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Elijah Chastain - Vocal, Lead Guitar Performer, Emce
and Organizer. Elijah is the youngest of 13 children, all of which
play some kind of musical instrument. He started playing guitar and
banjo at the age of seven. His first experience performing was with
his Dad and Mother playing Dad's original gospel songs in church. At
the age of 10 he entered a grade school talent contest, won and caught the
eye of school nurse Carol Lakey. Carol is the sister of Tuffy
Williams who owned and operated the KC Opry in Independence, Mo. It
was during a benefit show for Elijah's PE teacher that Tuffy heard him
play. Tuffy offered Elijah a job as a regular member of the Opry
band and before long he was playing lead guitar. He soon picked up
he fiddle and learned a few howdown's for the show. He performed at
the show and traveled on the road with Tuffy for six years. While
working at the KC Opry he performed with such artist s Sammy Smith, Marvin
Rainwater, Narvel Phelps, Michael Twitty, Johnny Lee, David Frazill, Leona
Williams, Billy Walker and many more. He has opened shows for Tom T.
Hall, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Exile, Ronny McDowell, Suesy Boggus and
his hero Ricky Scaggs. He began working at the Big Creek Show in
Pleasant Hill, Mo. at the age of 16, Cass County Opry at the age of 18,
and at age 20 he played at the General's Inn in Kansas City for 2 years
and decided night club's were not the place for him. |
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He went back to Opry shows guesting at the North Town Opry. He helped Glen Smith
form the Glen's Opry band in Tonganoxie, KS. The band was known as
Breakin New Ground. The Friday night show won the 1995 C.C.M.N.
Magazine (Central Country Music News) Award for best Opry band, best vocal
group. He and Angie Miranda (Larson) were also runner up in the best
duet category. Elijah was named as one of the region's top 25
musicians. Elijah went back to Big Creek on Saturday night's and
started working Sunday night's at Bradley's in Lincoln, Mo. Finally,
thanks to Dave and Beth Irvin, he was introduced to Bill and Brenda
Harris. They asked him to put together the best show and band he
could, so he called some old friend's that he had worked with over the
years and formed the MiddleCreek Opry Band. Elijah says this is my
dream band. We have the best of the best and I'm just proud to be a
part of it. Elijah has been married to wife Jessica for almost 16
years. They have twins, son Elisha, daughter Shelby and daughter
Jacy. All of the kid's have musical interest.
The Middle Creek Band has been together for six years.
Our Anniversary Show was Mar 2007 with Little Jimmy Dickens and Bill
Anderson. For the past six years we have had artist such as Leona
Williams, John Conlee, Johnny Lee, Gene Watson, Helen Cornelius, Jim Ed
Brown, Vern Gosden, Michael Twitty, Johnny Rodriguez, Don Helms, John
Hughey, Doug Gabriel, The Gum Family and Moe Bandy.
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