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Beth & Will Mays, new proprietors of the Lucy Opry, perform with their band, “Goin’ Home“, at the first BPACC show.

 Established by Doug Cole in 1967, the Lucy Opry began as an informal weekly gathering of bluegrass musicians. These sessions had been held at various participants houses, until the opportunity arose to rent a building near the community of Lucy, in northern Shelby County, Tennessee. The rent on the former one-room schoolhouse was $4 per night.
“The idea was to have a place where anyone who wanted to could come and play or listen to bluegrass music,” said Doug Cole. Originally playing to friends, wives, and girlfriends, the shows at the Lucy Opry eventually began attracting a broader audience.

 Around 1984, that audience began demanding a more varied offering of bluegrass than could be satisfied by the local volunteer pickers, so nationally-known touring acts were booked for most every Friday night, with locals also doing shows from time to time.

 Age and ill health have forced the gentlemen who have so lovingly kept the Lucy Opry alive for the past thirty-two years into retiring from the effort. The mantle has been passed down to Beth and Will Mays, longtime bluegrass lovers. “It’s in good hands,” said Doug Cole.

 The Lucy Opry is now being presented at the Bartlett Performing Arts & Conference Center, 3663 Appling Rd., just outside Memphis, Tennessee. Rather than having a performance every week, the Mays’ plan is to have a show at least once a month. Beth and Will are hoping that the new facility, and a schedule full of top-quality acts, will tempt more folks to experience and enjoy bluegrass music.

@Rick Lemarr

These folks’ love of Bluegrass is what makes the Lucy Opry possible!