MEET SOME OF OUR REGULARS

 

ELDON LAWRENCE LEAD GUITAR	Eldon first started picking at about age 6 using a family guitar. They also used to borrow a guitar from Lynn Behrns; keep it for awhile, practice & then take it back. Eldon was the last of the boys to learn because the older brothers got to pick first. Said Eldon, "If it wasn't for Lynn having a guitar & willing to loan it to us, I may not have got started. We later got some cheaper guitars & played & got by." The first group he played with was Lowell Lundstrom's dance band. He later went to the west coast where he played with different groups in night clubs. Off & on he played with Jim Keeble & "that's where I learned to cord & got a lot of experience." Eldon went through a period when he didn't play at all for about 10-15 years. He got back to playing with a church group in Minneapolis. Upon returning to the Peever area he got aquainted with Leon Eneboe & through him met Donny Backman. "We used to get together at Big Coulee Store & sit on a hay rack & pick in the evening." At this point he got back into playing & has been playing ever since. He played with Frank Keeble's Prairie Winds Band at sobriety dances & also Dave Finstead & God's Country. He has enjoyed his music partners and friends ever since.
JUANITTA & FRANK KEEBLE VOCALS, RHYTHM GUITAR AND BASS GUITAR	Juanitta can remember singing at about age 12. Her first guitar was a plastic guitar with plastic strings from S&H Green Stamps. The first song she learned was Wild Wood Flower. Juanitta came to our area from Campbellsville, Kentucky. She came out to visit her sister Shirley & help with babysitting. Juanitta taught herself to pick guitar & Franklin taught her how to cord later. She remembers picking at home in her bedroom & her Mom encouraged her but said that her ears sometimes hurt with her plunking around. Juanitta says her Mom wondered if she would EVER learn to pick...But we all know SHE DID..!  Frank first started playing guitar at age 15. He was taught to play by his Uncle Jim Keeble. Frank's first guitar was ordered from Montgomery Wards & Jim taught him to play it. They picked at his house, he had a band, and Frank used to hang around and listen. He eventually started playing with them as rhythm guitar. About 1983 or so Frank started playing for sobriety dances and they were looking for band members & that is how he met Eldon, Donny & LaVern. They formed a group called Prairie Winds.
DONNY BACKMAN EMCEE AND VOCALS	Donny's music career began at age 14...with a $2.75 guitar purchased from Ronnie Opitz. Ron wrote the chords down on paper and that's how he learned. He first played at Old Cranks, Melvins Cafe, and on Wednesday nights he played at Lloyd's with Jim Anderson from Eden, Duke Kurrasch & Harold Amos. For about 10 years he played with the Country Scandinavians. He also played with Doc Larsens Red Suspender Band. Donny has always played for benefits around our community and area. It is no surprise that Donny, along with Leon Eneboe, Elden Lawrence, Frank Keeble & Alex Jordan also volunteer their talent and time at the Salvation Army. The community of Peever would like to express...Donny, you are appreciated... Your Music & Emcee'ing has delighted audiences for years in our area & our community! THANK YOU FOR THE MANY FUN TIMES!
ROGER PEARSON KEYBOARD AND ACCORDIAN STAND UP COMEDY	Roger Pearson got started with music at about age 6 up around the New Effington area. His Dad dropped him off for piano lessons on his way to the feed store. Stopping back to pick him up on his way home, the piano teacher told his Dad to "save your money" muses Roger. Well, Roger then picked it up at home with a kind of a "family band" with his mom, brothers & sisters. At Sisseton School he was involved in chorus, rather than band, because he wanted to play a trumpet instead of a squeaky clairnet & the band already had enough trumpets. He then started steel guitar at about age 14. "Eddy Arnold used to come on at 6:30 AM with Steel Guitarist Roy Wiggins & I thought it was the most beatuiful sound I ever heard & I started steel guitar." Roger's inspiritation to get serious about music came from 4th grade teacher Helen Westby who also taught music. His brother had taken up accordian & when his brother was not around Roger would pick up his accordian & mess around with it & that's how he learned to play the accordian. He also learned a few songs on the banjo. Roger played with the Harold Johnson band for about 20 years. He also played with the Tony Marpinek Band. His 1st instrument was a flat top guitar with a picture of Buck Jones & his horse on it. After that he bought a pedal steel guitar & hung the Buck Jones guitar in the garage where it got rusty. About 6 months later a lady called called and said "I got a guitar at a pawn shop, could you tune it for me?" "It was my old Buck Jones guitar" muses Roger.
HAROLD PARROW DOBRO	Harold grew up in Clinton, MN where he remembers his Dad getting him started with music at about age 9 or so playing the button accordian & harmonica. He then learned to play the piano accordian. As a youngster he played at barn dances around the Clinton area. He also learned to play guitar & played lead guitar in a band for about 10 years. After that he started the dobro when he came to know the Lord. He enjoyed listening to the dobro musicians on the Grand Ole Oprey. Harold's whole family was involved with music & had a bluegrass & country band. He met Donny Backman at a barn revival in Clinton about 3 years ago & had enjoyed playing music with him since that time.
RON OPITZ Guitar and vocals Born August13,1938 Passed away September 17, 2002	Ronnie started his long love of music in grade school when he and Elmarie were enrolled in music lessons. Ron took steel guitar lessons until the guy ran off with the money and of course the lessons were over. His love of music never lessened and he started playing rhythm guitar and singing up a storm. Ron and Elmarie entertained alot during their school years and for years after. He was never without his guitar and a long list of songs. He spent many years in Rapid City,SD where the rest of his family lived. He married and had three children. The family get-togethers always ended with great sing alongs. The most satisfying time of his life was the last five years when he returned to the Peever/Sisseton area. He got back with his high school sweetheart and really found his true niche in life. He was so happy entertaining at the centers and jamborees. He is badly missed by everyone, everywhere. Written by his sister Elmarie
JIM ANDERSON VOCALS AND RYTHYM GUITAR	Jim started singing at about 5 or 6 years old, he remembers his cousin Ethel would ask him to sing her a tune before she went to work. Darwin Anderson was an early inspiration for Jim & as a youngster he would sit & listen to Darwin sing and play. The 1st instrument Jim learned to play was a family guitar ordered from the Spiegel Catalogue. His sister, Mable who was about 14 got to play first & then when the guitar wasn't busy Jim got to play, he was around 7 or 8. Jim spent a lot of time around home learning to pick. The 1st time he played in public was in school at about the 3rd or 4th grade. He played at the school Halloween parties. The 1st band he played with was the Country Scandinivans. He also used to play at Lloyd Fredrickson's Store & at the little school house with Donny & Eldon & others. Jim also played at the Bradley Jamboree with Dave Finstead. The scariest gig Jim recalls playing at was the State Pen, Sioux Falls. Says Jim, "When those doors close..they close with authority! But we had a lot of fun playing there..we wondered if we would get out!" Jim enjoys playing around the area with his friends. He dosen't go to far without his guitar..He even took it to Guard Camp with him! Well..I bet they enjoyed Jim's music as much as the rest of us do!! Thanks for the great music Jim!
PITNEY SEIBER Mandolin, violin, vocals	LOUIE VRCHOTA and LEO SPINDLER ACCORDIAN and VIOLIN
EDEAN LANDMARK SOUND MAN AND VOCALS	Back in the "hills" where I was born & lived the first 12 years of my life, there wasn't much to do for entertainment except for music. Having no phone or electricity a lot of the evenings were spent with my Dad, Alf Landmark, & my sister Lylas playing "Old Time" & Country Music. Dad played his fiddle & Lylas the guitar. I was 7 years old when I joined the group having gotten a mandolin. C,D & G were the 3 simple cords I learned to play & from then on each time we would play I would learn something new. We all played by ear, not having the foggiest idea what all those little black squiggly things were on the music. At the age of 14 I got my first guitar. My sister Lylas taught me the cords Dad usually played in & I learned from there by asking other musicians to show me-"Where do I put my fingers for that cord?" So from that time I have played with several Country Bands for many years. My band days are all over now, but we still get a group together to do benefits & just plain old Ho-Downs. My daughter Janeen had a band along with her husband Ron Kohl for 25 years. Now my 3 daughters, Janeen, Julie & Wendy sing & play for many different occassions. They are known as "The Landmark Sisters." So as you walk into one of Peever's Country Jamboree's, you know that night, you will be entertained...Edean L.
LANDMARK SISTERS Wendy, Julie & Janeen SOLO AND VOCAL HARMONY	Janeen's Mom, Ellie, says Janeen sang before she talked! She started playing guitar at around age 8..and her 1st paying gig was at the Waverly Legion at age 12. Janeen Kohl remembers getting her 1st guitar from SANTA at age 8. Her greatest music influence has been her Dad, Edean. Janeen has been a community & area musician since then. Peeverites recall Janeen getting up & singing at Peever Talent Shows & belting out a heck of a tune that the entire audience loved! Things haven't changed..Peeverites loved her music then & they love it now! Wendy's 1st public gig was at the "76" Snoose Alley Bash when she was 5 years old; she got up & sang "Teddy Bear" accompanied by her Dad Edean & sister Janeen. She has sung at most of the Bashes since that time with various family members including Julie, Susie & Jill. At schools she did solo spots in concerts & sang in Chorus & contests. Not to our surprise, Wendy was awarded Superior all 4 yrs. in Chorus. While in H.S. she sang off & on with sister Janeen's dance band. When Janeen got a Karaoke Machine...well Wendy got involved with that too...& enjoyed singing Karaoke around the area. She has sung for many various gatherings around the area. About 3 years ago Janeen, Wendy & Julie decided to get together every now and then & have a bit of fun as the "Norske Chicks,"...they topped the "Local" song chart with "Good-bye Ole!" (I think it's time to hear this one again) Before this they had gotten together & sang as the "Landmark Sisters " & today continue to entertain audiences as such...Although every now & then the "Chicks" pop in! When asked about instruments...Wendy replies... "Janeen plays guitar, Julie plays harmonica & I play the radio...KS 93 please! THANK YOU...Wendy, Julie & Janeen for sharing your talent & humor with us!! We look forward to more GOOD TIMES!
EMILY & SYLVIA BROWN VOCALS	Landmark music talent...the next generation! Emily will be 3 years old this spring..she sang the ABC Song & Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star for us this past Jamboree season. Sylvia did a wonderful job singing a Patsy Cline tune, "Walking After Midnight" We look forward to enjoying our two smallest future entertainers! Thank you for the songs Sylvia & Emily!