Country Guitarist on the ‘Jamboree’!

We are proud to add Burlington, Colorado’s Country Musician Jerry Street into the Pop Bop Rock Honor Roll!

Jerry Street was born on November 3rd, 1939 in the Colorado eastern plains town of Burlington which is today situated just off Interstate 70 very near the Colorado/Kansas border – the last town in Colorado before you ride into Kanarado – a town situated just inside the State of Kansas.

The High Country Travelers (photo courtesy of Jerry Street)

Jerry came from a farming family – parents Ernest and Louise, residing in/near Kirk, Colorado a very tiny town, “about 50 residents” according to Jerry which meant that Jerry would attend school in nearby Burlington.

His father farmed carrying on the tradition of his great-grandparents who had homesteaded in the Kirk area while mother Louise taught school. Today Jerry stills is the owner of sections of land in the area which are leased out for cattle grazing and wheat farming.

Jerry was the oldest of four Street children the others being Linda, who has passed away at a young age, Ernest and Carole

Jerry’s family moved to Corpus, Christie, Texas when Jerry was a junior in high school. After just one year the Streets moved again this time to Albuquerque, New Mexico where Jerry would finish high school, graduating in 1957. Next, it was onto the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque where he would pick up a degree as a Mechanical Engineer.

Jerry would meet Barbara Newman and the couple would wed in May of 1962. He joined the U.S. Army assigned to the White Sands Missile Range in Las Cruces, New Mexico serving for three years as an engineer.

While stationed at White Sands Jerry entered a recording studio in Las Cruces cutting XXX

A New Home In Colorado

Jerry came to Denver, Colorado after his discharge in 1965 and establish his home in Brighton, Colorado just north of the Denver area. Jerry and Barbara remain in Brighton to this day (2022) and they raised three children, Steven Street (1965), Debbie (1968) and Dianne (1971).

Joining the Jamboree

Now settled in Colorado, Jerry would make the acquaintance of Frankie Kannard who, to Denver residents, was known better as Buster Jenkins.

Buster was a disk jockey on country radio station KLAK located in Lakewood, a suburb just west of Denver. Jenkins was the host of a very popular weekly radio program the KLAK “Rocky Mountain Jamboree”.

Jerry: “I remember in was the summer of 1965 in Denver (June 16th) and I had been invited to come audition for Buster to possibly become a member of his band on the Jamboree.” Street continues, “By the time my audition was over a huge rain storm was pounding the Denver area.”

Jerry was unable to traverse the corridor along Santa Fe Drive which is paralleled by the Platte River. “I had to work my way far around the flood zone in order to get back to my home.”

Jerry survived the horrible flood but passed the audition and would soon join Jenkins and the Jamboree.

(photo courtesy of Jerry Street – Jerry far left)

Jerry: “Buster initially called us the ‘Gravy Soppers” (taken from Buster’s local nickname “the old gravy sopper”) which was a name that I wasn’t real fond of but then we became the ‘High Country Travelers’ – a name I liked better.”

The “Gravy Soppers” on the Jamboree – Jerry Street (left) with his 1965 Fender Stratocaster – and Buster Jenkins on Fiddle (photo courtesy of Jerry Street)

Other members of Buster’s bands in Colorado included David Finn (bass), Tom Arnold (lead guitar), Dee Mullen (steel guitar), Jack Theobald (guitar), Gary Street (drums – no relation to Jerry) and many others.

The Jamboree’s location for the weekly radio show broadcasts took place near 25th and Federal Blvd. in north Denver. Buster, after taking over the fledgling program, would begin bringing in national country acts which changed everything for KLAK!

Jerry fondly remembers four: Gordon Terry, Claude Gray, Claude King and Sammi Smith. “All three of those guys and Sammie were great people” Jerry recalls. “All of the national acts were kind in their approach to working with our band. We were very nervous at first, backing these big names, but they always put us at ease!

“We strived to replicate the sound of their hit recordings as nearest as we could and we got pretty good at doing so!”

Musicians who Jerry most likely backed appearing on the Rocky Mountain Jamboree included: (shown and listing their biggest hit )

Claude Gray on the Jamboree

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Sammi Smith on the Jamboree

“Help Me Make It Through the Night” – #1 Country – #8 Hot 100 – 1970

Claude King on the Jamboree

“Wolverton Mountain” – #1 Country 9 Weeks – #6 Hot 100 – 1963

Gordon Terry on the Jamboree

“The Ballad of J.C.” – #62 Country – 1970

Freddie Hart

“Easy Loving” – #1 Country 3 Weeks – #17 Hot 100 – 1971

The High Country Travelers would begin appearing on Buster’s new radio show the “High Country Hoedown” after Buster had departed KLAK. The band would take to the road and would focus on playing county fairs and community events – avoiding bars and night clubs.

“Neither Buster or I liked playing in bars and we really enjoyed doing the fairs and meeting people around Colorado.”

The band also played events for companies like Gates-Rubber, Samsonite, 7-Up Denver, Frito Lay and others which filled their schedules and kept them from seeking out night clubs.

Jerry Street (left) on Jamboree Mid 1960s Backing XXX

Heading Down to Nashville & High Country Records

**“Cold, Cold Winter Coming On” Number 9 on KRBN Brighton, CO – January 31st, 1970**

In 1969, Jerry would accompany Buster Jenkins to the country music capitol of Nashville. Jenkins had previously been to Nashville, first in 1966 with Donna Harris and then again in 1968 with Sandi Scott, both Colorado country musicians.

Jerry remembers, “We had several tracks and one of them featured a vocal that Buster was not pleased with.”

And so Buster would have Jerry redo the vocals for a song called “Cold, Cold Winter Comin On” and in all six tracks would be recorded at the RCA Victor Nashville studio.

“The session musicians were really talented” Jerry recalls. He continues, “They worked quickly and could just pick up on anything and give you just what was needed.”

High Country Records

The address on the High Country labels 301 Sunshine Parkway, Golden, Colorado 80401, according to Jerry, was Buster Jenkins’ home address

The label also featured Colorado country musicians Dewey Knight, Bob Jamison (both recorded for Band Box as well) and Curtis Willis.

High Country Records Promotional Flyer (courtesy of Jerry Street)

High Country Records Letterhead (courtesy of Jerry Street)

High Country Records 45 Mailer (courtesy of Jerry Street)

Jerry recalls that one time while working for the Jamboree he was approached by KLAK owner Ed Scott (known locally also by his on-air persona “Sheriff Scotty” who suggested that he recommend Jerry to become an inductee into the forerunner of the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame.

“I was honored, but I passed on the opportunity. I just felt that I had plenty in my life to focus on” Jerry explains.

Aurora Advocate – August 6th, 1969

KYOU Radio Greeley – October 20th, 1969

With Jerry Street’s “Cold Cold Winter” #36 (was #43 on October 13th)

KYOU Radio Greeley – November 3rd, 1969

With Jerry Street’s “Cold Cold Winter” #31 (was #35 On October 27th)

KYOU Radio Greeley – November 10, 1969

With Jerry Street’s “Cold Cold Winter” #25

KYOU Radio Greeley – November 24th, 1969

With “Cold Cold Winter” #16 (was #20 November 17th)

Plug for “It’s The Same Ole Thing” – January, 1971 from Buster Jenkins

Beyond the Jamboree a Life in Engineering

Along the way Jerry was employed by Silver Engineering working from 1965 until 1968 as a mechanical engineer designing sugar processing equipment – a crop which was very predominant in northern Colorado.

In 1968 Jerry earned his Colorado Professional Engineer’s license and was next employed by Stearns-Roger Corporation evolving over the years to become Raytheon Corporation. Jerry retired from Raytheon in 1999.

Today Jerry plays gospel music and is very involved with his church and dedicated to his faith. His son Stephen tells us, “My father is an extremely humble man with regards to his musical journey and abilities.”

Stephen continues telling us in regards to his father’s musical ability, “His mother Louis was much the same way as she played piano, organ and accordion for as long as I can remember.”

Jerry uses his talents today playing guitar and singing in local nursing homes around the Brighton area and has also entertained for many years playing in prisons as part of prison fellowship ministries.

Not long ago, Jerry sold his beloved Fender Stratocaster but for a good reason. “I have always wanted to have the guitar of my dreams”, he tells us. “And now I finally do – a Martin! It is a wonderful sounding instrument – just perfect!” he exclaims.

Jerry has lived a full, productive and rewarding life – and we know that somewhere that Martin is making sweet gospel music for all to enjoy!