Big Muddy Speaker Series

Published: May 13, 2014

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Music by Cathy Barton and Dave Para
lower floor of the Les Bourgeois Vineyards Bistro in Rocheport, MO (directions below)  
Hosted by Turner Hall River Rats for the Arts

“Gumbo Bottoms – a Big Muddy Musical”, is a local treasure. Local writer Meredith Ludwig took the seeds of oral histories she collected from local river rats, cultivated them into a story and wrote a script for a musical based on these stories. Boonville musician Cathy Barton joined the team, writing a complete score of songs to flesh out the storyline.The musical, brought to life by a stable of local actors, was performed in many Missouri River towns on its initial run.

Because of the support of the Turner Hall River Rats for the Arts, Cathy and her husband Dave Para have recorded a CD of this wonderful music. To celebrate this CD release, they are joining us for an evening of conversation and music about this Missouri River cultural treasure.

Many of the stories that developed into “Gumbo Bottoms” were told to Meredith by Fred Oerly, who grew up in the small river and railroad town of Overton, which was directly across the river from where Les Bourgeois Bistro is now. The area is now part of the Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge – Overton Bottoms Unit. The “Gumbo Bottoms” crew decided Les Bourgeois would be the perfect place to have this event, and we were proud it could be part of the Big Muddy Speaker Series. The original Missouri River Folk History Project was supported by Missouri River Communities Network.

The “Gumbo Bottoms” CD will be for sale at this event. Or you can request a copy by emailing Gumbo Bottoms – info(a)gumbobottomsmusical.com  Suggested $15 donation and $3 shipping.

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