THE OL’ ELKHORN PICKERS CLUB, with a few members absent when the photo was taken, is a group of retired and semi-retired members of Forks of the Elkhorn Baptist Church who’ve played well over 500 free shows. From left, Joel Miller, Jeff Brewer, Adriel Harrod, David Rayborn, Bill Eckler, and John Witt.(Photo provided).
By Kyla Oswalt
Woodford Sun intern
As people age and begin to forget their younger days, one of the few things that is remembered is their favorite songs.
The Ol’ Elkhorn Pickers Club, formed in 2019, travels to assisted living facilities and nursing homes near and far to perform for the elderly and bring back that sense of nostalgia from their youth by playing songs they know will be remembered – completely free of charge.
The first show the group performed – as remembered by founder Joel Miller – was at the retirement home where Miller’s mother-in-law resided in Maria, Kentucky. Miller recounts recruiting some fellow church members to play at the retirement home.
From then on, the Ol’ Elkhorn Pickers Club has played an estimated 500 plus shows, around 50 to 70 shows each year over the past few years. The core group today consists of: David Rayborn (bass), Bill Eckler and Jeff Brewer (vocals), Joel Miller (utility), John Witt (guitar), Paul Adams (percussion) and Adriel Harrod (engineer).
Over the years, the Ol’ Elkhorn Pickers have played for countless folks, some shows bringing immense crowds. But the ones that Joel remembers most fondly are the smaller, more personal shows where they can see the difference they make in the lives of the elderly.
One show in particular that Miller loves to recall is one where a lady, thought to be wheelchair-bound, stood up from her chair and began dancing. Another memory was of a lady coming up to him after a show and giving an impromptu history lesson. He came to find out that the lady was a former history professor at Eastern Kentucky University.
During a show they played in a Danville retirement home, a woman who lived there named Doris Lane was encouraged to sing a song she wrote about her mother making biscuits. Miller, after hearing the song, asked if Lane would be okay with recording her vocals so that Miller could take it home and add instrumental tracks to her vocals. Making sure to confirm with Lane’s family, Miller did just that and brought her back CDs of the song to listen to and share with her family. Lane still sings with the band every time they play at the Danville retirement home, and although she is forgetful, she has the support of the Ol’ Elkhorn Pickers when she sings her song.
At their peak, the group played 90 shows a year, before whittling down to the 50-70 mark, as the group is comprised entirely of retired or semi-retired men . . . and they prefer to keep it that way. This allows them to play during the day “between lunch and bingo,” Miller smiled. They play at other venues like churches and bigger events, but Miller said those shows make up a very low percentage of their total performances.
One of the greatest things about the Ol’ Elkhorn Pickers Club is they play entirely for free. Although this usually means they have “a negative cash flow,” Miller says that churches support the group financially, allowing them to pay for meals, equipment and travel expenses. Speaking of travel, the farthest show the club has been to was Berlin, Ohio – about a 5-hour drive from Frankfort.
Miller speaks about the club with humility and a touch of pride, saying, “We’re the best we’ve ever been right now.”
The Ol’ Elkhorn Pickers Club also produces its own music, with their next project coming out in September.