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Show Fit For A Country Valentine

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By GEORGE WILKENS

gwilkens@tampatrib.com

Published: February 11, 2009

PLANT CITY - Second-generation country entertainer Karen Wheeler is the headliner at Saturday's Florida Opry, a revived Plant City tradition now midway through its season.

The lineup for the 7 p.m. Country Valentine Special also includes country vocalist Tina Dallman of Plant City, Randy Young with The Southern Exposure Band, and The Faithful Men Gospel Quartet.

Wheeler last played the Florida Opry in February 2007, just months before founder Myrle Henry pulled the plug on the country music concert series just short of its 10th season. Last fall, Henry sold the production to a local family, the Dallmans, familiar with the Florida Opry as both fans and performers.

The award-winning singer and songwriter said she looks forward to her return performance.

"I was so thrilled when they opened back up," Wheeler said of the Florida Opry, calling it "one of the best places to perform I've ever been in." She cited the venue's large seating capacity and audience reaction: "They really respond; they soak it up."

Wheeler lives in Tennessee and is touring Florida this month in her 37-foot motor home. "We've got a lot of friends down here and a lot people wanted to know where they could come to see me" perform, she said.

Wheeler, who began her recording career as a child, is the daughter of entertainer Onie Wheeler, who had a string of hit records and for 22 years was part of Grand Ole Opry's Roy Acuff Show.

"I've been doing it all my life, but professionally started recording at age of 11," she said.

"At age 5 I was doing my dad's radio show" each week in Missouri, she said, recalling standing on a Coca-Cola box to reach the microphone and sing George Morgan's "Candy Kisses," the only song she knew.

She debuted at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry at age 15, becoming well-known there for her popular rendition of "Muleskinner Blues." For a dozen years she opened shows for the late Conway Twitty.

Randy Dallman, patriarch of the family that took over for Henry, said the production is gaining in popularity as word spreads that the Florida Opry is back in business.

"It's slowly picking up," Dallman said of attendance. The venue, the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, can accommodate 500 people. "We've probably had - with walk-ins and reserved seats - close to 300 people" for the most popular acts. "We'd love to have the problem of not having enough room to seat everybody," he said.

"It's yet to be profitable," Dallman said. "We knew we were going to take a loss the first year, but we hope to maybe come close to breaking even by the end of the year," he said. "It's definitely something we want to continue doing."

The monthly concerts draw locals plus others from Pasco County, Tampa, Lakeland, Winter Haven and Auburndale, said Dallman, who adds that he hopes to recruit residents of Sun City Center.

He also seeks local performers. "We would definitely be very interested in anyone who has talent and would like to audition to be in the Opry," he said

Florida Opry will get some additional exposure at the Florida Strawberry Festival, Dallman said.

The 7 p.m., March 6 performance in the festival's showcase tent will include Stephanie Ann, Randy Young and The Southern Exposure Band, and Spirit Song, a men's gospel group from the First Baptist Church of Plant City.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Florida Opry

WHEN: 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday; doors open at 6 p.m.

WHERE: 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 N. Collins St.

PERFORMERS: Karen Wheeler, Tina Dallman, Randy Young with The Southern Exposure Band, The Faithful Men Gospel Quartet
COST: $12 at the door; $15 reserved

RESERVATIONS OR INFORMATION: (813) 659-1849

ON THE WEB: http://karen wheelermusic.com

Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 865-4433.

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