Leasburg sounds like
Music
City
on Tuesday nights
That’s when Ike’s Restaurant hosts weekly jam sessions
By
James Bell
Each
Tuesday night at 6:00, the little Ozarks town of
Leasburg
rocks with the sounds of bluegrass, country and western, and southern
gospel music. Musicians from
the surrounding hills and towns gather to share two hours of picking,
fiddling, and singing.
They
meet at Ike’s Restaurant, along with men and women who just enjoy good
music and pleasant company.
Eileen
Vaughn, a charming lady who has lived in Leasburg long enough to be
Matriarch of the town, provides free coffee and a warm smile for the
many people who come to enjoy the entertainment.
“Ike,” as she is known, has a warm personality and really
cares for people. These personal character traits make her a joy to be
around, and probably have a lot to do with the locals who come there
every day for coffee and conversation with her. 
The
restaurant is usually packed on Tuesday night.
Singers and instrumentalists change occasionally, and some only
come once in awhile. There
is never a shortage of talent. When
a musician gets up from the round table, another takes his or her place.
One popular banjo player only comes about once a month.
Everybody loves his rendition of “Some folks say he looks a lot
like me.” He has a melodious voice and is usually dressed as a
mountain man, with leather clothes and a floppy leather hat.
Extremely talented, he can make his banjo talk.
The rest of the musicians join in. People
who have come only to listen are invited to sing.
Should
you decide to go there on a Tuesday night, arrive early.
Especially if you are going to enjoy some good food and pleasant
conversing with the friendly people who arrive each Tuesday before the
entertainment starts. The
place fills up quickly. Music
starts at 6 p.m. When
the entertainment ends, musicians and audience join in a rendition of
“Good Night Eileen”, to the words and tune of “Good Night
Irene”.
To
get to Ike’s, take the exit from Interstate 44 to Leasburg, located
between
Cuba
and Bourbon in
Crawford
County
, and located near
Onondaga
Cave
. The restaurant is the only
one in town and is easily seen as you pull into Leasburg.
If
you are a musician or singer, don’t hesitate to join in at the large
round table reserved especially for the best talent in this area.
You will be welcome. Especially
if you can sing, play a mean fiddle or other instrument, and enjoy a
good jam session and good company.
James
Bell, a retired engineer, has written articles for numerous religious,
general-interest and sporting magazines. He also has written for the
Journal Newspapers in St. Louis; he was the ghost-writer for an
educational column in the Springfield News-Leader.
In the music library:
Banjo picker Dick
Hatfield releases first CD
Shirley Robertson
has that pure country sound
Harold and Lois Rowden grew their
own bluegrass band
Bill and Mona Jones honored for
musical contributions
Musically obsessed: Mandolin led
Jerry Rosa to new careers
Mick Byrd finds joy in writing songs
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