“Super Fun,” shouts Annie Dee through from the crowd at a concert at Lakeside Ballroom, in Guttenberg.  Annie is the leader and main vocalist for the Country Road Band, a group she organized, in October of 2006.  County Road Band is a five piece group that defers most of the singing responsibility to the talented, young and energetic Annie Dee.  The group hails generally from the Waukon area and performs Country Rock music with a touch of Old Time Rock n Roll.

Annie’s performances are enhanced by her wireless microphone setup which enables her to cruise the dancing crowd allowing her to dance with her fans as she belts out the vocals for whatever hit song the band is playing at the time.  The group plays cover tunes from artist ranging from Sugarland and the Dixie Chicks to The Eagles and Chuck Berry.

The band’s leader explains the group’s song selection, “Our songs tend to be more “rocky” instead of twangy… We can do Pasty Cline but it can be painful.”  The group prefers playing songs that more current and have a Rock edge to them.

The group has a very good tight sound combined with a performing style which proves they are having a blast.  In conversation it is clear the group is bonded with mutual respect and friendship.   Annie explains, “These guys are a like my family. I talk to them every day.”

The strong connection the group has is probably in part responsible for the stamina the group needs to maintain the grueling schedule of full-time work and weekend concerts.  The stamina also can also be attributed to a method explained jokingly by Annie,  “Sundays are our day of sleep. …I keep up probably because I am A-D-D and drink Red Bull.”

The experienced group is agreement their leader, Annie Dee makes the band go around making their jobs easy and as she says super fun!  Lead guitarist, Jeff Hanson has been playing electric guitar for 14 years.  He explains, “Her performance takes a big load off of us, we have so much fun because of her energy.”  Hanson came to the band following a stint with a Metal band, Twister Neck. Jeff remembers being asked to audition for a guitarist role with the County Road Band.  When asked if it was it hard for him to switch form Metal to Country Rock he says, “After playing with Annie at the audition, I thought it would be stupid to say no.  I have never played with a band whose singer could really sing.”

The band’s veteran drummer, Dave Dougherty echoes the sentiment.   “She is something, a real fireball,” comments Dave, “Annie was made to perform.”  He loves being a part of this band and he has plenty of experience to compare to.  The drummer reports he has been drumming every weekend for the past thirty years and says he has only missed a handful of weekends playing drums for one band or another.

He has played with bands the likes of The Legends, Country Ramblers and the New Buckaroos.  The father of five says his wife Brenda of 21 years is, “pretty lenient,” when it comes to his drumming hobby.  Dave works second shift for the Alamakee Clayton Electric Coop and spends most weekends traveling with the band. So the time the couple can spend together is pretty limited.   Because of Annie’s growing in popularity style, Dougherty thinks the County Road Band is worth the sacrifice.

Annie Dee grew up on a farm in Waukon. She loves to ride horses and is a member of the Yellow River Rough Riders riding club.  When she is not working or singing she gets her piece of mind by riding her mule, Jackson.

The performer discovered her musical talent, about eight years ago, when she began to win area karaoke contests.  She remembers her most exciting win came when she won $500 at a contest, on the Isle of Capri, by singing the Dixie Chick’s hit, “Goodbye Earl.”  As a result of her karaoke success she eventually formed the band she leads today the County Road Band.  The name for the band came to her through a dream.  She remembers dreaming she should look at road sign in order to name the band.  The next day she was driving toward Decorah, the first sign she saw marked a county road.  That was it, the band agreed County Road Band it shall be.

Annette Walter is the band’s keyboard player.  During the day Annette and Annie work at the same location, Gunderson Lutheran Clinic in Decorah.  Annie works as a Medical Assistant and Annette as a finance counselor.   While having played piano since she was 9 years old, Annette is perhaps the most unlikely candidate for a job in the up and coming Country Rock band.  Until she signed on with County Road,  she had relatively no experience playing in public or as a part of a band.  “It’s true my only experience before the County Road Band was playing for a youth and adult church choir and at weddings.”

In the beginning,  the band needed someone to substitute, on the keyboard, for a gig in Monticello.  Annette Walter filled in perfectly.  A few months later the original keyboardist left the band leaving the position wide open for Annette.   “They call me the Church Lady gone Country,” jokes Walter.  She is very thrilled with her new role in the band and her comfort level when it comes to playing keys is growing by leaps and bounds.  However, singing backup is another thing; the performer admits, “Annie keeps shoving the mic at me but I keep backing away, I don’t sing!”    So far Annette has loved being a part of the band.  Reaffirming that same strong bond in this band she says, “The band is like another family to me.”

To find out more visit the band’s website, countyroad.org.