."
Phillips says hundreds of singers passed through the Station House. Some have gone on to singing careers such as Robin Grant, who just released a CD of her original music last week, and Matt Cordell, who has become famous in Pigeon Forge for his Elvis tribute show. Cordell will put his Elvis spin on "Suspicious Minds" in the Riverbend show.
"Matt just opened Matt Cordell's Showplace Theater in Pigeon Forge," says Phillips. "I knew it wasn't possible to include as many singers as we'd like in this show, but I wanted to get people from all the eras. Everybody asked said yes."
The Riverbend reunion was the idea of Landis Batts. This show will mark the Station House Gang debut.
"There will be solos, and we will do a couple of group numbers we did back in the day," Phillips describes of their show. "We're hoping some of the customers we had at the restaurant will come see us at Riverbend."
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6284.