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Gene Williams Celebrates Fifth Anniversary in Branson by Adding 29 TV Markets, Celebrity Lineup for April 2

Gene Williams of the "Gene Williams Country Music Television Show" sponsored by Lucas Oil Products is celebrating his fifth anniversary of taping his show in Branson by adding 29 television markets and Internet radio and scheduling a star-studded lineup for his April 2 anniversary shows.

"Mickey Gilley in bringing his band, the Urban Cowboy Band and the Urbanettes to help celebrate. Jim Owen is going to add to the fun as are my good friends the World Famous Platters," said Williams who is the creator, producer and star of the only weekly television show that takes Branson to the nation. "With such a great lineup, the seats will go fast for these shows."

The shows are Sunday, April 2, at 2 p.m. at the Shake It Up Theatre (formerly Ain’t Misbehavin’ Theatre) at 625 Hwy. 165. The shows are taped live with a studio audience with free admission for the three half-hour shows. Doors to the theater open at 1 p.m.

Through Unity Broadcasting Network Williams has added 29 television markets in Mississippi to the stations that carry his television show, bringing the count up to nearly 80 markets and more than 22 million households. The new channels are channel 19 in Ripley, channel 98 in New Albany and channel 97 in Aberdeen, Amory, Baldwin, Bonneville, Bruce, Calhoun City, Coffeyville, Cornith, Ecru, Europa, Guntown, Holly Springs, Houlka, Houston, Myrtle, Nettleton, Okolona, Oxford, Pontotoc, Satillo, Shannon, Sherman, Smithville, Tupelo, Vardaman, Verona, and Water Valley. The show is broadcast at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and at 5 a.m. on Monday.

"This adds a potential three million viewers who will hear about Branson each week," said Williams. "We have also added 7.5 million listeners with my show aired on originalcountryradio.com network on the worldwide web. Original Country Radio Network has seven internet radio stations broadcasting in CD quality stereo to every city in the world. At present they are the largest country radio station in the world. My show is aired Saturdays at 8 p.m central time on OCRN."

Williams is credited with having the largest syndicated country music television show not affiliated with Nashville and with breaking ground for country television. "The Gene Williams Country Television Show" began in 1963 in Arkansas and is now the longest running television show taped in Branson and a recipient of a Telly Award, cable television’s equivalent to an Emmy.

With some 260 shows and counting and a guest each week, the celebrity roster is impressive. Doug Kershaw, Ed McMahon, the Oak Ridge Boys, Roy Clark, Doug Gabriel, Mickey Gilley, Barbara Fairchild, Sons of the Pioneers, Jimmy Osmond, Helen Cornelius, Leona Williams, Bob Anderson, Fred Travalena, Little Jimmy Dickens, Bill Anderson, Porter Wagoner, Buck Trent, the Duttons, Mary Lou Turner, Johnny Lee and Razzy Bailey are just a few who have been featured in up-close-and-personal interviews. The interviews are conducted by Williams and his co-host Katie Lynn. Lynn has received the Branson Entertainment Awards Best Support Vocalist twice for her work in the "Mickey Gilley Show." She and the guest star perform each week with the Country Junction Band. His band, Williams said, has some of the best pickers in Branson.

Williams, who grew up listening to country music just down the road from Johnny Cash, pursued his dream of being in the country music business where his first job was on KWAM radio as a disk jockey. With his move to television the Gene Williams Country Junction Show was syndicated to over 30 markets. A few years later, Williams syndicated the Gene Williams Show in eight states that led to the making of his motion pictures, Sound of Country Music and Country Music Jamboree.

A 43-year veteran of country music, Williams is an inductee to the Memphis Music Hall of Fame and a Grand Ole Opry DJ of the Year. The Missouri Senate and the State of Arkansas have honored him for his contributions to the tourism industry.