Anyone remember an entertainer at the Trail's End?

[Ginamarie]

We used to stay at Ft. Wilderness when I was growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, and ate a lot of meals at the Trail's End. We all remember an entertainer who used to perform there, singing "western" type music and things like the Davy Crockett theme song. He was an older gent with a guitar and very entertaining. He used to make these funny noises sometimes as he sung, like "pwaaah, chaaa". I know it sounds weird, but I'm sure someone must remember him. I was hoping that someone could enlighten me as to what ever happened to him, or that someone might have pictures of him. When we went back to the Trail's End in the late 90s and after, we missed him a lot.

 

[wdwbound]

I remember him from our first visit in 1993...had a golden voice, definitely southern accent. Don't remember his name either but his voice was a standout!

Nancy

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

My guess is that you are talking about John Charles(not really southern but he played the part well). He also sang(before T.E.) at Capn' Cook's Hideaway in the Poly(the area where tha snack bar is now) and at Coconino Cove in the CR (where CM is now). He sang in the Baton Rouge Lounge on the Empress Lilly after T.E. and ended his Disney contract at POFQ.
Here is a link to his web site(managment company)
http://www.keyartistgroup.com/john_charles.asp

 

[Ginamarie]

My guess is that you are talking about John Charles(not really southern but he played the part well). He also sang(before T.E.) at Capn' Cook's Hideaway in the Poly(the area where tha snack bar is now) and at Coconino Cove in the CR (where CM is now). He sang in the Baton Rouge Lounge on the Empress Lilly after T.E. and ended his Disney contract at POFQ.
Here is a link to his web site(managment company)
http://www.keyartistgroup.com/john_charles.asp

We saw John Charles on DCL- great act, we really enjoyed him! I don't think he was the one singing at Trail's End though- as I recall it was an older man. I had no idea John Charles sang all around Disney property. You learn something new every day!

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

I kinda grew up listening to John from the time I was 6 or 7. I remeber when he married and i remeber when his daughter was born(my favorite of the songs he wrote "Forever in this Moment" was written "because of her). There was another performer that my parents used to listen to, right now I can't think of his name but I bet that is who you are looking for.

Maybe
Dan Riley
or Denny Zabbitt(but he mostly played the Riverboat)

 

[LONE-STAR]

We saw John Charles on DCL- great act, we really enjoyed him! I don't think he was the one singing at Trail's End though- as I recall it was an older man. I had no idea John Charles sang all around Disney property. You learn something new every day!

I remember who you are talking about. I don't know his name but he put on a good show. He had gray hair if I remember right but I loved it when he sang "I'm my own grandpa"

 

[LORNADUCK]

I remember John Charles well, years ago when my DH and I used to go to the ft. we found the lounge at the Poly and would go there every time we came. We were snowbirds then (we did it backwards we were snowbirds when we were younger, would be in New York for the summer where we owned a golf course and FL for the winter) and we would spend time on the way down and the way back and some inbetween. When we started going back to the FT about 4 or 5 years ago we went looking for that lounge and realized it was gone. We do miss it, we loved to listen to John. I sort of remember someone at TE, was it the same person?

 

[M35cargo]

When Disney World first opened, the entertainment in the evening at the Trails End Restraunt was a sing along, with a piano player providing the music. He was about 40 years old and wore a red dinner jacket with black pants. When I first walked in I told my wife this was kid stuff, I was not going to sing. After eating alot of pizza and a little wine, I was singing with the best of them. This guy was a very good piano player, we got so we couldn't wait for the next year, we would build our own pizza, sip on some wine and sing along. We were very disappointed when they replaced him with the guitar player. Anyone remember the piano player?

 

[jaxjags]

I remember the piano player and the make your own pizza!! We all loved going through the "buffet" line putting the different toppings on our own pizza. That was a tasty pizza. Sadly, not like what they serve now...
These are the "magical" touches that have been cut through the years!
But you can't keep us away...