The Grand Grove Opry was a dream created by Bobby Poe, Sr., with the help of his daughter Terri Poe Coats, friends Vernon Sandusky and Rodney Lay, and professional sound man Curtis Daftari. It was located in Grove, Oklahoma on scenic Grand Lake and was in operation from 1998 to 2001. at the time was retired, but craved a new challenge. He had had a love of Country music all his life and even had h
is own Rockabilly band in the 1950's, Bobby Poe and The Poe Kats. Vernon Sandusky was the guitarist in the band, which featured piano player/vocalist Big Al Downing and was the first recording/touring band for Wanda Jackson. Vernon later formed the British Invasion era band The Chartbusters, with Bobby Poe as co-producer and manager. At the end of the 1960's, Vernon teamed up with Rodney Lay and they became part of the band Rodney Lay and The Wild West. In the 1970's Rodney and Vernon became members of Roy Clark's band, remaining with Roy until the 1990's. Terri Poe Coats came out to help her father run the Grand Grove Opry and had extensive bookkeeping/management experience. She helped at the Opry for the first year until 1999, when she sought other opportunites. At that time her brother, Bobby Poe, Jr., joined his father in the running of the Opry. Curtis Daftari was a well respected local sound engineer and provided the first class equipment and expertise that made the Opry sound as professional as any theater in the country. When Curtis moved on to bigger and better things, Daryl Bailey did the sound for the Opry. took over the sound. The Grand Grove Opry Show was recorded and then broadcast exclusively on the "Grand Grove Opry Network", which eventually grew to 3 stations: flagship station KITO in Vinita, Oklahoma; KIND in Independence, Kansas; and KRIG in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
