Marshall Howden

As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday this year, Branson has its own signature way of commemorating that occasion. Not only do we consider ourselves the most patriotic city in America but we also know a little something about being a music town as well. When you think about all the things that make America special, its songbook, those almost civic hymns that we all know and cherish stand out to me. In fact, I have always had this contention that the very American songbook I am...

In one of my recent articles, we talked about the uniqueness of a Branson show and everything it contains. Always a gospel number, always a patriotic segment, and it is always interrupted by the hillbilly comedian.

A Japanese fiddle player, a Russian comedian and a Greek Piano virtuoso known as the Christian Liberace. What do all these entertainers have in common? Well, Branson of course! You see, as much as Branson gets pigeon holed as just being the Home of Country Music in the Ozarks, our stages have been graced over the decades by talent from all over the world. Shoji Tabuchi, a student of the Suzuki method, actually made his mark in the Country Western style and was first brought to Branson...