Byron Jones may be 75, but his desire to perform the music he loves knows no age limit. Ever since he fell in love with traditional country at age 17, he's continued playing the music of his idols like Carl Smith, Merle Haggard and George Jones at the opries he's put on since 1964. "A real country music fan likes to hear the words and know what the words really are and the traditional country does that. It tells a story," Jones says. The newest home of Byron's Country Music Theatre is Edgerton, Mo., where as many as 10 to 12 performers join Jones on stage as he performs traditional and modern country along with his own bluegrass tunes. For the 150 to 500 people that come to Jones' opry every week, it provides a genuine country experience without the travel. "Basically, they come to our show because it's a long way to Nashville," Jones says. Byron's Country Music Theatre starts at 7 p.m. Saturdays at the Northtown Opry in Edgerton, Mo. For information, call (816) 471-6779.