PB performer has ties to Elvis, Dolly Parton

In case you didn’t know, there is a museum here in Poplar Bluff. It has tales of us, our family, and our history. I want to tell you some of those tales found within the museum walls.

The musical Rhodes family from Southeast Missouri was a traveling country band in the 1930’s. They toured with the RKO vaudeville circuit performing in 45 states.

Dusty, Bea, Slim and Gilbert (Speck) Rhodes’ band was called the “Log Cabin Mountaineers.”

Gilbert Ray Rhodes was the family clown and acted as the comedian in the musical group. He also played the banjo and fiddle.

Gilbert made his costume from their clothes in the attic. He had a giant freckle on his face and went by the name “Speck.” The Log Cabin Mountaineers performed daily on the Poplar Bluff radio station KWOC from 1937 to 1941.

World War II interrupted their schedule but in 1945 they went to Memphis. The Mountaineers performed on the local TV station from 1945 to 1972. They even performed with a young Elvis Presley.

In 1962, Speck went to Nashville and became a regular on Porter Wagoner television show through 1984. Both Speck and Porter Wagoner were from West Plains, Missouri, and became lifelong friends.

Speck performed with all the Grand Ole Opry greats including Dolly Parton. He even had a part in Dolly Parton’s movie “Rhinestone Cowboy” starring Sylvester Stallone.

Speck’s iconic vaudeville/Grand Ole Opry costume is on display in the Poplar Bluff People Room located in the Poplar Bluff Museum.

The museum is open every Sunday free of charge from 1-4 p.m. at 1010 Main St., Poplar Bluff (Formerly the Old Mark Twain School). Tell them Mike sent you!

Mike Shane is a veteran, Poplar Bluff resident and board member for the Poplar Bluff Museum.