PIKEVILLE, Ky. — Junior Hager and the Melody Drifters played nearly every venue available in Eastern Kentucky during the 1950s and 1960s, starting their broadcast career on WLSI-AM in Pikeville and playing the Grand Ole Opry along the way.

This morning, the group was honored with signs erected on US 23, Kentucky’s Country Music Highway.

The designation was ordered by the Kentucky General Assembly as part of HJR 67 which passed during the 2010 regular session.

 Junior Hager, whose real name is Wayne Edwards, will attend with his wife of 62 years, Frances Mae. Hager/Edwards played guitar, wrote songs, and was the group’s lead singer. Also expected to attend is Joe Dado of Freeburn, the band’s original steel guitar player.

 Speakers at the event included Senator Ray Jones, Rep. W. Keith Hall, former Rep. Clayton Little, Pike County Judge/Executive Wayne T. Rutherford, and Pike County Sheriff Charles “Fuzzy” Keesee.

Rep. Leslie Combs, who actually proposed the resolution in 2008, was unable to attend due to a prior commitment.