Artists

Gordon Porter

Gordon was born on September 23rd, 1941 in Crestview, Florida. He grew up in and around Niceville, Florida. If you have heard him sing his song "Boggy Bayou", you know what it was like for him growing up in the Florida panhandle.

He graduated from Choctawhatchee High School in 1959. He went on to attend Holmes Junior College in Goodman, Mississippi in 1959 and 1960. He lived in Jupiter, Florida from 1962 to 1974. Gordon and Corinne (Murphy) were married on May 14th, 1966. They have three children, Trisha, Michael, and Elizabeth and four grandsons: Will, Gordon Michael, Eli, and Connor.

The Porters moved to Walton county in 1974.

Gordon's occupations have included: Stucco contractor, Real Estate Broker, Auctioneer, and a General Contractor.

Gordon proudly served as Walton County Commissioner from 1990 to 1998.

Gordon has always enjoyed singing, He began with some of the present group in 1975. To get the full story of how Gordon got the Opry started, click on the "History" button on the left.

He has written several songs, including:

I'll Always Be Close By

That's What Tears Are For

Boggy Bayou

Picking Up the Pieces

Birmingham Mama

You Can't Be Satisfied

I'm Gonna Walk Before I Crawl

Don't Rush Me I'm Leaving

I Gotta Have You

Livin' on Memories (with son Michael)

And many more.....

Buddy Lawrence

Buddy was born In Defuniak Springs, Florida on June 16th, 1946. This lifelong resident of Walton County graduated High School in 1964, took a job with the Florida Forestry Service and married Carrie Redmon that same year.

Buddy has been involved with music since the sixth grade when he was a member of the Walton High School Marching Band. He played the clarinet all through high school. While is high school he became interested in the guitar. A member of the Argyle Baptist Church since 1962, Buddy became inspired to play the guitar by his minister who played.

Around 1980 Buddy met Gordon Porter and soon afterwards began playing regularly with the Panhandle Opry.

Buddy retired from the Forestry Service in October of 2001 and now runs a small sawmill business. He also does some construction, and backhoe work. Buddy's wife Carrie is employed with the Walton County School system. They both plan to completely retire around 2007.

Buddy's hobbies include playing the guitar and singing with the Opry, as well as riding his motorcycle. He's been riding since he was 14 and is the proud owner of a new Goldwing. Both Buddy and Carrie enjoy riding.

Ron Bryson - Steel Guitar

Ron was born on April 3, 1953, and grew up at Balsam, North Carolina. He received his first guitar at age 11, and played with two gospel groups throughout high school. He graduated from Sylva-Webster High School in 1971, and then spent a few years in law enforcement. Ron then was employed by a Consulting Engineering firm, performing bridge inspections and transportation construction engineering from 1979 to the present. He attended Kentucky State University, and the University of South Florida.
His wife Lynita is from Palmetto, Georgia. They have four children, and four grandchildren.
Ron is an avid railroad historian, proudly serving as the Chairman of the West Florida Railroad Museum at Milton, Florida since 1997.
Ron plays pedal steel at the Panhandle Opry, an instrument that has displaced most of his hobbies. He was first inspired by watching the steel player for Bill Phillips, a country music performer from Canton, North Carolina.