FAYETTE CO. COUNTRY MUSIC OPRY TO FEATURE FOUR PERFORMERS

  

In just under a week, the Fayette County Country Music Club will host their monthly opry at the KC Hall in La Grange.

The show will be held on Monday at 7:30 p.m., with the doors opening at 5:30 p.m.

Entertainers this month include Vicki Sue Wehmeyer, Jay Ellett, Lara Perez, and Freddy Perez.

Vicki Sue Wehmeyer was born and raised in Brenham.  She received a Bachelor’s of Music Education and a Master’s of Music Education from Sam Houston State University with a major in voice and a minor in keyboard.  She taught public school for 30 years and taught 8 years at Blinn College.  In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, Vicki sang with the Willie Nelson Organization.  Willie later helped her by sending her to Nashville to work with Charlie Dick, Patsy Cline’s husband.  She also cut a record with Country Music Hall of Fame member, Tommy Hill.  Vicki is now retired and has her own private vocal studio where she teaches aspiring young students.  Currently she is working with The Sowell Family Pickers who are a Bluegrass and Gospel group.  This group has recently been invited to open for Ricky Skaggs.  Vicki loves performing whether it be on the stage or in church, where she has been a church music director and has played the organ for over 50 years.

Jay Ellett was born in Odessa and now lives in El Campo with his wife Teresa his biggest fan.  He grew up listening to what his parents listened to such artists like Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Rodriguez, Conway Twitty and Merle Haggard.  He started singing at the age of 5 in churches and nursing homes and still does.  He loves to sing and good ole country music is pretty much what he lives for.

Lara Perez was born and raised in La Grange. She performed for the first time on stage at the age of 4 at the Colorado County Jamboree. Shortly after she combined her talents with her older brothers, who were already playing guitar and fiddle. Soon after her mom and dad, Connie and Gary Janda, joined in on the keyboard and bass to form The Janda Family Band. For the next several years they played at local jamborees, fairs, and private parties. Some of their biggest events included West Fest in West, Texas and performing at Sea World and the Arneson River Theater on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. Lara later made use of her talents again when she lived abroad in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. She performed as a singer/dancer at the Iberostar Resort for 3 years. This is Lara’s first time back on stage in seven years.

Freddy Perez was born and raised in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. Seeing his father, Freddy Perez Valencia, be a successful musician and singer made Freddy realize that was exactly what he wanted to be. He joined his first band at the age of 17. At the age of 18 he moved to Cancun to work at resorts and salsa clubs playing drums and percussion. Freddy worked at the Iberostar Resort for 4 years at which time he met Lara. Presently he plays drums for an Austin based country-rock band. They travel all over the state of Texas performing. He also recently began doing solo acoustic guitar shows in the area. Lara and Freddy have been married since 2009 live in Smithville with their son, Desi.