LA GRANGE — The Fayette County Country Music Club will host their monthly opry on Monday, Aug. 17, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in La Grange. The show starts at 7 p.m., and the doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $8.
Entertainers this month include Della Catherine Cook, Chris Winkler and Dennis Stryk.
Cook, sang her first solo song at the ripe old age of eight at the First Baptist Church of Houston. That same year she won her elementary school talent show, and the seed of singing professionally was planted. It was cultivated through the years in award-winning choirs throughout her high school years and continued in choir at Baylor University and beyond. She’s sung solo for four Texas governors and at weddings and private parties throughout the years. She joined a band six years ago, which added gigs in restaurants.
She is a member of a group called American Idles (not to be confused with “Idols”). They sing free of charge at senior retirement and rehabilitation homes every month. Cook enjoys the gift of music and living God’s miracles each and every day.
Winkler is a native of La Grange. He has crafted his musical selections for over 30 years. He’s guaranteed to entertain any crowd with his vast collection of classic and contemporary country, rock and Americana music. Winkler has performed with numerous bands as drummer/vocalist for many years. Now mostly performing as a solo artist in the San Antonio area, where he lives.
Stryk of Schulenburg, a lifelong resident of Fayette County, has been intrigued with country music spanning over 70 years. He’s been performing for 60-plus years. It started with a local band in 1963, after a tour in Vietnam in 1968 and ’69, the band started playing the dancehall circuit.
In 1973, became the lead singer for “the Wild West,” and in 1976, the band "Wildfire" played dancehalls throughout South Central Texas, playing the songs of recording artists Ray Price, Merle Haggard, B.J. Thomas, and Ronnie Milsap. Also in 1973, he became owner and operator of New Bielau dancehall south of Weimar, for 22 years, featuring some of the best country bands in central Texas. Since 1995, and a few years of singing for weddings, funerals, and memorial and veterans events, he was fortunate enough to become a member of a Christian musical group, “D’vine Testament,” for the past 15 years. The group has performed for many Christian events, country oprys, festivals, etc. Also, for the past eight years, the group has doubled as a classic country band, “The Wren’s & Friends.” At present, Stryk just keeps rolling with the flow, singing "strictly country" and playing the best of country music.
