Musings about Music City

"The War" comes home, second verse

2011-12-10T14:24:00.000-08:00

Earlier I had written of how a book chronicling a historical foot soldier who fought at Spotsylvania Court-House, where my own great-grandpa was wounded while also fighting under Gen. Lee, had made "the War" (between the states) come home. Well, in a somewhat different fashion, this same conflict which tore our nation apart 150 years ago came home yet again this morning!

You see, dear reader, the Tennessee State Library & Archives where I work hosted a seminar this morning featuring authors Traci Nichols-Belt and Gordon Belt (wife and husband) and their recently-published book, "Onward Southern Soldiers". In the past couple days I skimmed the TSLA's copy, then I attended the seminar today before signing-in for work.

The book's sub-title is "Religion and The Army of Tennessee in the Civil War." It covers historiography about religion's impact in the antebellum and Civil War South; political and military leaders and "elite" clergy in how they nourished Southern religious thought; the role of army chaplains and the thinking of foot soldiers concerning religion and the War (as expressed in their letters home, memoirs, etc.).

Where the book and the seminar brought "the War" home for yours truly is three-fold. As with the earlier coming-home of the War Between the States, my great-grandpa's wounding at Spotsylvania (12 May 1864) was a major connection the topic - even tho' he was in Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia rather than the Army of Tenn. Furthermore, I myself had served as an Army chaplain in the 1980s, a time of peace. I found it enthralling to read accounts of Rebel chappies on the battlefront, particularly those few who not only served the religious needs of the soldiers but also commanded units. Most notorious of these was Bishop and General Leonidas Polk (there's a fort named for him in Louisiana).

And of course forming the third personal connection were my passions for history and spiritual things. In commencing the seminar's talk, author Nichols-Belt confessed to these same two passions (and how they came together for her as she worked on her Master's thesis and this book). I ought to point out that "Onward Southern Soldiers" is made up of copious quoting from original documents -- diaries, letters, orders and so forth.

Gordon Belt briefly addressed the matter of sources for the book. And TSLA was a major fountain of archival items they used.

I had several comments or questions at the q & a point of the seminar. One was whether Herman Norton (whom they cited as a secondary source) is the Disciples of Christ historian with whom I'm acquainted -- he is. A more involved question related to fighting clergy such Polk. In my reading I had found it strange that clergy like him, supposedly representing the Prince of Peace, could so readily take up weapons to kill, or lead soldiers on the killing fields. How did they justify this glaring anomaly? The authors only touched on this issue as it pertained to the general rebel conviction that they were fighting to defend their homes and altars (and thus theirs was a just war). But I really would like to know, HOW did Polk et al., reconcile the two roles?

Upon the seminar's conclusion I shared a couple other questions or observations privately with Gordon Belt, and made arrangements to purchase a signed copy of the book "Onward Southern Soldiers".

And so, once again "the War" had come home for yours truly!

Ah-h-h-h. . . the Memories!

2011-12-01T11:38:00.000-08:00

Tuesday the 29th Steve and I were working the reception desk in the Tennessee State Library & Archives when a silver-haired couple entered the building. We ascertained that this was their first visit and began the process of registering them.

As they filled out the registry cards they chatted with Steve and me. And in the dialog the man commented that the two had entertained at Opryland Park.

As soon as he said that I recognized them despite the silver hair. I happily blurted out, "You're Russ and Becky Jeffers!"

The couple had performed for 24 years at the bluegrass stage in the park, with its cabin backdrop, in their "Country and Bluegrass Show". It turns out both Steve and I had been to this show numerous times. Indeed, Steve claimed more than once that he'd seen the show "150 times." To which assertion I finally commented, "And I'd seen it 151 times!" in a little light-hearted one-upmanship.

So, the four of us got to talking at length about the park, which all of us had loved so dearly. Steve admitted that he cried when they killed the park. And I, too, had cried. Becky remarked about on work days -- if performing a music one loves can be called "work" -- she'd let their kids have the run of the park. Opryland was THAT SAFE, secure and family-friendly of an environment! Becky was far from the first parent I'd heard speak of just turning their kids loose for a day there.

And I learned a bit of history. Russ told of how theirs was the very last show to be performed in the park before its murder. Since it was the Christmas season the show was slotted to be done in the New Orleans Theater. But Russ talked the crowd into adjourning to the country and bluegrass cabin for this finale. And the very last song to be sung in Opryland USA was "Rocky Top", the newest on the list of Tennessee's official State Songs. I suppose one could say that "Rocky Top" was thus the swan-song, then, on 31 December 1997.

Rest in peace, my dear Opryland Park! And God bless Russ and Becky Jeffers for patronizing the State Library and awaking fond memories for their fellow ex-employee! (I worked at Opryland in the 1990s, as ticket seller and then as tour coordinator of Grand Ole Opry Tours.)

Connie Smith (& me) at "Midnite Jamboree"

2011-11-08T16:40:00.000-08:00

There's no denying that yours truly is a morning lark. Going to bed after 10PM is not my m.o. Therefore, I've never been to the "Midnite Jamboree" at the Texas Troubadour Theater in Music Valley near the Grand Ole Opry House. Indeed, if I've even listened to the second-longest-running live radio show (after the Opry), it's been infrequent brief segments of it and never the entire broadcast.

Such all changed this past Saturday, 5 November. Thanks to Facebook I got an invitation or notice that Connie Smith would be featured artist. I already knew I'd be working the late shift at the State Library and that a women's Walk to Emmaus retreat would be going on. So I made a "big day" of the Fifth!

Upon leaving work I first secured a room at a cheap motel, then ate supper at an IHOP in Hermitage, east suburb of Nashville. Then I went to nearby Hermitage United Methodist Church, where Nashville-area Walks to Emmaus are held, to participate in the "Candlelight" activity of the walk. A couple of my Clarksville neighbors also attended. As always, the Emmaus "Candlelight" was a blessing.

After relaxing an hour or so in my borrowed vehicle I drove to Music Valley Drive and the Ernest Tubb Record Shop (#2) with the Texas Troubadour Theater. After briefly browsing the bins in the record shop I found me a seat in the seventh row of the little theater.

Connie Smith was marvelous! The show's format was rather original, I think. Connie would sing one of her songs, then introduce a recording by somebody else; after which a pretty, nicely dressed emcee type would come to a podium at stage right, describe the album the song came from and how there was a price special on it -- "just tonite!" -- in the E.T. Record Shop. And then the final third (my guess) of the show was all Connie!

"The Rolls Royce of Country Music", as WSM's Eddie Stubbs calls her, sang several songs off her new album Long Line of Heartaches. It's her first recorded work in some 13 years (and before that was a 20-year gap), and some of the featured songs were co-written by Connie and her husband Marty Stuart. After hearing her sing a couple of these, I concluded that Connie Smith doesn't get sufficient credit as songwriter! And Nashville IS a songwriter's town.

One of the songs she sang off the new album was a Johnny Russell creation, "Ain't You Even Gonna Cry". I'd heard Russell sing it live, and I believe I've heard one or two other Country stars sing it. However, Connie sang it as tho' it were made just for her! I don't remember that she sang the title song, but I do recall "Anymore" and "I'm Not Blue" as I scan the songlist for the album.

Connie concluded the show, which ran a bit over an hour and a half, with her signature song, "Once a Day", then "Amazing Grace" and finally another Gospel song. Some people criticize Country Music stars who live a less-than-perfect life, record cheatin' and drinkin' songs and then turn around and record a Gospel album. They cannot so criticize Connie! She makes no bones about her Christian faith and she exudes the spirit of a devoted disciple of the Nazarene. This is one of the things that endears her to me, among female Country singers.

And experiencing her live and in person at the "Midnite Jamboree" is adding to the endearment!

Books, Books, & More Books!

2011-10-15T15:53:00.000-07:00

Yes, I work in a library, specifically, the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) in Nashville. So, yes, there are plenty of books in my work environment. But I'm actually posting about somewhat less job-related tomes and library issues.

First, on Thursday, 13 October, the Friends of the TSLA, a fairly new organization, held their board meeting in the TSLA building, followed by a reception with talk. This reception impacted my work, but in a positive way, as in greeting the Friends with an even warmer smile than usual when they entered, and at closing (4:30pm) inviting patrons to linger for the talk (alas! none did).

Refreshments for the reception consisted of elitist cookies and a tasty orange juiced-based punch. The talk, by author John Egerton, was "Sleuthing in the Archives". He gave a fascinating account of a murder in Knoxville almost a hundred years ago, and how a Black man was accused, convicted and executed -- and then a woman came forward eight years later confessing the heinous deed! His sleuthing was to discover what had happened to the woman after she was let go due to "case closed".

Friday was the beginning of the yearly Southern Festival of Books here in nearby Legislative Plaza, War Memorial and the State Capitol. Jenny, one of the admin staff for TSLA, went over to it on her lunch break and returned with a copy of the information magazine for me. Later I took my break and went up to the break room, where I found staffer Jay eating and reading. Jenny came in shortly afterward, and I told her I really liked her tee. It read,"There's no such thing as... too many books". Jay, Jenny and I had a great discussion about books, the festival, and the impact of the electronic media on printed books. Jay and I both much prefer to read a published book, of which we open the cover and turn the pages while curled up in a comfy chair!

On Saturday I used my lunch break to wander over to Legislative Plaza myself and enjoy some of the music and the various exhibit booths (TSLA had a booth, mainly for info). I went over fully intending to purchase a book or two. But the alacrity with which the acquisition happened all but took my breath away! Less than two minutes into my browsing the booths I arrived at that of the Vanderbilt University Press. There among the books for sale was Singing in the Saddle: the history of the singing cowboy by Douglas B. Green, aka Ranger Doug of Riders in the Sky (Grand Ole Opry members). Having read and enjoyed the book, which I checked out in 2008 or '09 from the Nashville Public Library just a block from the Plaza, I whipped out my wallet in a heartbeat!

Later I also purchased a Festival book bag and a Festival glass. I also hobnobbed with folks manning the TSLA and TWA (TN Writers Assoc.) booths and listened to "The Ukedelics", a local music group which includes Andy Hudson, member of Eastwood Church. (The Hudsons, however, were in Florida.)

Of course there was music in addition to the books and authors at the Festival. After all, Nashville in addition to being the Athens of the South is Music City USA!

Bluegrass Bonanza in Music City

2011-10-03T10:09:00.000-07:00

October is a major month on the musical calendar of Nashville, in which is celebrated the anniversary of radio station WSM-AM 650 and the "birthday" of the Grand Ole Opry show. (the show was first broadcast, according to founder George Hay's memoirs, in late November of 1925, but since the station (which first hit the airwaves early in October of that year) and the show are inextricably joined together it hardly hurts to have the festivities together.

Well, during the final week of September leading into the special month, Music City hosted the annual convention of the International Bluegrass Music Association -- the IBMA. Nashville is the birthplace of Bluegrass Music, specifically in the Ryman Auditorium in the 1940s when Opry member Bill Monroe created the genre, using his band The Bluegrass Boys. And the Father of Bluegrass Music was born in September a century ago in Rosine, Kentucky. Therefore, naturally plenty of observance and celebration of his centennial took place at this year's IBMA.

One of these observances was a free concert Tuesday afternoon under the blue sky outside the Ryman, hosted by the Del McCoury Band. On my way from work to a medical appointment I stopped by for a few minutes of listening pleasure.

The next evening, Wednesday, 30 September, featured a Monroe centennial bluegrass concert, not at the Ryman but in Ingram Hall of the music school at Vanderbilt University. Dieta, wife of fiddler extraordinaire Stuart Duncan, arranged for admission for me, bless her! I was not about to miss it just because it meant a 50-mile trip either way!

And I'm thankful I didn't miss it; it was a dynamic and dynamite performance! I appreciated the format, with WSM's Bill Cody serving as emcee; for about the first half hour Del McCoury Band was on-stage, then Nashville Bluegrass Band (Stuart is NBB's fiddler) took over for the remainder of the concert, and both bands were joined by various other Bluegrass stars in varying configurations. These others included Dale Ann Bradley, Ricky Skaggs, Claire Lynch, Roland White and Matt Combs, who's a fiddle teacher in VU's Blair Sch. of Music.

Stuart and Matt did twin fiddles more than once, and had a fine "chemistry" playing off each other. And then there was the finale, when all the artists took the stage (except Del McCoury and his group who had to leave early for another engagement) and did all the verses of "Working on a Building" and closed with what Bill Cody said was Monroe's signature song or best-known song, the instrumental "Rawhide".

What an evening! What a Bluegrass bonanaza!

The next evening, Thursday, 29 September, WSM broadcast the IBMA Awards Show from the Ryman over the airwaves. I'd have loved to be in the building for it, but the listening in on the radio was pleasure enough. More than once the Monroe centennial was commented on, and the musical performances between presentation of awards were all superb. Stuart was nominated for "Fiddler of the Year" but the award went to someone else. Dale Ann won "Female Vocalist", but I'd have been happy with any of the five nominees, all very talented and endearing women.

And so, for A.D. 2011 Bluegrass Music had their annual party and celebrated Bill Monroe's birth centennial, in the place where Bluegrass began: Music City USA.

Melodious Music City Sunday Worship

2011-09-26T11:38:00.000-07:00

Altho' I moved to Clarksville, I retain my church membership in Eastwood Christian (Disciples) for reasons evident in my earlier postings regarding the mid-size East Nashville congregation. I plan to attend at least one Sunday a month.

Yesterday (25 September) I had an additional reason for being at Eastwood. Early in the week it was published that Assistant Pastor Michael Lehman had accepted a call to go be senior pastor at a Disciples of Christ congregation in Pennsylvania. We all knew this day was coming, that Michael would leave us for bigger and better things -- he has a great future ahead of him. Nevertheless it's hard to let such a fine young leader go. Michael himself expressed that personally it was a "bittersweet" situation.

I'm sure it had nothing to do with Michael putting in his notice, but Eastwood's worship service yesterday had even more and even heartier music than usual. And this is saying a LOT, considering the musical talent among the members and our typically very song-filled worship!

On two selections Michael played drums. The choir's Anthem early in the service was the powerful and rousing "Mighty to Save", a paean to our God Almighty.

Later, during the collection of the offering, an ensemble the worship bulletin labelled "Eastwood Friends" -- who included Michael at drums, Stuart Duncan as one of TWIN fiddles (!), Jonell Mosser as lead singer and choir director Julie Duemler, Liz Johnson and the other fiddler as background vocalists -- presented a strong spiritual, "Oh, Mary Don't You Weep". Jonell was vintage Jonell, getting 100% into the song, expressing herself with gestures and facial cast as well as singing. The whole song and its singers and musicians had me ready to get up and dance in the pew! And all the congregation stood as one in acclamation at the final note.

At some moment during the service Michael approached the lecturn mike and began with the comment that "Eastwood has so many musicians that even the feedback is in tune!" LOL

Also at some moment during the worship I considered that at its conclusion I'd ask around to see where folk might be going for Sunday dinner. But a lot was on my mind after the benediction and I forgot. A few minutes later as I drove down Gallatin Avenue considering possibly dining at Shoney's or Sub-Way, I espied Calypso, across the avenue from East High. Knowing that the café offered delicious and healthy selections at reasonable prices, I turned into the Calypso parking lot.

Knowing how popular Calypso is with many of the Eastwood congregation I was somewhat surprised that none were already there before me. I took a solo seat, but within minutes, to my great delight first one, then two, then another from the church entered. The "another" was no less than Michael Lehman. We all chatted about the excellent music we'd experienced, and in a couple cases provided, during worship at Eastwood.

Only in Music City USA. Or to put it another way, "so Nashville!"

Sweet Saturday in Music City

2011-08-03T11:59:00.000-07:00

On my way to another 12-hour work shift at the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville I ran into heavy downpours. Not one, but three! I'd be driving along Interstate Hiway 24 and hit a curtain of rain; it lasted for a mile or two and suddenly no rain. Odd. . . .

The work shift went fine. I love my new work!

Still, I was happy when the security relief arrived at seven in the evening. And not because I was tired from twelve straight hours, either.

It was because I'd gotten an e-invitation to a CD release party at 3rd and Lindsley. And not just for any old musician; she was Jonell Mosser, who attends my church, Eastwood Christian. and occasionally sings with the choir or sings a solo special.

It was my first experience of 3rd and Lindsley. Jonell had already her performance when I entered, and quickly I ascertained that the house was full. SRO, it appeared! But I was hungry, so I went ahead and approached an order station (computer terminal) at the end of the bar and made a request for nachos supreme. Within a couple minutes I lucked out and found a vacant seat at a table next to the dance floor and near the corner of the stage. When the nachos arrived, they were worth the wait and the challenge of finding a seat. De-e-e-licious!

And let my add, that my vexation at the scarcity of available seats was more than compensated by my delight to see that Jonell draws such a good crowd at one of Nashville's famous live music venues! (Jonell performs at 3rd and Lindsley several times annually.)

And it was Jonell Mosser I'd come for, not nachos or easy seating! She had a band with her, two guitarists (one prossibly a bassist) and drummer. They had been with her (or at least the drummer) when she'd performed at the public library and I'd gone.

Jonell was vintage Jonell, if I may say so. She has a great singing voice, really gets into her music with gesture and even outright dancing, and sings from her heart an eclectic repertoire. The Nashville Public Library labels her albums in their catalog as "CD Country", but Jonell is like Mary Chapin Carpenter in being "Country".

Jonell is a songwriter, and often writes songs with Tom, one of the guitarists. One of these, which I think she said is on the new CD, is about Chinatown. She sang it at a reflective pace and the song wrapped itself around me as listener. It was beautiful and so perfect for Jonell to sing! Later, her "other band", the three women singers of "Kentucky Thunder" joined her on the 3rd & Lindsley stage (they are not Ricky skaggs band).

After such wonderful live singing, how could a radio show compete? And yet the Grand Ole Opry gave me additional listening pleasure on WSM-AM 650 while driving to Clarksville. But since this involves another location, it's another story for another time.

News from Nashville

2011-07-28T15:48:00.000-07:00

The past seven days or so have witnessed the end, or potential end of two Music City "landmarks".

Early last (calendar) week it was announced on local broadcast news -- doubtless also in the Tennessean newspaper -- that the iconic and beloved Elliston Place Soda Shop would close its doors for good after business on Saturday, 23 July. It seems the management of this landmark could not come to agreement with the landlord concerning rent.

But hooray for us soda-shop aficionados! A third party stepped in and averted the shut-down!

And then Sunday evening late news included a touching tribute to "landmark" Channel 5 sportscaster Hope Hines. You see, dear reader, he was fixin' to retire brom his broadcast position. His final reporting for Ch. 5 was on Wednesday (yesterday).

When I began following local TV news in 1983, I had no preference among the local TV sports guys. But Hope sort of grew on me, especially after I heard him speak at the Clarksville funeral of legendary Olympian runner Wilma Rudolph as the turn of the century and millennium approached. And altho' I found it odd that Mr. Hines was the only Hope I knew of who was not of the female persuasion, I certainly didn't doubt his masculinity nor his sports-reporting acumen.

Even tho' we will no longer see Hope's face on the Ch. 5 newscasts -- unless he does a Brett Favre-style (multiple) un-retiring! -- we who love him haven't heard the last of him. He will be writing his memoirs, due to be printed next Spring. Can't wait to "read all about it!"

A Most Memorable Music City Weekend

2011-07-12T15:33:00.000-07:00

Have I truly moved from Nashville to Clarksville? Dear reader, you might not know it from all the hours I spent in Music City this past weekend!

Beginning Saturday: I drove from C'ville to my work at the Tennessee State Library & Archives building, signing in at seven in the morning. It was what I've been told is a typical Saturday: busy! Certainly we served more Patrons than on Thursday or Friday, same shift time (7am to 2:30pm). I took some photos while at work. BTW, I truly feel as tho' I'm a State employee now; Thursday I received my photo ID and Friday my State Internet system ID and password -- now I can do work-related e-mail.

After work I drove to Vanderbilt University's central library building, to do Internet stuff -- personal e-mail, Facebook, blogging -- and listen on-line to one of my favorite radio broadcasts, "Front Porch Fellowship". It's an hour show featuring the best in Bluegrass Gospel music, hosted by Les Butler on Solid Gospel 105 (FM). You can catch it at 4pm Saturdays, repeated same time Sundays.

I topped off my Music City Saturday by returning to downtown, specifically to the Nashville Convention Center, where I joined in the "kick-off" worship service for the biennial General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the denomination thru which I participate in the universal Church, and which denomination ordained and endorsed me to Army chaplaincy (1981-84). I saw several D o C folk I knew, both from Texas and from Tennessee (or formerly from Tenn., now from Ohio). The preliminary music and brief speeches made much of Nashville as "Music City" and our friendliness. And the actual worship included hymns and songs. As one speaker commented, "Singing is NOT a spectator sport for us Disciples!"

Sunday morning the Tenth I drove IH 24 from C'ville to Nashville again, for choir rehearsal, breakfast and an early (8:30am) worship at my church, Eastwood CC(DC). It was SO GREAT to see and speak with my Eastwood brothers and sisters again! The sanctuary was packed to the walls with worshipers -- I hate to imagine how over-the-top SRO the "regular-time" service would be! But members and our many visitors (including former Eastwood pastors) got treated to a rousing choir Anthem of "Lord, Here Am I" (hence my showing up extra-early for rehearsal), other fantastic musical offerings, and a fine sermon by Mike Kinnamon, titled "Why 'Tell It' Isn't Enough". "Tell It!" is the theme of the Assembly taking place right now in Music City.

Don't get me wrong! I love Clarksville, and am glad to be dwelling in the Queen City. But for this special weekend Music City was almost my home again!

Whoa! Not So Fast!

2011-07-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

My previous posting on this blog, I said was my final post.

Not so fast!

In a way, I'm back! Yes, I'm still living in Clarksville, about 50 miles to the northwest of Music City. But no sooner did I move than I got called back to Nashville for a job interview! And then called back for a second interview -- always a good sign! And then was offered the job!

So. . . for four days each week I'll be commuting from C'ville to downtown Nashville, to work in the Tennessee State Library and Archives as a receptionist-security guard. It may not be as fun nor as exciting as the tour guide position I flubbed at the Grand Ole Opry House, but it's a job I CAN DO in a work environment I enjoy: a library! It sits across Seventh Avenue North from the Capitol Building. Indeed, as I sit at my front lobby desk (counter), I'm constantly looking at the capitol I consider the most beautiful and unique of all such buildings! And the TSLA itself is a magnificent Art Deco edifice, erected in the early Fifties. Plus, it's a memorial to Tennesseans of World War Two.

Also, I've not changed church membership to any congregation in C'ville, nor am I in a hurry to switch from Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in East Nashville. I'll be working every Saturday, and some of those Saturdays I'll be working until 7pm. So I'm seriously considering staying overnight those times and attending Sunday worship at Eastwood.

Therefore, Music City has definitely NOT seen the last of yours truly! I'll probably post occasionally on my blog here. . . .

I'm leaving her, but she shall never leave me!

2011-06-11T08:49:00.000-07:00

Yup! This is my final posting on "Musings about Music City". You see, dear reader, it's rather difficult to muse about events, people and venues in a burg where one no longer lives.

I've left Nashville to live about 55 miles to the northwest, in Clarksville. The move came Thursday afternoon the Ninth. Doors in Music City figuratively got slammed in my face, while the window up IH-24 flew open wide.

So I took the last train to Clarksville.

Okay, so it was a pick-up truck of an Eastwood Church family; I couldn't resist reference to my new home-town's most famous song!

I'm happy about the move and at peace in my new "digs" -- a home shared will four other military vets in transition. It will make marital reconciliation much simpler, since the wife lives here and not in Music City.

But yes, I will miss the old home-town. Especially I shall miss the frequent visits to Vanderbilt for library perusal or attendance at events like baseball games. NOTE: the Commodores beat the Beavers of Oregon State 11-1 Friday in the first of a best-of-three Super-Regional in Nashville!

Especially I shall miss close proximity to my music and radio-personality buddies and to a wide variety of music events (mostly freebies, too).

And most especially I shall miss every-Sunday attendance at dear Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples) and choir rehearsal on Wed. eves. Lord willing, I shall soon acquire trasportation to occasionally make that trip back down IH-24 to Music City USA.

But C'ville is where I need and ought to be. So with this, Yours Truly is signing off. The dear Lord of all be with y'all!

Sunday morning @ Eastwood Church; what I needed

2011-06-06T11:56:00.000-07:00

Actually, I need Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples) every Sunday morning, plus choir again Wednesday evenings. Those of my FB Friends living in Nashville who have never been to ECC(DC), really must pay a visit! If you're seeking a place where people really love one another in the John 13 and I Corinthians 13 way and who live out the Master's teachings about service, self-denial and doing good unconditionally, then 1604 Eastland Ave. in ZIP 37206 is THE place for you. If you're hurting spiritually, emotionally or mentally, ditto!

I'm not just writing this to shamelessly promote my congregation. I'm a witness to all I've said thus far, and I hope I've done my share in painting the picture.

Take this past Sunday morning, 5 June. It had been a bad week for yours truly. I'm working on three leads to potential job placements; Friday afternoon one lead evaporated on me. Friday morning The Academy, the group transitional home (mostly for vets) where I'd lived since beginning of 2011, and I parted ways. I'd seen it coming, since for one thing I'd felt like I'd crash-landed on another planet since arriving at The Academy -- I hold almost NOTHING significant or important in common with the other residents and also have issues with a few of the procedures or customs at the place.

Therefore, I wasn't really upset at being booted out the door. Praise to God and thanks to my mother, I had a couple hundred dollars freshly deposited in my bank account. So for this weekend ouing I'm staying in a cheap motel on a bus line (tomorrow I'll be seeking new quarters in earnest).

Oh, that's the other "bad" thing that occurred this week: the car I'd been given by a dear Sister at Eastwood had to be returned to her for the summer. It's a long, complicated story, so I won't go into details; I'll just say that I knew the reliquishing was imminent, and it occurred Friday.

So-o-o-o. . . there wasn't any doubt I'd be attending Sunday School and Worship even more eagerly than usual today. As always, in the class we had great discussion (concerning the lectionary Scripture passages for today). Then, for the choir's Anthem, we sang "Clap Your Hands", lyrics of which are based closely on the opening verses from Psalm 47. Professional musician Roy Agee played his trombone as accompaniment (along with Marie at piano), and we choir singers DID clap our hands rhythmically for much of the piece. Later Roy accompanied on guitar while his wife Kristie and Liz Johnson sang "Shackles and Chains" -- NOT the Patty Loveless hit in Country Music, but a more spiritual set of lyrics with an infectious beat ( a few of us were clapping or tapping along on this one too). The song was written about four years ago by Johnson and Agee, but this was the world premier! And it served as such a timely salve for my wounded spirit and mind!

However, before they sang, Pastor Jay gave a fantastic sermon. Fantastic! I hollered "Amen!" more than once!

Titled "Focused Witnesses" and based primarily on Acts 1:6-14 with allusions to I Peter 4:12-14 and 5:6-11, the sermon was one of the best I've heard from Jay Hartley -- and he's a pretty good preacher at that! This sermon was among the best in that he commenced with a "perfect" opening (prior to reading the Acts passage he briefly set the scene by describing the Ascension of Jesus, with the disciples staring up in the sky after him -- until two "angels" appeared and told them to "snap out of it and do your mission!" Then there was a "perfect" introductory illustration: the oh-so-recent news item about media preacher Camping's prediction of the world's ending on 21 May -- which didn't occur, did provide fodder for attacks from unbelievers, and did distract some believers from focus on the really important meaning of the Gospel ("Good News") and resultant mission of witnessing to the world about God's love and grace. As Pastor Jay said, Brother Camping needs to pay attention to Acts 1:7 before he goes around setting dates!

And then to develop his main theme, of how crucial it is to stay focused and overcome distractions in order to live the effective Christian life, he used a couple of excellent and illuminating anecdotes. One of which involved Coach Tim Corbin, whose Vanderbilt Commodore baseball student-athletes are having a stellar year (SEC 2011 season tri-champs and over 40 season victories); Pastor Jay spoke of how the Coach emphasizes focus and team-work. (I already was familiar with this, and so I appreciated the segue from the cruciality of focusing for sports into its cruciality for living in general.)

To top the message off, Pastor Jay spoke of "spiritual warfare" -- one of the allusions to the passage from I Peter -- which isn't a focus he cottons to very much. He pointed out that "focus makes all the difference [in life] but distractions are all around us." In the fifth chapter of First Peter, verse 8b describes this challenge as "the devil prowl[ing] around like a roaring lion" and verse 9a urges disciples of the Nazarene to resist and stand firm.

Well, after such uplifting, encouraging and for me personally timely songs and sermon, what better way to climax the worship than with the Lord's Supper? Indeed, I was given a vision while Pastor Jay was giving the call to communion, of the Lord Jesus standing behind the Table, smiling an encouraging and loving smile while extending his nail-scarred hands to invite and embrace us! In such a holy moment, I sensed yet again the divine Spirit telling me to take off my shoes. Which I did before I walked forward to partake of the bread and cup.

Yes! Sunday morning at Eastwood Church (Disciples of Christ) was just what I needed! Thanks be to God for His love, power and grace, and for their reflection in my ECC(DC) brothers and sisters!

Memorial Day 2011 in Music City

2011-06-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

Hm-m-m, already it's the First of June in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven. However, before the new month gets any older, I wish to share about a happening of late in the previous month. Memorial Day in Music City.

This A.D. 2011 is one of those all-too-rare calendar years when the observed Memorial Day coincides with the original and REAL M.D. (30 May any more is labeled, if at all, as M.D. Traditional.)

In speaking about midday with my mother by phone, she reported that in her current town of residence, Cody, Wyoming, it was rainy and cold. I had already seen on ome of the national-broadcast early morning shows, that nearby Yellowstone Park had two to three inches of SNOW forecast!

In Nashville, on the other hand, it appears that old winter has finally loosened its grip and departed for good. Temperatures did a flip-flop on this Memorial Day, with the high being quite higher than average (rather than being several degrees below). And the humidity rose along with the temp.

But never mind! There might not have been a parade nor a well-publicized ceremony in a military cemetery in Nashville (as there was in San Antonio while I was living there). But the now-customary habit of picnics in the park saw plenty of action here. Action that included the men of The Academy (the place where I presently live).

We all packed up food and fixin's and journeyed across the Cumberland River to Shelby Park, a huge old park with golf course on the riverbank in East Nashville. Between two ballfields near the railroad trestle end of this park we set up a grill and spread the food, drinks and condiments. Those who were not involved in the set-up or cooking made the journey late in the morning.

We feasted on grilled burgers, franks and brown beans, chips and homemade potato salad. The homemade salad had my personal favorite ingredient: boiled eggs chopped coarse (i.e., large pieces). Yum-yum!

Yours truly took some photographs, which involved some sauntering around that area of Shelby Park. Other than that and eating I just chilled out in the shade of the mature trees. Whenever a train passed on the trestle I focused on it; four trains chugged along in the time we were there.

About four or five fishing poles had been brought along, and some of the fellas took these over to the nearby pond. And they did have some luck! Had we stuck around 'til supper-time we might have feasted on fresh fish. (That is, some of us would have, there not being sufficient fish caught to go around.) But we left the picnic site a bit after two in the afternoon, thus beating the hottest part of a hot and humid day.

Despite the meteorological taste of soon-coming summer, we had a great Memorial Day observance, picnic style.

"Just Another Youth Sunday" - NOT!

2011-05-15T13:26:00.000-07:00

Today, being the Sunday following Mothers Day Sunday, Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples) held the annual Youth Sunday. Believe you me, dear reader, "Youth Sunday" at ECC(DC) is NOT "just another Sunday" or even "another Youth Sunday". It's far from the "same ol' same ol'". Each of the three such Sundays Eastwood has had since I joined (A.D. 2008) has been vastly different from the other two!

To start out with, this time around we had nobody graduating from either high school nor college. Lacking a grad to deliver the sermon, the duty fell on our Associate Pastor, Michael Lehman -- a first for Youth Sunday as far as I know.

(This does not mean our youth group is getting any smaller; it's merely the way age and school year distribution works out.)

Altho' Eastwood is blessed with many musically talented young people (several sing in the choir and/or play instruments), I suspect the current batch contains all the more! If true this is good news: barring any unforseen tragedy such as a move out of State they'll all be back for the NEXT Youth Sunday!

Yes, the morning's Anthem, "Homeward Bound", was sung by a male youth quartet, and several young folk delivered the Response in Song (to "Pastor Mickey"'s message) - more about that oh-so-special song shortly. But even starting with the Prelude music we had a young person, John Hartley (younger son of Pastor Jay), playing a spiritual tune on his violin (fiddle if you will). Shortly afterwards, in a novel twist on the childrens time/sermon we had "Grown-Ups Time", heralded by new lyrics to "Jesus Loves the Little Children":

...Jesus loves all the grown-ups, all the grown-ups of the world;
...Mean or cool or Jay Hartley, Jesus loves you so do we. . . !

We celebrated the Lord's Supper as we do on First Sundays: coming forward via central aisle to take a piece of bread, do intinction (dipping the morsel into chalice contents, then consuming) and then forming a circle around the sanctuary walls. Once all had partaken, Choir Director Julie stationed herself in a front pew with cue cards and the youth (or most of them) sang "I Will Rise" for the Closing Song. During a brief instrumental bridge before the final refrane some of us adult choir members stepped out of our places in the closing circle "surrounded" the youth while joining in the song:

...And I hear the voice of many angels sing, "Worthy is the Lamb!"
...And I hear the cry of ev'ry longing heart, "Worthy is the Lamb!"

The adult choristers doing such symbolized adult support of and love for our unique youth group, and our role as earthly portion of their "cloud of witnesses".

Speaking of "Cloud of Witnesses", this was the theme of Youth Sunday, taken from Hebrews 12:1 a verse from Scriptures read in the service. Indeed, Heb. 11:29-12:2 were the basis for the day's sermon: "No Ordinary Fans". It was also the title of the oh-so-special Anthem I mentioned earlier. Originally the lyrics were composed by Donna Gunn, one of our very bright and creative young folk at Eastwood and daughter of the church secretary, as a poem. But she wanted it to be more than poetry and so she asked "Pastor Mickey" to help her by composing a song. And what the two came up with stands as the most awesome of the many awesome elements of Youth Sunday 2011 at Eastwood Church!

Or as I told "Pastor Mickey" after the Sunday potluck dinner that followed Worship, "of all the several awesome elements, the song you and Donna co-wrote was 'the awesome-est'!" The Title in quotations is who the worship bulletin specified would deliver the sermon. While speaking about many positives and endearing traits of our youth group Michael mentioned that this was the nickname they came up with for him. And yes, he did at this point don mouse ears!

Ha, ha! I love and enjoy and rejoice in my church family! Thank God for Eastwood Church! May the Lord continue to bless the family who gather at 1604 Eastland Avenue in East Nashville to do what we do so well with the Spirit's and each other's help: love one another in our diversity and lovingly serve the community He has set us in!

Taking a friend to church

2011-05-07T13:13:00.000-07:00

Over the years of my life, with my numerous residences, jobs and congregational memberships, I've frequently invited neighbors or co-workers to come to church on Sunday. Seldom have I received an affirmative answer, alas.

Sunday the 27th of March I got that rare opportunity! The place where I've lived since the beginning of the year, "The Academy" (a transitional home mainly for military vets), includes another Army vet named Mick. He served in combat in A-stan. . . you can imagine the after-effects he's suffered. Despite those, he's a bright, calm and friendly fellow. I've liked Mick from the beginning, and the two of us have confided mutually in each other.

Well, on the 27th I'm sitting in the common area, dressed for and awaiting time to depart to Sunday worship at Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples). Mick comes walking in, attired in a dark suit, white shirt and dark necktie. I quip, "Well, Mick, you look like you're fixin' to preaching somewhere!"

Smiling, he comes around to saying that he's actually contemplating where to go for Sunday worship. In a heartbeat I invite him to come along with me to Eastwood. And Mick accepts!

So we two pile into "Antonio Margil", my new '95 Acura Integra, and headed over to East Nashville. On the way I describe the congregation, the style of worship and some of why I'm so devoted to this collection of brothers & sisters in Christ. As I told Mick, "I'm very hesitant to equate any one congregation with the (mystical or spiritual) Body of Christ, but Eastwood comes about as close as any congregation I've ever experienced."

Praise be to the Lord! My Eastwood brothers & sisters live up to my billing! It was a "typical" Sunday morning at 1604 Eastland St., in that I go away very spiritually refreshed. And Mick clearly is also nourished in his spirit. This is what "having church" is supposed to be. . . .

Melodious Anniversary to the Crisis

2011-05-07T12:53:00.000-07:00

The week ending today, Saturday 7 May, is the anniversary of the Great Flood of 2010. A year ago portions of Nashville, Clarksville and the rest of West and Middle Tennessee, and of adjacent States, got inundated by lethal raging waters of the Cumberland River and its tributaries.

AND THEN my fellow Music City residents truly showed their mettle. And showed it big-time!

Tuesday evening the Third of May they had a special edition of the Tuesday Nite Opry radio show on WSM. The day of week was particularly significant, as was the venue, the Grand Ole Opry House. You see, dear reader, The Grand Ole Opry show performed in the House on Saturday, 1 May A.D. 2010, as rain poured down, with no end in sight. More than one Opry cast member commented that night. By Tuesday the Fourth the House was inundated (Cumberland's flood crest having happened just before midnight on the Third), and the Tuesday Nite Opry scheduled for then was in need of an alternative location. Opry staff and cast -- and Nashvillians in general -- did not fold hands with a "Woe is us, we're ruined; stop everything!"

Instead, they located an alternative performance hall downtown in War Memorial Auditorium -- actually a former home of the show (1939-1943; see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Memorial_Auditorium, http://nashville.about.com/od/historyandsites/a/GOOpryhistory.htm or http://www.originaloldradio.com/show_history_for_grand_ole_opry.html for details).

The Opry family showed that "the show must go on!"

Fast forward to this week. On Tuesday the show took a subtitle: "Play on, Nashville!" This wasn't just a reflection on the disaster of a year ago, nor a celebration of Nashville's resilience and the rebuilding that's taken place in the ensuing year. Several charitable organizations got linked to the performance; both live and radio audiences were strongly encouraged to contribute, that repairs which remain can get done. PLUS that further funds go to assist victims and survivors of horrendous tornadoes which ravaged Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and other southern States -- not a year ago but merely last week!

I can simply imagine how those unfortunate souls are still in shock. We Nashvillians were there a year ago. May our resilience then be an inspiration to them NOW!

I didn't get to listen to the entire show, but I did hear the beginning and ending. If for no other reason than that I heard Brad Paisley and Trace Adkins this show was worth the listening. But references in word and song to WHY the evening was so special caused it to be not just worthwhile but unique and valuable!

Speaking of Brad Paisley, here's a link to a report on the "Play On, Nashville!" evening, with special attention to this beloved member of the Opry cast. http://www.theboot.com/2011/05/04/grand-ole-opry-play-on-nashville/ And if you haven't heard it yet and are a Country Music or Opry fan, you need to hear Brad's latest hit single: "This Is Country Music (and We Do)"! Just like the Opry expresses Country and related American music genres, Brad's song presents and CELEBRATES certain enduring themes of Country song lyrics, and concludes with him singing well-known phrases from certain famous songs by famous artists. Here's a video of him singing "This Is Country Music" and accepting Entertainer of the Year at the 2010 CMA show (but get some Kleenex, to wipe your eyes):

http://www.musicloversgroup.com/brad-paisley-this-is-country-music-lyrics-and-video/

Marvelously musical March!

2011-03-20T19:49:00.000-07:00

Forget the NCAA's annual "March Madness"!

Oops, I hope you, dear reader, didn't think yours truly had forgotten this blog! But one of the minuses of being again gainfully employed for hourly wage is one has to spend appointed hours at work & NOT on-line. This IS a very minor "minus", you understand. . . .

ANY minuses, minor or major, are quickly forgotten once I step inside the worksite, the Grand Ole Opry House. It's such a joy to again guide visitors around the facility as I conduct the 45-minute tour. It's such a joy to again run into folk from the broadcast and Country Music world whom I admire and with whom I've had cherished relationships.

And I'm most certainly NOT going to sneeze at the perks of this job! A few Saturdays ago, Steve Wariner was in the Opry gift shop (located at south end of front or main lobby) to sign CDs of his latest album. When I clocked out from doing tours, I hung around, removed my uniform jacket and tie and entered the shop to get his autograph. Not on that latest album, but rather on c.g.p. My tribute to Chet Atkins. AND on his page in the Opry picture-history book.

Then, on my way out the artists entrance backstage (House staff also use it) I ran into Little Jimmy Dickens. Smiling, I shook his hand as I said, "Little Jimmy Dickens, I must say this. 'Shake hands, old man, I married your sister'!" This is the punch line of my favorite joke of his.

i wasnt scheduled to work on my birthday, Monday the 14th, but while doing tours on Tuesdays, when I led them onto the stage to the famous circle, I'd first ask if any were celebrating a birthday. If not, I'd invite them to sing "Happy Birthday" to yours truly. I'd applaud them and while praising their singing talent would urge them all to applaud. Then I'd give the standard conclusion used by all us guides: "When you tell folk at home about your trip to Nashville, you can say that you got to sing on the Grand Ole Opry stage -- and got a standing ovation!"

Hired for THE IDEAL job in Music City!

2011-02-20T15:23:00.001-08:00

Today was my fifth work day (for pay) on my new job. After an A.D. 2010 of self-employment (pure commission & no withholding for Uncle Sam) and unemployment, to have ANY employment with a regular income is most deeply appreciated. But THIS particular line of work is truly a God-send!

You see, I'm once again guiding tours of the Grand Ole Opry House!

In the late 1990s I went from being a part-time or seasonal ticket seller, to Tour Coordinator at Grand Ole Opry Tours. One element of that position was guiding tours of the House -- the tour company's only walking tour.

And now I'm doing this again, with some alteration. For one, we begin the tour to the right of the central lobby with a six-minute video introduction to the Show and the House. And of course I knew, from the first Saturday last October, when 4,000 others and I took the free tour of the newly reopened House, that the backstage and to a lesser degree other areas, had been greatly improved in appearance. In fact, the Great Flood (May 2010) and the astounding and amazingly rapid restoration of the House are featured in the video. Plus, in the Green Room a metal strip we call Guests' attention to displays how high the floodwater rose.

But I very quickly learned this revised tour, and indeed this past Wednesday, my third day of work/training, got to conduct my first tour. afterward I asked the "veteran" Tour Guide how I did and she replied that I was wonderful! So perhaps I shouldn't have been so surprised at what occurred at week's end.

When I clocked-in late Fri. afternoon, after battling Nashville's notorious Fri. going-home "rush" hour traffic, I was expecting to do whatever assigned tasks I'd be given while the Friday Nite Opry Show took place, then "shadow" or assist & learn the Post-Show Tour with an experienced Guide. And yes, I did spend some time scanning tickets at the Opry House front door and then guiding Guests to their seats in the auditorium.

But before I got started, my Lead informed me that I'd be doing a VIP Tour. I'd heard of these, but not much more than the term. This involved contacting a small group of Guests, in this instance six, at the seats as Intermission was ending, to escort them to backstage, to Dressing Room #1, which once served the late Roy Acuff, the "King of Country Music" and one of the "Four Pillars of the Grand Ole Opry". There they got to enter and meet for a few personal moments and a few photo shots with no less than Vince Gill! Afterward I took them on an abbreviated version of the regular backstage tour, so they could see the Green Room, other dressings rooms (each decorated to a theme) and the Opry House post office. Then I took them back to their seats so they could enjoy the rest of the show – including Vince, who "hosted" the final half hour.

When that final half hour and the show ended I was back in the lobby area to guide a group of Guests on a backstage tour. The Post-Show Tour is pretty much like the regular tour, except we skip the introductory video. After all, they've just enjoyed the Fri. Nite Opry Show and hardly need a six-minute explanation, not even by Carrie Underwood. But the BIG diference in the Post-Show is that things are still busy backstage, and some of the stars are fixing to leave. Thus, my group ran into Craig Morgan, and shortly afterward Vince! Both men graciously delayed their exit for pix and autographs. That's the way Country Music artists are, especially those who belong to the Opry family!

The next day (sat. the 19th) during a break between tours I went to the box office to inquire about groups rates and minimum numbers. And to my great surprise ran into Lisa Minix! She trained me on the computerized sales-cash register system when I first sold tickets at Opryland back in 1991! What a delight to see her again! We couldn't stop hugging each other.

Therefore yestereve's Grand Ole Opry Show carries special meaning for yours truly. Y'all come to the tour and show now, ya hear?

Music City on the Silver Screen; a movie review

2011-01-19T14:50:00.000-08:00

Saturday afternoon, 15 January, I did something I don't get to do as often as I wish. I took in a new movie, at the theater.

The movie is "Country strong".

I might not have paid it much more attention than any other flicks that have debuted so far this year. But when I watched Gwyneth Paltrow sing and play guitar, presenting the theme song, during last fall's CMA Awards show (right here in Bridgestone Arena, downtown) I got rather impressed. Plus, I came to remember that last year there was a call for Nashville residents to go to Municipal Auditorium to participate in crowd scenes for the movie.

Between the opening of "Country Strong" here and last Friday, I managed to read a few reviews of it. It generally got panned. I got to having second tho'ts about seeing it; wait 'til it would be available on DVD for check-out. However, I searched for the least expensive ticket in town and went.

I'm glad I did!

The movie was quite believable. In fact, I had to keep reminding myself that this was award-winning actress Paltrow PLAYING a PART, not a REAL country music star struggling with addictions and a troubled marriage. At one scene I got to feeling some animus against her character; she seemed too whiny (like Marsha Mason's role in "The Goodbye girl"). But then when she visited the schoolroom as part of "Make-A-Wish" I really warmed up to her. I began to root for her to overcome her dependencies and revive her marriage & her singing career. And then when she performed those songs on stage -- even tho' I knew this concert scene was shot in Nashville's Municipal Aud. and NOT in Dallas) -- I really was ready to stand up & cheer as tho' actually in the crowd at an actual Country Music concert! At this point also, Kelly Canter was making me think of Trish Yearwood and/or Faith Hill! (The latter, BTW, is Tim McGraw's real-life Pop-Country-star wife.)

As the reviews said, there were many clichés which've been in more than one flick about a country music star. I myself noticed ones I'd seen in "Coal Miner's Daughter" and/or "Pure Country", but these didn't really bother me. What DID bother me: some scenes were set in Texas or "on the road again" somewhere/anywhere, but I recognized all urban scenes as shot in Nashville & the rural road scenes in rural Middle Tennessee. Not that such makes a BIG difference to yours truly, who long ago made his peace with knowledge that TV shows set in the Deep South -- "Andy Griffith Show" and "Dukes of Hazzard" -- got filmed in California.

But the other thing that bothered me was the conclusion, after the big concert scene. It mocked the movie's title; "weak" would've served as a more accurate adjective. True, in REAL life famous people struggling to rise back up from an addiction-induced slump DO sometimes crash-and-burn rather than overcome. But I so much WANTED Kelly to make it! And everything in the flick SEEMED to be leading to a spectacular triumphant finale. Or maybe I'm just not sufficiently perceptive; were there hints, omens I'd missed?

Actually, I did notice that after she left the stage and was walking backstage she had a very weary, almost troubled look. And when she locked the door I started to get nervous. So I wasn't totally unprepared, but with such LITTLE forewarning, coupled with my growing affection & hope for her, that suicide ending simply left me very dissatisfied. I walked back to my car feeling that I'd been robbed.

Finally I shall say that I applaud "Country Strong" (despite the mockery of the title by the main character's ultimately-fatal weakness) for its presentation of Nashville. It really captured Nashville as Music City, a place where the music industry strongly influences our economy and living. I liked how it displayed this one aspect of my current hometown's character -- never forgetting it's "Music City" as in MANY genres, NOT only Country Music. Nor forgetting that as State Capital it's a major location of governmental activity, as well as finance and insurance. Nor that this burg has TWO other important nicknames which reflect two other MAJOR elements: "The Athens of the South" (much cultural activity & numerous higher ed. campuses) and "Buckle of the Bible Belt" (denominational headquarters & publishing houses).

The movie may have had its weaknesses, but the city most definitely has MANY facets -- STRONG facets.

Happy New Year of Our Lord Twenty-Eleven!

2011-01-16T14:45:00.000-08:00

Howdy & the Lord's blessing to you dear reader, from yours truly here in Music City, aka Nashville, Tennessee!

Yes, I notice that, one, I kind of faded out on this my blog as Two Thousand Ten drew to its ending. And two, HERE it's already the Sixteenth of January -- and I'm just now putting HNY greetings on it! ??!!?!!?

Oh, well, I resolve to do better! In fact, I already have a movie review planned for posting on Monday the 17th, of a flick I went to see Saturday (yesterday). Tune in tomorrow for that (hint: the flick I watched was filmed here in Nashville).

But for right now, I simply wish to give y'all my greetings & best wishes for this young year, A.D. 2011. My only other item for today's post is to mention that I'm listening, even as I type this to the on-line edition of the radio program "Front Porch Fellowship". It begins shortly after 4pm on Saturdays and is repeated at the same time on Sundays. You can dial it on your radio; go to "Solid Gospel Radio", 104.9 or 105.1 FM. The lower frequency is tied to a small town west of Nashville, the higher freq. to one to the east. So if you're west of IH 65, you'll pick up 104.9 better, and the other if you're east of that interstate.

Or you can do as I'm doing. Go on-line to www.southerngospel.com and click on the rectangular button below ON AIR in the upper left corner. If you enjoy Bluegrass Music or Gospel Music, "Front Porch Fellowship" is the show for your great listening pleasure!

I've began listening to Les Butler's hour-long musical trip to Heaven in the late 1990s, when the Salem network commenced the dual-freq. SGM station in Middle Tennessee. This event brought Gospel Music back to the greater Nashville area for the first time since WENO-AM780 ceased to send SGM over the airwaves in the early Nineties. Les introduced me to the joys of Bluegrass Gospel Music, and also to one of the genre's most talented and beautiful (audibly as well as visually) artists: Rhonda Vincent. Thanks to my frequent communications to Les about how much Rhonda impressed me, nowadays whenever he sends one of her Gospel songs out over FPF on the airwaves, he dedicates the song to yours truly.

Furthermore, since I returned to Tennessee from San Antonio -- wonderful place to live, except that it's short on Rhonda Vincent as well as Bluegrass Music in general -- Les has several times mentioned requests for "Front Porch Fellowship" sent to him by a Mike Johnson in Burley, Idaho. Every time I hear one of these I get happy and homesick at the same time; you see, Idaho's the state of my raising & still home to most of my family of origin (I know exactly where in southern Idaho the town is & have been there), and it warms my heart to know there's a lover of Bluegrass Gospel there amid those potato fields!

Well, whether you listen to Les Butler's show ornot, may our Lord bless you abundantly in this year!

Music of the season in Music City

2010-12-23T09:44:00.000-08:00

Still strong in my memory is my introduction to the concept of a radio station sending out exclusively Christmas or holiday music over the airwaves in December. It was station WENO - AM 760, right here in Nashville in 1990. A few months later WENO -- first Music City station to broadcast only Country Music (and not WSM!) -- introduced me to Southern Gospel Music. (Alas! like most AM stations it's fallen to the "talk radio" format.)

While I lived in San Antonio I looked forward every year to listening to Mix 96 (KXXM) airing Christmas music. And now that I'm back here in Nashville I've been greatly enjoying the cheerful holiday tunes, on Mix 92 (FM 92.9, WJXA) and on "The Fish" 94 FM. An interesting detail about the latter station is that it's contemporary Christian music, but the December playlist has been as much a mix of secular and sacred songs as the former station broadcasts.

So, well, I've heard several times such cherished classics of the season as "Joy to the World" by Mannheim Steamroller and "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. TSO's hit has a fascinating story behind it, set in war-torn Sarajevo, and was on the playlist for "Holiday in the Park" in Fiesta Texas theme park (S.A.). The instrumentation and rhythm so affected yours truly that I came up with a sort of choreographed conducting set of movements, as tho' I were actually directing TSO. Probably I got plenty of weird looks from Fiesta Texas guests whenever I'd do this!

One other song I learned at Fiesta Texas that alas! I've only heard once (maybe twice) is Amy Grant's "Welcome to Our World". But on the other hand, "How Many Kings" serves a a nice substitute. And there's always Karen Carpenter sweetly singing "Merry Christmas Darling" or another song of the season.

A couple of "new" (to me) Christmas songs have blessed my listening ears. One is a duet medley by Bing Crosby and David Bowie titled "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth". Now THERE's a duo one wouldn't expect, dear reader, the old king of big-band crooners and a rock star! But it's a beautiful song! The other newby is "O Holy Night" recorded by Martina McBride. She sings the song BEAUTIFULLY!

Thru Yahoo I've accessed an on-line list of the top thirty holiday songs, culled by a Paul Green from a Nielson Soundscan list of 200 most popular.

Dear reader, enjoy the music of this season! And have a blessed time as the old year ends & the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven commences!

Jimmy Kelly's is lost -- or I am!

2010-12-04T18:52:00.000-08:00

Last night (Thursday, 2 December) the Nashville Area LCA Alumni had our monthly meeting, at a place called Jimmy Kelly's. As is typical of our Alum-Brotherhood functions, the food was delicious and the fellowship terrific.

Once I found the place.

The name was known to me from my previous residence in Music City, 1984-91. I had a picture in my memory of it being somewhere close to the intersection of 25th Ave. No, with Elliston Pl. and West End. Very near Centennial Park.

The e-mail invitation I'd received gave the address as 217 Louise Ave. A glance at Google indicated that it wasn't exactly where my memory was telling me, but not terribly distant. Nor terribly distant from where I was -- a library on the Vanderbilt campus -- as the time approached.

So I left the stacks (actually the terminals, as I was working on-line), got in my "new" Integra (new to me, but year 1995) and drove to the area between West End and Church near Baptist Hospital. I searched and searched the night-darkened streets in vain.

And then I remembered that it was supposedly off Elliston Place, not Church! So west I drove, and made a guess as to where Louise was. Over a half hour later and a stop at a drugstore for directions (but nobody knew) I finally found Jimmy Kelly's! I realized that I'd actually passed by it earlier, because there was no lighted or well-lit sing.

So it was after 7:00 when I sat down with my Brothers in the Bond. But from then on it was a wonderful evening. A few of the alumni even brought their wives with them -- lately our get-togethers have generally been open to "significant others".

We were seated upstairs, in an elegant room that had a fireplace (unused, alas), some large formal portraits on the wall -- including the best known painting of Commodore Vanderbilt himself -- and white cloth tablecloths and black cloth napkins. Apparently Jimmy Kelly's free appetizers are dollar-size pancakes (or pones) -- and these were de-e-e-e-elicious!

I think I could have made a meal out of just eating those little cakes. But that would have been dull, you know. I did have baked salmon along with a salad and baked potato. Yum, yum!

So what threatened to turn into a disaster of an evening jaunt turned out okay in the end. And NOW I know exactly where Jimmy Kelly's is!

CMA Awards - Music City's Night to Shine

2010-11-11T20:20:00.000-08:00

The annual CMA Awards Show here is to Nashville what the Oscars show is to Hollywood (& by extension L.A.). It's Country Music's and Music City's NIGHT to SHINE.

And shine we did last night, Wednesday, 10 November. Which, BTW, on any calendar year the Tenth of this month could legitimately be called "Vets-e'en" since it's the eve of Veterans Day. Remember, dear reader, to "Thank a Vet" for her/his vigilance in serving our nation in the military and guarding our borders to keep the peace within these United States.

Back to the music. . . .

Wednesday is rehearsal night for the Choir of Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and I haven't paid great attention to nor viewed on TV the CMA and other award shows for some years. But THIS Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Ten is different. A Facebook status notified us that ECC(DC) member and Nashville Bluegrass Band fiddler Stuart Duncan would perform during the show, at two specific times, the first being 9:30 local time. Choir Director Julie Duemler also notified us at rehearsal. So even tho' I'm always reluctant to leave Eastwood right after rehearsal, I did scoot back to Mercury Courts in timely fashion.

Only one resident was watching TV in the community room, and he didn't mind me switching channels to the award show. Just in time! Within only a minute or so they started a segment honoring Loretta Lynn for her 50 years of singing. Miranda Lambert began singing Loretta's signature song "Coal Miner's Daughter", then Cheryl Crow joined her onstage AND THEN Loretta herself came out to make it a trio. I cannot blame the camera crew for focusing on such notable singers of the female persuasion; the instrumentalists got short shrift. I only saw a bit of Stuart over a feminine shoulder now and then.

Just a few minutes later -- naturally after a LONG commercial break -- actress Gwyneth Paltrow played acoustic guitar while singing the title song of her up-coming movie "Country Strong". Vince Gill assisted her up front with electric guitar and his stellar tenor harmony. But blonde and beautiful Paltrow was the star of the moment, as she sounded like a true Country singer! Her performance prompts me to seriously going to see the picture show when it is released.

And on this song the cameras seemed to show more of the instrumental accompanists; I saw much more of Stuart and his deft fiddling. One could hardly call what he does so well "sawin' on a fiddle", you know! He and the other backing musicians were clad nicely in retro suits and ties, in a "men in black" motif.

When Tim McGraw came onstage to announce the final and highest award, he too sported a "men in black" look - only with addition of a sable Stetson! My favorite singer, George Strait, wasn't even nominated this time (he hasn't released a notable song in the past year or so). So I was rooting for Brad Paisley to win Entertainer of the Year. And sure en'uf, Tim said Brad's name as winner! Hooray for Brad Paisley - he's earned it & it's really overdue.

Brad was endearing in his acceptance. When he first walked onto the stage, with a white Stetson, he had sort of a swagger - but quickly it became evident that this was not due to arrogance but rather his being deeply humbled and moved by this honor. First thing he did was quote his hero, Jimmy Dickens, who often says at the end of his performances on the Opry, "If you see a turtle sitting on a fence post, it had help getting up there". He likened himself to that turtle, just as Jimmy does. And in the closing moments of the awards show Brad thanked all those who helped HIM "get up on the fence post". He started with a nod to fans -- and not simply HIS fams but all Country Music fans, calling us "the most amazing, loyal fan base in the world."

Do I need to add that I was very glad I saw that half hour of the CMA Awards Show? Yes, I was very, very glad!

B

Notice about dating of postings

2010-11-11T08:13:00.000-08:00

Dear reader, please don't be misled by the dates on my latest two postings. It used to be that if I composed a posting on, say, a Monday and saved it as a draft, finished it on Tuesday & posted it, it would be dated the Mon. date.

Apparently no more, here on Blogspot. The "Hum-dinger" posting actually was started on Mon. 25 Oct. Then for some reason I didn't get back to finishing it 'til yours truly went to finish up my draft of "Purple". "Hum-dinger" focuses on events of two weeks EARLIER than does "Purple". Which means that if you're reading my postings from the top -- the latest to get "published" -- you're reading the two said posts in REAL chronological order, not the usual order of latest to older.

Hm-m-m-m-m! I kind of like that arrangement. Lover of history & biography that I am, one feature of blogs and other on-line on-going Websites that I've been unhappy about is that as you read down one of these you're going back in time -- reverse history if you will.

Oh, well. . . .

Hum-dinger Homecoming weekend

2010-11-09T13:46:00.000-08:00

The past weekend (Fri. pm 22 to Sun. 24) was quite an eventful one for yours truly. Particularly in the matter of sports and of Homecomings.

First up - on Friday evening my favorite MLB team made history. The Texas Rangers beat the Yankees 6-1 and thus won the ALCS title and their first-ever entry into the World Series. In the franchise's fiftieth year. And in Game Six in Arlington! I was so-o-o-o happy for Nolan Ryan, phenomenal former pitcher who retired as a Ranger (1993) and now is President and co-owner of the team.

All three of my university alma maters played their Homecoming games on Saturday. That's about as rare a Fall Football Saturday for me as is one on which all three teams come up winners. (THIS occurred one of the Saturdays back in September.) I'd have loved to have been able to go to Moscow for Idaho's Homecoming; I always considered the Vandals Homecoming Parade thru little downtown Moscow to be the best of such parades. And the Vandals handily defeated New Mexico State 37-14. Go Vandals!

And in Fort Worth, Texas -- in the same county as Arlington, where the Rangers had just won ALCS, and don't think I wouldn't have wanted to be in Tarrant Country to see BOTH! -- TCU's Horned frogs put the hurt on Air Force Academy. With 30 first downs and their accustomed 500 + total yards, the Purple and White won 38-7. Air Force can get some credit: they're the first team to score a TD on the Frogs in four games!

But alas! it wasn't such a sweet Homecoming Game here in Music City out on West End Avenue. After being tied 7-up with South Carolina at the half and well into third quarter, the Vanderbilt Commodores fell , 21-7. Small consolation for we who bleed Black and Gold: at least the 'Dores showed up for the game. They were glaringly "absent" a week earlier in Athens, Georgia, in losing to the Bulldogs 43-0. Which was Georgia's Homecoming game by the way.

However, I didn't attend the game but rather a little of the pre-game Homecoming activities. Already being in the Vandy neighborhood on an errand, I chose to then drive over and check out open house (or "tailgate" party) at Lambda Chi Alpha. Kensington Ave. was blocked off, so I parked in the alley behind the chapter house. First, I was surprised to find nobody in the back yard, and upon entering almost nobody inside. This was disconcerting; I almost always enter by the front door. However, I was quickly apprised that the Brothers for the most part were on the front lawn. Shortly after joining them out there I noticed that several golf carts were lined up on Kensington, some already decorated to participate in the parade. And straight across the street stood tables from which freebies were being given out. I sauntered over and received a Chik-Fil-A sandwich (still hot), a bottle of water (still cold) and a plastic lei (Black and Gold). Later I also acquired a necklace of gold beads and one of black.

While enjoying this impromptu free lunch (or "tailgate" party, if you will) and casual chatting with Brothers and their dates, I kept an eye out for other alumni. Indeed I saw Bro. Robb Bigelow, with his two kids. Bro. Robb was one of the first Lanbda Chis at Vandy when National chose to revive the long-dormant Gamma-Delta Zeta. As an alumnus he served as High Pi (Alumni Advisor) for a few years; he works as a lawyer here.

The Homecoming Parade consisted of the VU Marching Band leading a series of golf carts decorated in somewhat float fashion. Lanbda Chi Alpha entered one, with Hawaiian or tropical adornment. The use of golf carts amused me: it was so typical of a "rich kids' school". You see, Alamo Heights High School, where I substitute taught and which serves an "old-rich" area of Bexar County (San Antonio), used golf carts to convey the Homecoming Court onto the field of Orem Stadium. Now AHHS is a public school and has a mixed student body as far as fiscal status goes. But there are plenty of students from the "old-rich" families, which I suspect fosters a stereotype in neighboring school districts that AHHS is a "rich kids' school".

In the same way, although Vanderbilt students cover a spectrum of family income (e.g., my wife as an undergrad at VU came from a rather modest home in Tampa), ask anybody and they'll voice the opinion that most Vandy students are wealthy. So the golf carts struck me as fitting. Fitting the stereotype, that is!

Purple invasion!

2010-11-08T15:16:00.000-08:00

Saturday afternoon (6 Nov.) yours truly witnessed sort of an invasion of Nashville by an unexpected horde of Purple People Eaters. Yeah, there were plenty of blue & orange Gators fans in town, watching Florida chomp down on Vandy's Commodores, over there off West End Ave.

But no, I didn't attend VU v. UF. I was off 21st Ave. So. on the opposite side of the campus. The locale was a small old building behind San Antonio Taco Co. (the original café), housing a new business, bbq beach bar & grill (their lowercase spelling). I went there because I'd discovered (thanks to a sister at church) that there was to be a special TCU area alumni gathering there Saturday afternoon to watch the TCU Horned Frogs football team - #3 in BCS poll - play #5 Utah Utes in Salt Lake City. Gathering was to begin about 2 PM, with kick-off at 2:30.

Well, I walked in right about kick-off time. Two fellows wearing purple sat at the counter in the small front room of bbq beach. But I quickly noticed that down a short stairway in the back (or lower) room was quite a crowd, and lots of purple. Indeed, when I entered I might have been the only TCU alum or supporter who DIDN'T sport any purple garb!

But I doubt anybody out-roared me as we happily watched our Purple & White horde eat the Utes for lunch!

For being ranked #5 the home team certainly didn't show much offense or defense. Meanwhile the Horned Frogs scored a TD on their first possession, and led 20-0 at close of the first period, and 23-0 at the half. This was the Utes' first suffering of a first-half shut-out!

Several visual details kept leaping out at me as I watched. First, the Utah team's uniforms were U-U-UGLY-Y-Y! ! ! Apparently school colors are black and red; the uniforms had very little red, lots of black and LOTS of a species of cammo. To go along with the cammo, the back shoulder area didn't have the player's name but a characteristic, such as "DUTY" "HONOR" "COUNTRY or "COURAGE". Kin of militaristic, eh!

The black motif or school color filled the stadium bleachers, too, as msot Utah students and many others in the crowd soprted black shirts and other midnight apparel. Apparently the Utes had called for a "Blackout Day" to boost their spirits against the visiting Texans.

And yes, there WAS a contingent of Texans in the stands. Seated in a section tucked away in a corner of the stadium. Ah! but the TV cameras swept that section a lot in the final quarter, as it was obvious that the visitors would be victors. Even after the Utes managed to score a TD. For six straight games no team has scored more than a TD against TCU!

And so final tally was TCU 47 and Utah 7.

While the Horned Frogs were handily putting a stop to Utah's home winning streak at 21, I was happily mingling with the purple-clad "horde" here in bbq beach. Even tho' nobody among Nashvillians whom I knew to be TCU alumni attended the party, not everybody present was a stranger to yours truly. Why, Ryan, a friend of Michael Lehman's whom I had met a while back (Michael's ordination, probably) greeted me by name. And one of our interns at Eastwood CC(DC), Andrew entered the festivites along with his girlfriend Allison. Andrew wasn't wearing purple either, which made me feel better about my lack of the school color. Of course he isn't an alumnus of TCU. . .

Lovely Anthem this Sunday: "The Apple Tree"

2010-10-29T09:46:00.000-07:00

This Sunday, 31 October, we in the choir at Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will sing an Anthem titled The Apple Tree. The song fascinates me. I like to sing it & it's not difficult to sing.

But what fascinates me most is that the lyrics go back a long time and their theme. Jesus our Lord is compared to an apple tree!

Quite a contrast to the popular supposition that the forbidden fruit tree in Eden was an apple tree. Despite Scripture never giving what fruit it was (or if it was even any fruit now found on this Earth), so many, many times I've heard or read about Eve starting trouble by "eating the apple". This is just one of many items that popular culture has wrong about things in the Bible. (Another is that Jesus had long hair or anything else in appearance that set him off from his disciples.)

So it's refreshing to sing of the apple tree in a positive spiritual context. With joy I look forward to singing it this Sunday! Here are the lyrics, as found in a New England hymnal of the late 1700s:

1. The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit and always green:
The trees of nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ the apple tree.

2. His beauty doth all things excel:
By faith I know, but ne'er can tell
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ the apple tree.

3. For happiness I long have sought,
And pleasure dearly I have bought:
I missed of all; but now I see
'Tis found in Christ the apple tree.

4. I'm weary with my former toil,
Here I will sit and rest awhile:
Under the shadow I will be,
Of Jesus Christ the apple tree.

5. This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,
It keeps my dying faith alive;
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the apple tree.

A terrific Thur. p.m. "Station Inn Session"

2010-10-16T14:23:00.000-07:00

Late yesterday afternoon I tool a break from job searching and so on, to take in some live music -- not a difficult thing to do here in Music City USA. I hied myself down to the Station Inn. I've mentioned this little "dive" (outside appearance) near downtown in several posts, a couple of which have it or the live music within as main topic.

Radio station WSM-AM 650 hosted its fairly new show "Station Inn Sessions" with Mike Terry as deejay-emcee. Upon my entering, he smiled as he caught sight of me. It was good to see one of my WSM buddies again, as I hadn't been to a "Station In Session" in some months. (There's usually one monthly, but recently some months didn't include a live radio session at Station Inn.

However, THIS session was worth the wait and effort to be there! You see, dear reader, featured artists were Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. This Bluegrass band had been guests of Eddie Stubbs on his "Intimate Evening" show a few months ago, in the Country Music Hall of Fame souvenir store. (The usual venue for Stubbs' show, Ford Theater at opposite end of the building, still wasn't completely repaired from May's Great Flood. Despite the literally "intimate" setting in the store, Doyle and his group provided a quite delightful evening of live Bluegrass - including a superb a cappella Gospel number (see my posting of 13 July for more).

Well, this evening at Station Inn they performed in just as intimate a setting. And they gave us just as delightful a concert! Perhaps even MORE delightful. Doyle et al. certainly had the crowd stirred up. But then again the audience at these Sessions typically IS "stirred up" - not solely due to Mike Terry urging applause and other noise!

The only regrettable feature is that this concert only lasted an hour, not counting Mike's interview with Doyle Lawson for about half an hour or so before start of the live music at six. During "Intimate evening" the show went two hours. But then again, Eddie Stubbs conducts much more interviewing and much less live music. So probably we heard more last evening of live pickin' and singin' that "high lonesome sound" than did the crowd at Eddie's show!

About midway or so thru the hour the six fellows put down their instruments and some of them sang a cappella another Bluegrass-style Gospel song (not the "Zion Medley" of the earlier show). Then picked up the instruments and did another Gospel number, plus a couple more standard (not Gospel) Bluegrass offerings. They ended one with little more than five minutes left 'til seven (start time of "Opry Country Classics" on WSM). This one was so rousing that we gave them a standing ovation. Then with Mike's egging we made noise for an encore. Mike requested "Blue Train". This apparently is an Old Bleugrass standard. But let me tell you, when the tenor stretched up toward the stratosphere on the stretch-out of the words "blue train", it was awesome! I can't say it was ear-piercing, but as they held out that high note I could imagine somebody listening onsome old-time radio, the big floor-standing kind with lots of glass tubes in the innards -- and this extended not breaking the glass!

Big Band and Big Birthday!

2010-10-05T19:01:00.000-07:00

Yours truly has TWO items to share as this Fifth of October in the Year of Our Lord 2010 draws to an end. I'll try to Keep It Short & Simple!

First, to "Tunes Amid Tomes". If you've read this blog from near my commencement of it, you'll recognize that I'm referring to the "summer" concerts in the courtyard at the Nashville Public Library downtown. The finale for 2010 was this noon today, and featured Radio Daze, a Big Band Music group who call Music City "home". And they were TERRIFIC!

The show commenced with a young businessman (i.e, he was dressed in suit & tie) singing a solo of "Witchcraft". It's been decades since I'd heard this as a hit on the radio, but durned if he -- Mac McClenathan -- didn't sound like Ol' Blue Eyes himself! Mac later sang a couple of other Sinatra classics, one of which was meant to be the finale. But we liked him so much that we hollered for an encore. He obliged by singing "Mac the Knife."

In between, we got treated to women's trio, duet and solo singing, a quartet, and plenty of instrumental music. You know, dear reader, as I've stated before I consider myself eclectic in musical taste. Yet, as with Jazz, I have no Big Band recordings nor do I listen to the genre on the airwaves. But like Jazz, get me to a live performance, and my ears get decidedly blessed!

Oh, and Radio Daze don't just perform classic Big Band stuff like Sinatra. They also take hit songs of other genres and adapt them beautifully to the Big Band style. Thus we got treated to the Patsy Cline hit "Crazy" (and durned if she didn't sound like Cline!) and the ABBA hit "Dancing Queen".

Early in the concert, the emcee for the group while introducing the members, remarked that Mac McClenathan was "overdressed" (because he was on lunch break from his downtown job) -- all the other men wore white or light polo shirts. However, the women of Radio Daze were nicely and colorfully dressed, so my estimation was that the other men were under-dressed! As if th confirm my opinion, when it came time for the final door-prize drawing, the woman in charge of it said that she had a request from her staff present (all or mostly women), "that the handsome man who sings Sinatra draw the winner!"

Guys, there's just something about a man dressed up in suit & tie that attracts the women!

Okay, the second matter is the Big Birthday. . . .

Exactly eighty-five years ago on this very date at somewhat earlier than this very hour of the evening, the airwaves over Nashville cracled to life as a new radio station was born. The station, created by National Life and Accident Insurance (headquartered in the Tenn. capital city) as a promotional and publicity tool, wasn't the first here, but the older stations didn't last. Therefore, it's become one of the oldest radio stations in these United States that still carries the same call letters at the same AM frequency. And of course, this "the Air Castle of the South" broadcasts the longest continuously performing live radio show in history!

So. . . HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WSM - AM 650 ! ! !

Opry applauds the "Spirit of Nashville"

2010-10-04T16:38:00.000-07:00

Five months ago to the day Nashville (and much of the State plus adjoining regions) suffered the start of the Great Flood, and numerous major important and historic buildings got flooded. One victim was the Grand Ole Opry House, home of the show since 1974. Now, five months later to the day the Opry family celebrates the "Spirit of Nashville" with various public events.

Dear reader, yours truly was looking forward to today as much as -- even more than, actually -- the return of the beloved radio show. The Opry returned to its permanent home this past Tuesday with a fabulous and historic performance, as I reported previously. Listening on WSM-AM 650 gave me great pleasure; however, I itched to SEE the place where I'd spent many an evening enjoying "the show that made Country Music famous" and many a day guiding tourists thru the venerable House.

So I spoke to a neighbor with a vehicle about the freebie events out there, and late in the morning we go there. The line for the free tours is long -- easily the length of a football field or two. But thank the Lord, the weather continues its string of glorious autumn days. And touring the entire Grand Ole Opry House, including backstage and on stage, is well worth the wait!

Even before we enter, I notice differences, such as the glass-wall entrance to the Opry Shop to the right and a matching glass-wall for tickets to the left. These didn't exist when I worked at Opryland, but had taken the place of two "kiosks" (booths) nearer the main doors to the House. Inside, things also appear different, but I'm unsure that this is as much remodeling as it is my faulty memory. Once the line processes to the left of the stage and on backstage, I feel at home. Back there had been an area with some chairs and long tables, where employees and cast could have a bite to eat while sitting and chatting. Many a Friday or Saturday evening I would skip the employee cafeteria inside Opryland Park, going instead to the Opry House, buying a hot dog or other food and a drink and sitting in this area.

Today there is only one table set up, but I remember at once the podium and the wall telephone I see in the area. Further back is the artists' entrance, where a guide tells us about it and the process of the stars entering the venue. Nearby is the post-office style mailboxes for the cast members to receive fan mail.

As we proceed past the mail area I see on the other side of the hall a new item. It's a section of wall covered with 3-by-5 (more or less) brass plates, each with the name of a cast member. All the cast thru the show's history is there! The plates are set in the order of their induction.

Further along we pass into the dressing room area. News items had informed that there are 18 refurbished rooms -- and that each has a theme. Also the backstage area was reported to have lost the earlier appearance of being "antiseptic", "hospital-like", like a high-school hallway (with metal lockers)" or "plain".

The news reports and comments are "spot-on"! I really, really like the "new" or post-Flood backstage look. The high-school metal lockers are replaced with beautiful wooden ones. Each dressing room looks much more inviting -- "homey" if you will. Number One is still tagged as "Roy's Room" because when the Grand Ole Opry House first opened in 1974, the "King of Country Music" the late Roy Acuff claimed it as his permanent dressing room. I remember that Porter Waggoner claimed the room on the direct opposite end of the "Green Room", and one or two others also got claimed. But generally the cast learned which dressing room was theirs for the evening when they came in the building at the artists' entrance.

Speaking of the "Green Room", I remember that back when I guided the tours I explained that it's a standard term for the room backstage of any theater where performers gather to await their turn on-stage. And that not many really are a green color. Oddly, the first "new" temporary home the show had post-flood was right across Briley Parkway (and up a hill) in the sanctuary of Two Rivers Baptist Church. And I remember Mike Terry, while he did the "Opry Warm-Up" on WSM, commented that the church classroom or whatever was serving as the show's "Green Room" really was green!

Well the "new" room here is quite different from the one in my memory. It's filled with plush funiture (more so than the old one) and looks as "homey" and inviting as the dressing rooms which surround it. I do miss the mural that was on the old room's wall. It was a cartoonish yet charming depiction fo the stage during the "organized chaos" that is an Opry show being performed. Stage hands hustled back and forth with equipment and folks were engaged in chatting or tuning instruments -- and it was difficult (if I remember the mural correctly) to pick out WHO in the hodge-podge was THE performer of the moment! I wish they had saved it, but I don't know but what the mural was gone before the water invaded the place.

Speaking of water, should anybody touring tor working in the backstage area forget that a flood happened here, they woun't have to look far for sobering reminders. At the artists' entrance, the guide pointed out how the concrete support pillars were a light grey up to about four feet, and noticeably darker from there on up; it's the water line from the flood. And in the "Green Room" itself a discreet chair-back protector stripe is set at the water line there!

Well, then it's time to go out on the stage, and more memories flood my mind (no pun intended). How many times did I stand here at the right edge of the stage (as one looks out at the audience) by or even behind the rear curtains, viewing a performance going on center stage? How many tour groups did I lead out onto center stage to stand around the famous six-foot circle of wood from the Ryman stage? And once I'd made my remarks about the circle, I'd lead the groups in singing the chorus of "Your Are My Sunshine" -- then conclude that "Now y'all can go home and tell your family and neighbors that you sang on the grand Ole Opry!"

The most remarkable thing about the Ryman circle is: it was removed immediately following the Great Flood, carefully cleaned and restored, and returned to the stage just a couple weeks ago. Meanwhile, the rest of the stage's surface got scrapped and replaced with new and darker wood. "New" means that "they sure don't build things like they used to" -- with the older than a century Ryman wood surviving while the 1974 floor gets ruined! "Darker" means that now the Ryman circle is more noticeable that it was pre-flood!

Well, I have a photo taken of me standing in the circle, and take a few more photos of the stage area. Then my neighbor and I walk up thru the audience seating, to the Opry Shop near the front doors. Most of what I see in there seems to be identical merchandise to what I'd seen in the new Opry Originals store downtown after it opened. This store also has a big-screen showing video excerpts of performances. And I sing along on a few of the songs, and get "captured" by a Country Music history book for sale!

Once I untangle myself from these enticements and find my neighbor, we mosey on outdoors to the Opry Plaza. Live music is being played out here, and we find a couple of seats and enjoy the music for a good while. We also enjoy the absolutely perfect "chamber-of-commerce" weather!

dear reader, one couldn't ask for a better day for welcoming the world's oldest live radio show back to her permanent home! So "Welcome back home, Opry!"

September flies by -- a month of "home-comings"!

2010-09-29T16:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I swan!

It's been a month since I last posted. . . dear reader, please don't get the idea that this month which is fast drawing to its end was uneventful for yours truly. Far from it!

For one, on Labor Day due to certain unforseen dreadful factors which coincided in mid-day, I couldn't go sell ice cream in White House as planned. And indeed, later in the month, that work ended. To which all I shall say is, "Good riddance!" (Please don't request explanation; it's a long, bitter, even shameful story.)

However, there was sweet consolation. I phoned Pastor Jay to vent about the unforseen dreadful factors, and he reminded me that they were having a cook-out at the church parsonage. So I went to that -- and had a great time! The weather was "chamber-of-commerce" ultra-pleasant, the grilled food was de-e-e-elicious (and the un-grilled, too!), and the fellowship with Eastwood brothers & sisters cherished.

The middle of the month, 14th to 18th, was spent in Boise, Idaho, My father suffering chronic after-effects of a stroke at the first of the month prompted this long overdue visit to the city of my raising. Before and during this trip I kept my focus on the silver lining in this dark cloud of a family-member health crisis: it had been way too many years since I'd seen most of the other members of my family of origin, so this was much-appreciated family reunion. In addition to visiting Dad in St. Luke's Hospital, I saw Mom, who lives in a high-rise retirement facility right across the street from the hospital, and my siblings. Our cousin John Graham, superintendant of schools in Twin Falls, had a meeting in Boise that Friday and my sister Debbie and I did lunch with him. It had been almost 17 years since my previous visit to Boise, and eery, that visit was for Dad's retirement party from the electric company!

Dad will be okay; indeed, the hospital released him the day I flew back to Nashville. Truly, other than the concern for Dad's health (which did like a roller coaster until settling down for the better Fri. and Sat.), the visit to the City of Trees was utterly delightful!

But my life now & my immediate family are in Tennessee. Therefore, I took that return flight -- not without a tinge of reluctance, I must admit. May it NOT be another sixteen plus years before my next visit!

But this final week of September here in Music City gave me great reason to be glad I'd returned: TWO important Homecomings!

The first was this Sunday past, as Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) observed eighty years of service and witness in East Nashville. Homecomings, like evangelistic revivals, are a rarity among us Disciples of Christ; I wish they weren't. And I got the impression that this ECC(DC) Homecoming was almost a last-minute idea. Nevertheless, it was a great celebration of our 80th!

We began by scrapping the usual Sunday school classes and everybody assembling instead in the sanctuary. The history of the congregation, favorite hymn requests and older members' memories got featured. The worship service didn't high-light the Homecoming much, but the delicious potluck dinner afterward certainly made up for this! And once everybody had their plates and seats we got treated to a slide show-illustrated history of the congregation that Bob Frech emceed. Following this we watched a video of interviews by Cindy Francis Lovelace with Pastor Jay and a few of the members, about their relationship with Eastwood.

The other Homecoming was last evening, Tuesday the 28th, as "the show that made Country Music famous" returned to the "new" Grand Ole Opry House after almost five months of wandering around Nashville, performing in various borrowed venues, including two former Opry homes (War Memorial and Ryman auditoriums). The moving-back-in happening as a Tuesday Night Opry held double significant. The first Opry show after floodwater invaded the Grand Ole Opry House in May was a Tuesday Night Opry. Plus this was just in time: each October is "birthday" celebration month for both WSM-AM 650 and its most famous show! So they're "back home again" just in time for the annual birthday bash!

This historic show ran over three hours instead of the usual two (not counting intermission). Plus, there were plenty more Country Music performers than usual, both from the cast and guests. Jeannie Seely was one of the first to come out and sing on the restored stage after opening events. I felt this was as it should be (ignoring that generally Ms. Seely's early in the line-up on any Opry show), since she had only a few days earlier moved back into her own flood-invaded home.

Later, Martina McBride sang one of her hits. At its end I was engaged in conversation with a neighbor (we were both sitting out on the second-floor walkway listening to the show) and when I re-focused my attention on the singing I at first concluded that Martina was now singing an old classic hit by another female singer, "Once a Day". Then I realized that the voice I was hearing was that of the other female singer -- Connie Smith! Only the next day did I discover that "Once a Day" actually got sung as a Connie-Martina duet. So call this an extended "Opry Moment" for yours truly!

Brad Paisley, who had sung "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" -- first in duet with Little Jimmy Dickens, then with the whole cast as choir -- to open the show, later sang "Anything Like Me". Diamond Rio sang my favorite of their hits, "One More Day". As for the guest artists, alas! not all of them should have been on that stage for that show (in my opinion). Most especially the guy from "Down Under" who looks and sounds much more like a Seventies Rock Music star; his last name says it all: Urban - the antonym of Country. Also, Blake Shelton sang a song with questionable lyrics (words which used to NEVER get heard on legitimate radio). Nevertheless, young Blake got invited to become the newest member of the cast. This invitation came to him, onstage during the broadcast, via a Twitter message, of all things. . . .

Oh, well, this historic show may have included elements I could have done without, but all in all, it was exhilarating to listen to the star-studded, musical Homecoming of the Opry. What a fine ending to the month of September!

Finally - I get to a Sounds game!

2010-08-30T15:34:00.000-07:00

When my family & I lived in Nashville before (1984-91), we attended a couple of games at Greer Stadium, home of the Nashville Sounds. And if you've read much of my "Glen Alan's San Antonio" blog, you know that during my stay in that city I was a avid fan of the S.A. Missions baseball team. The Missions are Texas League (only AA) while the Sounds are Pacific Coast League (AAA).

During August of Ought Eight I desired to take in a Sounds game or two. And the Thursday night that was the final of the month AND final home game for the Sounds, I actually tried to go. Waited TWO hours on Murfreesboro Rd. for an in-bound MTA bus; by the time one showed up, I knew it was too late to get to Greer in time. I could have walked there & arrived in much less than two hours! (FYI, that waiting-in-vain time wasn't wholly wasted; on my radio I kept switching between the station carrying the Sounds game and the one carrying the Vanderbilt Commodores opening game for the 2008 season, at Miami-Ohio).

With the move of play-by-play radio announcer Stu Paul from S.A., where he did the Missions games on KKYX-AM 680, to Nashville to do the same from the Sounds, my interest in the home-town team increased exponentially! But alas! due to my fiscal straits I felt I couldn't affort even the price of a general admission ticket. So I contented myself with listening to my ol' buddy Stu on 104.5 The Zone radio or on-line.

But praise be to the Lord! Some tiny personal GOOD came out of May's Great Flood, tied in with Eastwood Christian Church's ties to little league baseball here! (Pastor Jay is a team coach and some of the boys play.)

You see, dear reader, the flood destroyed equipment for the Jess Neely (inner-city youth baseball & football) program. AND our home-town Minor League team has been assisting in the rebuilding. Sounds management announced that advance reserved tickets for the 29 August game (final home game) would sell for $10 rather than the regular $12, with ALL proceeds going to Jess Neely! Yet another example of the WE ARE NASHVILLE response to the flood disaster!

Well, over 100 Eastwood folks purchased tickets -- including an anonymous Brother or Sister who paid for mine. "Thank you & Lord bless you!" to whoever you are!

And Sunday the 29th turned out to be a banner day in many ways for ECC(DC). Associate Pastor Michael Lehman returned from a brief return visit to Akron following his ordination on the 21st, and we recognized not one but TWO new interns assigned to us by the Vanderbilt D School. The "Pastor's Class" in Sunday School was the usual lively, throught-provoking and enjoyable discussion it almost always is, and then we choir members in the class scooted over to the Sanctuary to rehearse the Anthem, the joyful praise-prayer song "Jesu, Jesu". Following Worship we had our monthly Sunday potluck dinner in the fellowship hall. Delicious food accompanied the delightful conversation around each round table.

And to think, yours truly got to be back with my spiritual family again in the evening! A late afternoon drizzle that lasted thru the game apparently discouraged a few ECC(DC) ticket holders from arriving, but there were still plenty of us there, in Section QQ and adjoining. We had a fine line-of-sight from high up, along the line from home to first.

And what a fine game to see! The New Orleans Zephyrs got on the scoreboard with one run in top of the first. But the Sounds answered in the bottom with a Grand Slam Homerun! Brendan Katin did this to express appreciation to us fans, I suppose, for the pre-game honor of selection as 2010 Sounds Fan Favorite.

Wow, Katin! What way to say, "Thank you, you Music City fans!"

And thus a desire of mine ended in fulfillment. When my good buddy Stu Paul posted on Facebook the Montgomery Gentry song "Gone", stating that an excerpt from its chorus got played over the Greer loudspeakers whenever a Sounds hit a h.r., I replied that I was sure hoping there'd be a homer whenever I got to my first game at Greer. And here I was listening to it!

But don't go away quite yet! Katin's bottom-of-the-first homer was simply the first of TWO he slugged out of the ballpark -- and THREE total for the Sounds! Now the later two homers (in 4th and 6th innings) weren't Grand Slams, but who's counting? When your team goes into the Seventh leading 10-1, with a 16 to 2 hit and 0 to 1 error advantage to boot does it really matter that 2 of 3 homers aren't grand slams? Besides, the one Grand Slam was Sounds' fourth this year (if I remember correctly one or two were walk-off Grand Slams) and Katin's h.r. of the evening tied the team record record of seven.

I had already spoken with Steve Walls about bumming a ride after the game, and with several Eastwood folk already departed, he, his kids and I joined the exodus. But not before that ceremonial "Seventh-Inning Stretch". And to delight, Stu Paul led our singing of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"!

Hoo-ray, Stu! Hoo-ray, Nashville Sounds!

The Music-filled Ordination of Michael

2010-08-22T18:15:00.000-07:00

This weekend is something the Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Choir and I have been looking forward to for some considerable time. You see, Saturday afternoon our congregation ordained our young Associate Pastor Michael Lehman in a most impressive worship service. Michael, from Akron, Ohio, comes from a a family where music and singing is a major element. Indeed, his mother Julie is a choir director -- and brought her church choir with her when the entire Lehman family and a goodly representation of High St. CC(DC) journeyed from Akron for the ordination.

Michael himself studied for a degree in music, at Oberlin (famous for its music program), and intended to be a percussionist in the Cleveland Symphony. However, our good Lord had other plans and Mike sensed the call to professional ministry, and this past academic year received an MDiv. from Vanderbilt Divinity School. Back in May I posted about going to the Vandy campus for his Commencement. And to be honest and frank, Michael's ceremony surpassed my own as an M.A. degree recipient at VU in 1989.

Well, I must be honest & frank again. Only a few months ago Eastwood ordained another recent Vandy D School grad & member of our congregation. She's Emily Nourse, and I felt HER ordination service was the equal of my own. But Michael's surpassed both!

And oh, it was SO Music City! The guy put SO MUCH song and music into this celebration of his ordination!

It all commenced with Pastor Jay on bagpipes and other instrumentalists playing a prelude called "Highland Cathedral" (Roever & Korb), followed shortly afterward by the Nashville Bluegrass Band in a mini-concert -- three bluegrass-gospel songs (the Band's fiddler is ECC(DC) member Stuart Duncan). Several other musical specials spiced the service. Not one but TWO Anthems got sung by a combination of Eastwood and High Street's choirs. Julie Duemler, Eastwood's director, conducted the first, "The Majesty and Glory of Your Name" (Fettke & Johnson). Michael's mother, director of the High St. Choir, conducted the other, "Lord Here Am I" (John Ness Beck).

Between the two Anthems were several other portions of the order of service. These included Presentation of the Candidate, which involved representatives of four entities being witnesses to his gifts of ministry, as witnessed at the Disciples Divinity House, the D School (to which the previous is attached), our congregation and the Regional CC(DC). A Dr. Amy-Jill Levine represented the D School, and in her witness incorporated several musical expressions in a manner which charmed and at times amused me and others.

Eastwood's Senior Pastor Jay Hartley treated us to a fine ordination sermon, based on Jeremiah 1:4-10 and titled "Michael and his Angels". Then various standard promises were made and we had the standard Laying on of Hands. As an ordained Disciples of Christ clergy I was one of those who ascended the chancel and placed my hand on Deacon Margaret Nourse's shoulder in front of me (Pastor Jay had his on mine). Margaret's hand was on someone in front of her, who had theirs on Michael.

And glory to God! We'd heard sounds of thunder and rain outside, but while Pastor Jay was reciting the Ordination Prayer a beam of sunlight pierced a west-wall window behind me, passed over my shoulder and fell on the one being prayed for! I affirm that THIS act was an "Act of God" affirming Michael's ordination! It was to Michael as the descent of the Holy Spirit in dove form was to Jesus at His baptism. Glory to God indeed!

Michael was presented with signs (or symbols) of the office of ministry: a black academic robe, a colorful stole, beautiful ceramic chalice and paten (vessels for the Lord's Supper) and so forth. It shouldn't be a surprise that Michael as musician/singer got into the act, beyond his singing in both Anthems. His response as the Newly Ordained featured very few spoken words beyond "Thanks!", as he was clearly overcome with emotion about the whole event. After his brief, choked-up expression of gratitude, he went to a marimba, took up two sticks in each hand, and played the Malotte "Lord's Prayer". He did it beautifully, even including a little "Amazing Grace" in it (thus it was actually a medley).

Then we had the Supper. We did this in the manner we do at Eastwood on every First Sunday: singing "Eat This Bread Drink This Cup" the people walk down center aisle, partake by intinction (breaking off a piece of the loaf & dipping it in the chalice), and then form a hand-holding circle around the sanctuary while continuing to sing.

This activity, which I presume Michael had requested, made my heart full on two counts. First Sunday of this month I'd missed out on it, since I attended worship at Donelson CC(DC); so this made up for that. And due to the extra-high attendance, with all the folk from Ohio, we had to stand close together with our backs against the wall all the way around; this occurred also at our Christmas Eve service. Just as then, the situation reminded me strongly of my last Kairos Prison Ministry visit into the Briscoe Prison (Dilley, Texas); so many of us volunteers and especially so many inmates were present that when we formed our accustomed "circle" to close by singing "Surely the Presence", all our backsides were up against the walls of the prison gym! For yours truly, such events are awesome witnesses to the mighty work of God within the particular institution where they occur. Plus, ANYTHING that reminds me of my blessed times in prison doing Kairos ministry will make my heart full!

Glory to God for ALL that transpired in the ordination of Michael Lehman! He will be an outstanding leader and servant for the portion of the Church on Earth that is our denomination -- as well as for others. I expect to hear great news about Michael in the future. . . .

A wonderful weekend of marvellous music

2010-08-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

Sometime in A.D. 2009 I discovered that Rhonda Vincent had recorded Stuart Hamblen's Gospel song "Until Then", which I'd heard recordings of by Jeff & Sheri Easter and others, and which I'd learned to play on guitar. You will know if you regularly this blog, dear reader, that yours truly is fond of Rhonda Vincent's singing. Therefore, at some point in Ought Nine I e-mailed a request that Les Butler play her recording of "Until Then" on his Solid Gospel 105 radio show "Front Porch Fellowship".

And Saturday afternoon I got blessed in listening as finally Les honored my request! It took so long because at first he did not even have it available -- turns out she covered it early in her singing career. And then it arrived by mail, and Les even gave me a "heads up" over the airwaves a week earlier! Well, let me tell you, Rhonda singing "Until Then" was well worth the wait! I really liked Jeff & Sheri's recording (featuring Sheri & her beautiful alto voice), but Rhonda was even better. And I really got into the accompaniment, which sort of to my surprise included pedal steel guitar (I'm pretty sure it wasn't Dobro I was hearing, because I can fairly well distinguish the two sounds). Steel is not a standard instrument of bluegrass; nevertheless, it's my favorite instrument to listen to of all instruments.

That evening (Saturday the 14th)my listening pleasure continued with the Grand Ole Opry show, on radio WSM-AM 650 "The Legend". The world's oldest live radio show has continued its post-flood nomadic progress while its home, the Opry House in Donelson, is repaired from flood damage. On Friday, 6 August, for example, the Opry was performed and broadcast from War Memorial Auditorium. (War Memorial, near the State Capitol and across Seventh Ave. from former site of National Life and Accident Insurance headquarters where WSM and the Opry were born, was the Opry's home for some years over six decades ago. The Tuesday evening after the flood crested, the Tuesday Night Opry took place there.

Most other post-flood Opry shows had been in its most famous former home (many folk erroneously think its first home) venerable Ryman Auditorium just off Broadway between Fourth and Fifth Avenues North. This offered to an unanticipated little treat for me. Most evenings I'll be riding homeward on the MTA bus (route #15) that departs Music City Central (MTA's downtown depot) at 9:15pm -- right when the Opry shows are concluding on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Hence, the bus will be southbound on Fourth Avenue while the audience is exiting the Ryman. It's delightful to see all these folk whom I know had attended a great country music show, while I'd listened on the radio.

Now Saturday (yesterday) was different, in that a couple who also work for Goody Wagons gave me a ride home. Therefore I didn't pass the historic auditorium as usual. But after I arrived at Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Sunday morning and greeted Pastor Jay by wishing him and wife Dawn a happy anniversary, he informed me that the Hartleys had celebrated it on its eve by their first attendance at the Grand Ole Opry! I was so happy for them, that they'd gone!

You see, dear reader, the line-up of performers for Saturday show was even better than usual. Young Country Music star Mark Wills guested, singing his first hit, "Don't Laugh at Me." Crystal Gayle, sister of the Opry's Loretta Lynn but not herself a member, was another guest artist. Among the songs she sang was my favorite of hers, "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". The Whites hosted the second half hour andVince Gill the final. Dailey & Vincent were guests on that concluding segment of the show. One of their performances was a humorous version of "Daddy Sang Bass", which had me chuckling loudly.

Sunday morning at Eastwood CC(DC) gave me both a surprise and a much-anticipated treat. When I greeted Pastor Jay (Hartley) with a "Happy anniversary" for he and wife Dawn, he informed me that on its eve he and she pre-celebrated by attending the Grand Ole Opry, their first time. So they saw as well as heard that show which gave me so much listening pleasure the previous evening! Jay waxed enthusiastic, praising especially Mark Wills singing "Don't Laugh at Me", and Dailey & Vincent's performance. I really like it when folks I know who've lived for years or all their lives in Nashville get around to going to the Opry and have a good experience!

Then finally I was part of the much-anticipated return of the choir from our Summer break. We sang a very awesome and beautiful anthem, "Come Let Us Fix Our Eyes on Jesus", lyrics of which are from Hebrews 12:2 (in today's lectionary readings and one of my favorite verses of scripture, particularly in the New American Standard version. Instrumental accompaniment came from Marie Wiggins on piano, Nashville Symphony bassoonist and pastor's wife Dawn Hartley, and two young guest clarinetists. We sounded marvellous, if I do say so myself!

We Are Nashville (keepin' on keepin' on)

2010-08-05T08:50:00.000-07:00

Well, it's now been three months since record torrential rains in Tennessee and adjacent States caused rivers to rise to unprecedented levels in the Great Flood of May 2010. Lives were lost (11 here in Nashville) and billions of dollars damage was inflicted on the region, in flooded homes, businesses, public buildings and the transportation infrastructure.

But now, three months later in early August as you or I travel around Music City, the metropolis looks pretty much "normal" i.e., as it did pre-flood. Just don't let a quick glance around fool you, dear reader! There is STILL damage to be repaired, there are residents who aren't back in their homes -- and homeless who still seek a new "camping spot" since "Tent City" beneath the Silliman Evans Bridge washed away -- and unemployed workers whose jobs drowned in the floodwaters.

In the past seven days I myself saw continuing evidence of the flood's fury. A neighborhood just off Lebanon Road which I drive thru selling ice cream lies partly in the flood zone of Mill Creek, and when I first re-entered it after the flood the lowest portions of it were busy with men cleaning flood debris. They'd eagerly purchase ice cream, but in a week or so the clean-up job was finished and they left. However, I continued to make sales to residents, both those living on higher ground, and those in the process of making their flooded homes habitable again.

I was just beginning to think the whole neighborhood had gotten back to "normal" when last Saturday I espied several folks at the end of a short cul-de-sac that I'd never driven down before (not even pre-flood). Eager to see if these people might make purchases, I directed the wagon into that cul-de-sac. Well, it turned out that these weren't residents out enjoying the late afternoon shade; they were either workers or residents still laboring on the houses.

As I passed each house, on both sides, coming and going, I saw that every one of them had doors and windows wide open. And thru the openings one could see that the insides were empty and stripped down to the two-by fours! These homes still awaited repair work to make them once again inhabitable!

It will still be several months before all repair work is done.

Yours truly hardly needed this experience to remind me of the on-going recovery efforts. Almost daily I'll be on the MTA route 15 bus from the downtown depot to Mercury Courts. Just ten or so blocks south of the depot on Fourth Avenue South sits the Schermerhorn Symphony Hall. This young, beautiful and awesome edifice yet is surrounded by temporary chain-link fencing. They're still working on repairing the Schermerhorn, which suffered over 40 million dollars damage. And of course, repair work continues on the Grand Ole Opry House, the Opryland Hotel, the mall that took Opryland Park's place, Nashville MTA offices and so on.

Yes, dear reader, Nashville may look pretty much back to "normal" -- and was indeed "open for business" regarding the music and tourism industries in just a matter of days after the Cumberland River crested. On the other hand, much work remains to be done, to REALLY get us all the way back to "normal"! So please pray for us. And remember: We Are Nashville!

And it's out: the Scene's 2010 YASNI issue

2010-07-19T11:33:00.000-07:00

Yes! To my great delight at the end of last week (funny, I cannot remember if Fri. or Sat. --an episode of "someteimers disease"?) I saw the latest issue of the Nashville Scene, this city's major alternative rag. And the cover article presents the 2010 edition of the paper's "You Are So Nashville If. . ." completion contest.

The issue's cover is a cartoon which shows three men carrying musical instruments above their heads and wading thru floodwaters on Lower Broad (the river end of Broadway). Each man wears a different tee shirt of those which were produced after the Great Flood and sold to help raise money for flood relief and recovery. And at the bottom is this:

"You Are So Nashville If. . . your city flooded and all you got was a lousy t-shirt."

This is SO FUNNY! David Anthony's entry certainly beats the winner of last year's YASNI contest. The 2010 Second Place entry also alludes to the flood as well as to local politics: ". . .FEMA bailed out your Tea Party a--." (Bruce Arntson) Two other flood-related I found particularly amusing are "You can rhyme Omohundro" (Wando Weaver) and "All of your friends are now experts at removing soggy drywall" (Christian Bottorff). Concerning "Omohundro" please read my recent post about heroes of the Great Flood (1 July) or an on-line article from The City Paper.

On the other hand, Wando Weaver also entered one that hits close to home: "You are so Nashville if. . . you used to work for Gaylord." I'm certain the entry refers to mall and hotel employees who lost their jobs to the floodwaters. But yours truly used to work for Gaylord, too -- back before Gaylord murdered Opryland Park.

As for non flood-related entries, probably my fave is ". . .All of your city's 'alternative' papers are owned by the same large conglomerate (Ilissa Gold)". She's referring to the irony of the Scene and The City Paper both having the same owner. A related other entry of hers is ". . .The City Paper thinks you're too ambitious and confrontational."

Finally two entries both having to do with Nashville as both "Buckle of the Bible Belt" AND "Music City USA" are "YASNI. . .

. . .You can't tell if you're at a gay bar or a Christian music industry party. (Kevin C)" and

. . .You've sued your church over songwriting royalties (Sean Williams)."

Great news (partly) for Music City USA!

2010-07-17T13:49:00.000-07:00

This week began with a sublimely endearing live experience of the genre of music which was born right here in Nashville. (Bluegrass - see previous post.) Now today, it's ending with great news published by Nashville's daily paper, The Tennessean! And I love the front-page, above-the fold, headline.

"On the Road Again: Country tours thrive"

The newspaper article features a photo of country singer Tim McGraw in performance at the Fan Fair (CMA Music Festival) held here just over a month ago. Tim and wife Faith Hill make their home just south of Nashville in Williamson Country (where many country music stars have their homes).

The article points out that while tickets sales for music stars' concert tours in general are slumping this year (down 17%), country artists are bucking that trend. And they're succeeding in part due to lower average ticket costs. E.g., Bon Jovi, highest-grossing act in sales, has average ticket price of over $94 and James Taylor/Carole King (wish I could have seen their tour when it stopped here) tickets average over $86. Compare them with Taylor Swift, third-highest gross sales, who averages just over $60, and Tim (#8 on the list) charges an average of $48.53 per ticket.

Now mind you, even the lower country average prices still are way above what yours truly could fork out for a ticket. So I won't be going to see Taylor or Tim any time soon, any more than I was able to see James & Carole!

Nevertheless, it pleases me -- and doubtless pleases many "suits" on Music Row -- that the news is good for the country concert tour scene. To read the entire news article's on-line version, which alas! doesn't feature the headline alluding to Willie Nelson's great hit song, go to http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100717/BUSINESS01/7170320/On-the-road-again-Country-tours-thrive

One last tho't, dear reader. My rejoicing for the good news re country tour sales does not blind me to the not-so-good news for other genres. Nashville is, after all, Music City USA: home of American music in many forms and genres. I do consider myself eclectic in my musical tastes, even tho' Country & Western and Southern Gospel are my two faves. Therefore, I hope and I shall pray that music genres in general will follow Country artists' lead, and lower ticket prices, which will cause larger crowds and greater sales.

Doyle, Quicksilver & bluegrass gospel

2010-07-13T09:33:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday, 8 July, I was listening to WSM-AM 650, when it was announced that the ninth caller would get admission for two to Eddie Stubbs' monthly program "Intimate Evening" on Monday the Twelfth, at Country Music Hall of Fame. Eddie's guest was to be Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. And wouldn't you know it? Yours truly was ninth caller when Charlie Mattos picked up phone!

As a result, I spent a VERY delightful, indeed a very blessed, evening of listening to bluegrass, both recorded & live, and an informative and at times very humorous interview between Eddie and one of the legends of bluegrass music, especially bluegrass gospel.

Indeed, my introduction to Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver was listening to their recordings on "Front Porch Fellowship", Les Butler's bluegrass gospel show on Solid Gospel 105 radio ack in the late 1990s. (In this, the group share commonality with my favorite bluegrass singer of the female persuasion, Rhonda Vincent.)

The time leading up to the show's start at 7 PM was not so memorable, as first I missed the bus I needed to catch -- thank you Nashville MTA! -- and had to hitch a ride. Then when it got to be around 6:30 my fellow church member whom I'd invited to accompany me hadn't shown; I phoned him only to discover that due to an unanticipated business arrival to Nashville he'd forgotten all about the show & my invitation! He was very, very apologetic, and I quickly forgave him. About that same time I found out that the show wouldn't be in its accustomed venue of the Ford Theater of the CMHoFaM (still not completely repaired from flood damage) but rather in a nook of the CMHoFaM gift shop. Folding chairs were set close together for an audience of about 100, and the performance area was right there -- sitting in the third row back I could have spat and hit the mics! Talk about an "intimate evening!"

Then, as if fated to lift my somewhat fallen spirit, after I sat down, two vacant seats in front of me got occupied by Dailey & Vincent! So I got to speak with both these fellas who have so impressed me with their talent, their mutual friendship & faith, and their admiration for the Sadler Bros. And I got to speak with Darrin Vincent about the impact his sister Rhonda Vincent has made on yours truly!

Well, and if having Dailey & Vincent sitting so close to me didn't serve to lift my spirits -- which it did -- certainly the featured artists of the show did! After all, they're seven-time winners of the IBMA Vocal Bluegrass Group of the Year, and Doyle is an acknowledged leader and talented mandolinist in the bluegrass genre.

And the group performed live a couple songs off their most recently released album project and their most recent gospel album. This latter song, "Zion Medley", featured tremendous a cappella quartet singing, which at the final note had me up applauding and shouting "Hallelujah!" Many others in the audience joined in the standing ovation.

Yet another silver anniversary here in Mid-Tenn.

2010-07-03T08:23:00.000-07:00

Last month the Tennessee Rennaisance Festival celebrated its 25th year of fun and history in tiny Triune just south of Nashville-Davidson County. Last week we celebrated the silver anniversary of the IBMA with a very enjoyable and memorable show of "Music City Roots" at the Loveless Barn. And yesterday another 25th was observed, this one for the General Jackson Showboat. Apparently 2 July 1985 was when the huge boat was christened.

I don't remember much about that christening. I presume it was either at the downtown Nashville riverfront or at its dock at Opryland Park. And I vaguely remember that the Opry's Porter Waggoner got involved in some way.

What yours truly DOES remember, very vividly, is the coming of the paddlewheel showboat to Nashville in A.D. 1985. It had been constructed in Indiana and launched on 20 April. It sailed down the Ohio River and up the Cumberland River, and it was BIG news here that it would arrive at thus-and-such date, about thus-and-such time.

My family and I went to the Clarksville Highway bridge then, to see this enormous floating theater. It really was awesome when it hove into view downstream! We weren't used to seeing anything sailing or floating on the Cumberland larger than the industrial barges which frequent it. Another paddlewheel showboat that already plied Nashville's river was much smaller.

Some years later we got to ride on the iconic showboat. That too was enjoyable. But nothing I associate with the General Jackson matches the wonder of its arrival here!

It would have been fine to board the enormous floating theater again. And considering that Gaylord Corp. was advertising retro cruise price of $8.00 per person, I'd have gone had I not had to work. The retro price reminded me of how in 1993 the Tower of the Americas celebrated the silver anniversary of HemisFair '68 and the Tower by charging the original (1968) price for elevator rides! Retro indeed!

I just love history. Especially when it comes back to life, such as in taking prices for things back to the original prices!

A look back at a Tennessee June

2010-07-01T08:35:00.000-07:00

On this First of July in the Year of Our Lord (A.D.) Twenty-Ten, with the Independence Day holiday coming up in just three days, I reflect back on the past month and what it presented to me. Obviously, getting to see and hold my darling Theresa, my first grandchild, tops the list of memories which June presented to me! (See my posts on 15 and 20 June.)

I also rejoice in the fruit of June (and July), my fave -- the apricot. Funny that the fruit I enjoy the most seems also to have THE SHORTEST SEASON. And it was almost the end of the month before I remembered to go to the produce section in the grocery store to pick some for purchase.

And then there are the lightning bugs (aka fireflies). Memories of my childhood in the PAcific Northwest don't include these fascinating insects. Neither are they to be found in the parts of Texas where I live. But in Middle Tennessee they're abundant! Ah-hah! Yet another reason for me to be glad I moved from San Antonio back to "the greenest State in the land of the free"!

Because my worksite (or where I have to begin & end each work shift) Goody Wagons, is two blocks off the bus route (Dickerson Rd.), I walk up-hill a block, then down-hill a block. Coming and going. But I hardly mind the end-of-day walk away from the ice cream wagons. That direction, the second, downhill, block presents a wooded area to the left, and being a dutiful follower of pedestrian rules I walk on that side. The walk is always after dusk, and in June I would be greeted by at least half a dozen twinkling lights for the lightning bugs! And when the sky was clear, the critters seemed to echo, in a way, the stars up above. For the nighttime light pollution from Music City is dimmer right in the Goody Wagons area of town.

Alas! there's one blot on this otherwise idyllic scene. A block closer-in on the other side of Dickerson Rd. from my bus stop is a garish, strongly-illuminated, purple-painted building -- an "adult" store! What a contrast between the good lights of God's creation, and the evil lighting by humankind!

Nevertheless, the lightning bugs are delightful. And they easily keep my focus, so I can ignore the blemish.

Nor are these little flying luminaries the only fauna I've been enjoying as a result of my driving around in an ice cream truck. Early in June one of my Facebook Friends, who became my cyber-buddy eyars before FB and who shall remain anonymous, posted about how twice during a short car trip in an adjacent State a bear had crossed the road, and when they reached home "Thumper" was munching down a meal in the flower bed! Well, I've seen "Thumper" several times in the Nashville neighborhoods where I sell ice cream, and the rabbit's tree-dwelling, bushy-tailed cousin!

Finally, Tuesday's sunset, the eve for June's final day (no pun intended), literally took my breath away! Some of the scattered clouds in the western sky shone with a pink hue that got deeper until it was almost red at the end. Other clouds, shadowed, presented a blue-grey tint. The downtown skyline silhouetted in a similar tint, accented here and there by the usual lighting. The entire vision, with God's nature-painting above and human constructions below, was absolutely awesome!

What a beautiful ending (minus a day) to a beautiful month!

The Great Flood: Recovery and Heroes

2010-07-01T08:12:00.000-07:00

Today marks the date two months ago that torrential rain began to cause streams to flood in West and Middle Tennessee. 1 May A.D. 2010 was the beginning of the Great Flood. Here in Nashville rebuilding, recovering and repairing continue. We are Nashville!

In my driving around neighborhoods near the Cumberland River or Mill Creek in my ice cream truck I will occasionally encounter graphic reminders of the flood, and how my beloved hometown's recuperation is on-going. And every now and then there will be news on the airwaves or in print, about the continuing effort. For yours truly, the saddest news was a week or ten days back, when it was announced that the Schermerhorn Symphony Hall will cost $42 million in repairs! And it will be several months still 'til it's open for concerts again. Meanwhile the Grammy-winning Nashville Symphony, like the Grand Ole Opry show, keeps on keeping on in borrowed venues, of which, thank God, there are several here in Music City!

We are Nashville!

And, dear reader, I keep on contemplating memories of the heroes of the Great Flood! Lots of stories of heroism during the actual rising of the waters, their receding to normal and the immediate recovery were published or broadcast. I personally have a Top Three Heroes of the Flood.

One is a structure: the Omohundro Water Plant. This facility, which is well over a century old, is right beside the south bank of the Cumberland in my ZIP, 37210. The flooding river took out the other, newer, water plant, the Harrington. It almost took out the Omohundro, too. But volunteers, including inmates, feverishly stacked sandbags around the water plant, and managed -- barely -- to save it! Otherwise, instead of being asked to cut water use in half, Nashvillians would have had to rely on trucked-in H2O! So by inference, the heroes in this case will cover not only the plant itself but also prisoners and other volunteers who helped save it so it could save us some drinking water!

Another of my trio of heroes is Mayor Karl Dean. I already liked our Metro Nashville-Davidson chief, among other things because he supports dedicated funding and other features to improve mass transit here, and despite his pushing for the new convention center that Nashville doesn't need. But his calm yet firm, determined, handling of the disaster truly hiked my admiration for Mayor Dean! I think of him being to the Great Flood what our President was to Nine-Eleven: a real spirit-lifter, a lighter of the beacon of hope.

Nevertheless, my vote for greatest heroism and most positively lifting spirits of area residents is Jeannie Seely of the Opry! Her home on the river near the Opry House and her car were inundated. And yet the evening after the flood crested Jeannie was on the Tuesday Nite Opry, singing, speaking about the flood and its effects and sharing her distinctive sense of humor. One of my favorite quotes from the disaster is Jeannie saying, “It’s so great to be here. Somebody said, ‘I can’t believe you’re going to play the Grand Ole Opry tonight.’ I said, ‘Well, it’s not like I can stay home and watch TV.’ You can laugh about it or cry, and I don’t want to cry.” At her "stay home and watch TV" yours truly laughed out loud, and at her final comment I cheered out loud!

Jeannie continued to share such encouraging wisdom in the weeks since the flood. She and other music stars resident here have been very active in setting up and performing in area concerts to raise funds for flood relief. And doesn't this seem so fitting for the city that's famous as Music City USA?

We are Nashville!

Back to the Barn, for Bluegrass

2010-06-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday evening, the 16th, I got to listen for the first time to WSM-AM 650's new live music show "Music City Roots". Last evening, Wed. the 23d, I got to BE there, at the Loveless Barn, behind the famous Loveless Café out on Hwy. 100. Thus I went "back to the barn" sort of -- see my posting of Monday 8 March 2010.

This particular MCR celebrated the silver anniversary of the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Assn.). And it WAS international, since G2, a bluegrass band of young Swedes, was on the program. I hadn't heard of them before, nor a couple of the other artists. But just knowing the show would feature The Whites, Jesse McReynolds (both artists from the Grand Ole Opry), and Dale Ann Bradley sufficed to entice me to go "back to the barn"!

I attended with some of the choir members of the Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples). We'd been invited to attend by staff member John Walker, and I'm most grateful to him! I rode out to Loveless with Gene & Cindy Lovelace (no pun intended) and also Associate Pastor Michael Lehman. We headed west from the church following the monthly Wed. supper, a hearty one of baked potato bar and salad bar.

Once we took seats in the barn and the show opened, it quickly evoked sweet memories of the live music shows that made the late, great Opryland Park my favorite of ALL theme-parks! This was due primarily, I think, to the openness of the venue. The setting sun shone in from the west, and despite air-conditioning the barn felt somewhat hot & humid; lots of programs were doing duty as fans. Since WSM and Opry's Eddie Stubbs emceed and the format was similar to that of the world's oldest radio show, this "Music City Roots" also evoked to a lesser extent memories of Grand Ole Opry shows I'd been to, particular the two I've attended at Ryman Auditorium.

Jim Lauderdale served as host. A non-performing guest was Craig Havighurst, author of "Air Castle of the South: WSM and the making of Music City". Jim interviewed Craig to start off the show.

Performing commenced with Alison Brown & Fair Weather Friends. I wasn't familiar with this bluegrass group, but was pleased with their performance. Shortly afterward we heard from G2. This band of young Swedes displayed great talent on the instruments and fluent vocals in English.

During the performance of one of the first groups, we got treated to the first unannounced cameo appearance from a big bluegrass star! He was Del McCoury! He sauntered onto the stage with a big grin, acoustic guitar and a nice-looking casual shirt -- quite different from his usual suit and tie! Oh, and he also sported his striking silvery pompadour -- LOL! Probably the best-known hairdo among bluegrass & country male stars -- after Marty stuart's, that is -- LOL again!

Other performers included legendary mandolin master Jesse McReynolds, Rodney Dillard et al., Sierra Hull, The Farewell Drifters, based locally, and Rockin' Acoustic Circus, another young group of five teens and a "vet", from Tulsa. Everybody new to me "blew me away" with their talent! So many of this evening's artists being so youthful, there isn't much danger of Bluegrass dying out as an active musical genre any time soon!

Before the final bluegrass group (thus, "headliners" or best-known artists) The Whites took the stage, I'd already decided that this "Music City Roots" had exceeded my best expectations! Everybody had provided such great bluegrass-listening pleasure; I found myself clapping along and/or singing along more than a couple times.

The evening provided pleasant surprises, and at least one "just surprise". Whenever I'd seen The Whites live before, daddy Buck played piano and wore glasses; THIS time with no piano he played mandolin. And Buck went without specs, while both daughters Sharon and Cheryl sported glasses which I hadn't seen them wear before! The Texans also provided a mixed surprise: Sharon's husband, bluegrass and traditional country champion Ricky Skaggs, joined them for a song or two. I was glad Ricky was there; I've always liked his music and had enjoyed speaking with him backstage at the Opry in the 1990s. But alas! he looks very different now. He's put on a few pounds (not that I remember him ever being "svelte"!). Moreover, he's let his hair grow to shoulder-length and much of it's now white! He just doesn't look very good any more: Ricky needs to lose the extra pounds and the extra hair!

Now, at one point about midway in the program Cindy and Gene left their seats at the same time, and were gone a rather long interval. Michael had also disappeared from the seat he'd been sitting in a row behind us other three. (Shortly I learned that he'd chosen to stand -- the folding seats were rather more uncomfortable than such seats are notorious for being.) When the Lovelaces returned Gene dropped a brown bag onto my lap; it contained a "Music City Roots" cap!

And so I came away from the Loveless Barn and MCR with very pleasant memories and a souvenir! Many thanks to the Lovelaces for the latter! And again, many thanks to John Walker for inviting the choir to the show, and to the IBMA for the sweet celebration of its 25 years!

BIG Fan of Granddaughter, Part II

2010-06-20T13:47:00.000-07:00

Afternoon of Friday the 18th was even hotter & more humid than ever here in Music City. But I didn't mind it much. I visited the Nashville Zoo with some family members. It was nice, but I wasn't terribly impressed -- hard to get a zoo to impress yours truly after having known the San Antonio Zoo (one of top three in USA). But I wasn't at Zoo to be impressed, either by layout or by the resident fauna.

I was there to spend time with my children: son David daughter-in-law Allison and daughter Sarah. AND with my ten-week-old granddaughter Theresa!

Theresa (and not elephants, giraffes, iguanas, etc.) was THE STAR of the afternoon!

We arrived at the zoo shortly after noon, so we were there in the heat of the day -- but again, it didn't bother me as much as it could have. One of the first exhibits areas we walked to was the lorikeet enclosure. There must have been two dozen or more of the smallish, colorful, parrotlike fowl -- and one flew right past my face so close I was surprised I didn't feel feathers on my cheek!

We saw the elephants shortly afterward. The two huge beasts formed a train, with the one holding the other's tail with its trunk -- like one sees in Disney cartoon flicks. We also saw giraffes, including one who came close to the edge near a refreshment stand -- called Shamba Market -- so we could see it rather up close. Then the pachyderms got our attention, as they approached a small pond nearby, dunked themselves and self-sprayed water with their trunks -- always a delightful sight!

But again, Theresa was THE STAR of the afternoon! Daddy David offered to let me have her for awhile. I cradled her in my left arm and walked that way for quite a while. Indeed, my arm was getting a bit tired of the unaccustomed weight -- I kept wondering, how could a ten-week-old baby be heavy? -- but I didn't give her up 'til necessary. It was just too sweet to be holding Theresa!

Not long after that Sarah suggested we slip into the gift shop to take a break from the heat and humidity. While we were in there I espied a nice yellow baby's tee that said "First visit to Nashville Zoo". Despite my financial straits I seriously considered purchasing it for Theresa. Then I read the price tag: $13. I'd be very reluctant to purchase a tee MY size for that price! And THIS apparel was so-o-o-o much tinier than what would fit me!

We toured most of the rest of the zoo, then returned to the car. As on the trip to the zoo, Sarah drove, David rode shotgun, I was behind Sarah and Allison behind her hubby. Theresa sat in a backward-facing baby's car seat between mama and granddad. I had my right forearm resting on the baby seat, and noticed that Theresa was running her tiny toes along my arm. She was playing "footsie" with Grandpa! Woo-hoo!

Can you tell I adore my granddaughter?

On being a BIG Fan of my Granddaughter

2010-06-16T08:21:00.000-07:00

In the almost two years I've lived in Nashville (and 1¼ years of this blob) I've experienced many, many events. The Lord has blessed me with a terrific church family in Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Etc., etc.

However, family (kinfolk by blood or marriage) was what drew me away from San Antonio and back to Tennessee. Late Tuesday afternoon I got to experience another memorable family event. Right here in Nashville. One of those once-in-a-lifetime happenings!

I got to see and hold our first grandchild, Theresa Janine Graham.

On being a fan for "Fan Fair"

2010-06-14T11:07:00.000-07:00

"Fan Fair" -- nowadays called CMA Music Festival -- has happened yearly in Music City USA (aka Nashville, Tenn.) since 1972. I recently learned that grand Ole Opry and Opryland exec Bud Wendell came up with the idea. He considered that such a festival would draw more folk (particularly from out of state) to the city and its new theme park. The first time we lived in Nashville I learned early on that lots of native Nashvillians disliked Fan Fair, because of the traffic snarls & gridlock it engendered. But by the time I began working at Opryland such antipathy seemed to have faded away.

After all, Fan Fair was bringing in plenty of dollars along with the tourists, and was becoming a great expression of the community as Music City USA.

I myself didn't participate in Fan Fair until last year. By that time it had a new name and had moved from the State Fairgrounds back to downtown where Mr. Wendell had started it.

Honestly, in Ought Nine I didn't participate much in the annual festivity. I remember trying in vain to get to the plaza at Fifth and Broad outside the then Sommet Center (now Bridgestone Arena) at the time Rhonda Vincent was scheduled to perform. When I got there and was told that yes, she'd just finished performing, I wandered disconsolately up the hill past nearby Ryman Auditorium. And stumbled onto the "guitars of the stars" auction being conducted by WSM's Bill Cody and country star Steve Wariner. I paused, to enjoy the auctioning of Vince Gill's guitar, the back of which was decked out like tiny golf greens. (Vince's second love is golfing; Amy comes in third --LOL.) At another time during Fan Fair '09 I stopped into the famous (the original) Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Lower Broad across from Tootsie's, while WSM was broadcasting live from there as part of Fan Fair. (Funny, I don't remember what artist was performing, jsut that Charlie Mattos was handling the airwaves chores.)

This year I intended to participate a bit more in Fan Fair. It didn't happen, but still Thursday of last week I got in one memorable hour "playing hooky" from work to attend the festivity and "play fan".

I drove my ice cream truck to the Fan Fair area, looking in vain for a parking place near the plaza outside the Bridgestone Arena. While cruising by I got to hear the Opry's "grand lady" Jeannie Seely singing on the Chevy Stage there. Once I got the truck parked a few blocks away I "hot-footed" it down hot-asphalt Fourth Ave. in the hot-sunshine afternoon. Jeannie was already finished singing, but turned out she was emcee for the rest of this "Classic Country" show featuring Lynn Anderson, Gene Watson, Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius.

Between Jeannie's sets on stage I was able to get her attention and thank her for the inspiring positive spirit she has shown since the Great Flood. Shortly afterward, I went inside the arena and acquired some Fan Fair literature, including a sheet with the day's schedule and a fair sized white space just above the "Classic Country" line-up. and I proceeded to play "Fan Fair fan" to the hilt, getting Jeannie's autograph!

I got to hear live performances only on that bit of Jeannie Seely I'd heard while seeking parking, Lynn Anderson's final song, all of Gene Watson's set and Jim Ed's opening song. That, BTW, was his "signature song": "Pop a Top Again". But I knew I needed to get back to cruising neighborhoods earning a living selling ice cream. So I strolled on back to the truck. Since I had to pass the Country Music Hall of Fame on my way, I entered just to see if anything special was happening. Well, turned out that they were taking a survey just outside the souvenir shop. I filled out a form, and as reward received a CMHoFaM key chain. This doesn't have ANY allusion to or connection with Fan Fair, but I'm going to treat it as MY Fan Fair souvenir for 2010!

Yes, dear reader, yours truly was making himself as much a country music fan as I could for this year's music fest in Music City USA! At elast for about an hour; too bad other plans fell thru. We shall see how much further I get to go in being a fan at Fan Fair 2011. . . .

Tue. Opry = "new" home, same GREAT show!

2010-06-10T07:55:00.000-07:00

Since the Great Flood of May 2010 entered the Grand Ole Opry House and damaged the venue, the oldest radio show in the world has become sort of a "traveling minstrel show", you might say! It's returned to former homes at times, and at times it's been in new places. Last week's Grand Ole Opry (Sat.) for example was in a hall at David Lipscomb University for the very first time!

Tuesday the Eighth it was back in a former TEMPORARY home, Municipal Auditorium. It was there for awhile following the 1975 Flood that inundated Opryland Park and seeped into the Opry House basement area. THAT flood was not nearly so destructive as was the recent inundation! THIS particular show also reached back into the past in another way: early in the afternoon as the MTA bus I was on circled around Municipal Auditorium before entering Music City Central (the bus depot is next door), I saw a long line of people waiting to purchase tickets. During the Opry show's stay in the Ryman in the middle of the past century, it became famous, indeed notorious, for the long lines snaking around the block.

So this was sort of a "blast from the past" in a way!

Eddie Stubbs, WSM-AM 650 deejay & Opry emcee, referred to the history of the Opry in Municipal Auditorium during his opening the show yesterday. He also spoke of how, despite the terrible flood, Nashville as Music City USA is OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

We got treated to a great musical opening to Tuesday's Opry! Like most Opry shows it began with the Opry stage band performing and nobody singing. Tuesday's opening piece was "Steel Guitar Rag" from Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys. It's probably my favorite purely instrumental piece that features steel! And yours truly has an on-going love affair with the pedal steel guitar! Afterward the band performed a second instrumental number, which they seldom get to do. It was "Redwing", a nice country/folk style creation which featured the fiddle.

As for singing artists, well, there were some great ones! Legendary Bill Anderson sang first. Later, Mandy Barnett started off with a Patsy Cline song (she played Patsy in a show at the Ryman). Then she did a jazzy version of an Ernest Tubb song ("Walking the Floor" I seem to remember). Josh Turner continued to entice me with his fresh sound that still has roots in traditional country music. And it was great to hear Trish Yearwood back on the Opry stage. She's been cast for over a decade, yet in recent years seldom performs due to touring about her cookbook.

Final act slot was reserved for the star/artist who's making "the most noise" currently. But I was just as happy to lose my radio by time of her appearance and not have to listen to Carrie Underwood. She has a vinegar voice and a hard-rock style that grate on my ears. The only reason Carrie won the American Idol contest and then Opry membership is, I'm very certain, not due to any talent but rather to her being a very sexy blonde.

"Batter Up!" -- at church, even

2010-06-07T07:35:00.000-07:00

Wow! For priding my self on not being the "typical" sports fanatic of the male persuasion, I sure have allowed baseball in several forms to become prominent in my life in the past month or so! "Take me out to the ball game. . . !"

Yesterday, Sunday the Sixth of June, was the start of Vacation Bible School at my church, Eastwood Christian (Disciples). Like last Summer's VBS, this one was in cooperation with a couple other East Nashville congregations (all from different denominations) but held at Eastwood, with curriculum created locally rather than ordered from a religious publishing house. (We have several creative curriculum geniuses!)

The theme chosen for VBS 2010 is "Batter up!"

I wasn't even thinking about that theme while dressing for church Sunday morning. I chose not to wear a suit coat because I knew it had been hot and humid the past few days. I almost went out the door bare-headed (like I'd been doing for a few Sundays), but at the last moment decided that perhaps head gear was in order. So I grabbed one of my baseball-type caps (the one from OSDN).

And then I was in awe at my serendipitous choice when I entered the church sanctuary and saw it already decorated with theme-oriented material, such as posters resembling baseball trading cards but with the people from the Bible who would be hi-lited in the curriculum. Even Jesus, his image copied from a traditional popular painting, wore a baseball cap!

"Batter up!"

Furthermore, the Nourse ladies (mother Margaret & daughter Emily) turned out to be as focused as I on the TCU Horned Frogs in post-season NCAA baseball play. And other church members were just as focused on the hometown team, the Vanderbilt Commodores, playing in the Regional in Louisville.

Memorial Weekend -- memories & memorable

2010-06-01T12:10:00.000-07:00

Dear reader, I do not intend a pun with the title of this posting. It just happens that the holiday which initially was named "Decoration Day" is now called "Memorial Day". And during the three-day weekend that ended May with both the traditional and the observed holidays, I had memories of earlier editions of this holiday, as well as having new ones made (hence, memorable).

I've written about the two Memorial Days before. E.g., see the 27 May 2008 post on my other blog, "Glen Alan's San Antonio".

Memorial Weekend of A.D. 2010 got started a bit early, on Friday morning when I heard a new song on WSM. It was a new song by the artist, Sammy Kershaw. It's called "The Snow-White Rows of Arlington" and was penned by Hugh Prestwood. It begins thus:

. There are a lot of perfect reasons
. To never fight another war
. There are a lot of perfect questions
. As to what’s worth fighting for. . . .

and goes on to meditate on those who died in our wars, and why they died. Then comes the refrain:

. Adios sweet home and family
. Wave goodbye to your ( Louisiana ) son
. You will know why I’m leaving when you see
. The snow white rows of Arlington.

Sammy commented that he'd recorded several editions of the song, with different State's name in place of his native Louisiana. The final verse evokes the green, grassy, tree-spangled hills of the National Cemetery, each headstone a shrine. Then concludes with poignant questions, including "Aren't I the keeper of the flame?" The final refrain is slightly but significantly different:

. Adios sweet home and family
. Wave goodbye to your ( Louisiana ) son
. And if it be my fate you’ll find me
. Proudly sleeping in the snow white,
. When you see the snow white rows of Arlington.

Chills went along my spine! I clearly remembered my visit to Arlington back on Memorial Day of A.D. 1999. How awestruck I was when I looked over those rows and rows of snow-white gravestones! THAT year, BTW, was the most recent previous year (I'm fairly sure) when the traditional Memorial Day (the 30th) fell on Sunday and followed the very next day by the observed holiday. Just like this year's calendar.

My favorite radio show, the Grand Ole Opry, featured many comments and songs by the cast, hi-liting the true reason for Memorial Day, and honoring the fallen. I myself posted on Facebook, about the two Memorial Days and urging citizens to remember those who had fallen in defense of freedom on both days. Monday evening Eddie Stubbs commented on the significance of the holiday and its history, during his "Hall of Fame Monday" show on WSM.

But before I heard Eddie, on Memorial Day (observed) afternoon I got a treat more along the lines of many citizens' thinking about the holiday. I listened to a baseball game!

And what a game it was! The Nashville Sounds (AAA, Pacific Coast League)were hosting the finale of a four-game home series with the Iowa Cubs. For most of the game it was a real pitchers battle, as both teams remained scoreless and managed only 3 hits. But in the bottom of the Eighth, the Sounds exploded! First the team got a couple of runs, then shortstop Luis Cruz (#3) came to the plate and belted out a Grand Slam home run! It was thrilling to listen to my old buddy Stu Paul call the play-by-play on that "grand salami" as he labelled it in his follow-up remarks.

And so the Nashville Sounds won 8-0 over Iowa and went 3-1 in the series at Greer Stadium (plus having a commanding season record against that team). The Sounds are at the top of their division in the league and hold one of the best records in the PCL. And they have yours truly eager to attend a Sounds game at Greer Stadium! Hooray, Nashville Sounds!

The Opry, the City, the Flood

2010-05-25T14:40:00.000-07:00

In earlier postings, I mentioned that a casualty of the Great Flood of May 2010 was the Grand Ole Opry House. And how despite this, "the show goes on"!

Well, the Grand Ole Opry show, approaching its 85th anniversary on the airwaves, goes on being inextricably bound -- joined at the heart, if you will -- with the city that's its home. A city that certainly did NOT even like or accept the show in its earliest decades!

That's right, dear reader. When the WSM Barn Dance commenced in 1925 it immediately began attracting into Nashville the rural farm-folk who listened religiously to WSM on Saturday nights. Consider the city's proud nickname then: "The Athens of the South". Nashville aspired to be a leader in education, fine arts and culture worthy of that tag. A hillbilly radio show -- even (perhaps especially!) after the name change to Grand Ole Opry -- wasn't what the blue-blood, country-club types who led the city in business, politics and society, had in mind. Comedienne Minnie Pearl, alter ego of high society woman Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon (she and pilot husband Henry Cannon lived next door to the Governor's Mansion), tells in her autobiography about opposition of Nashville residents to WSM and its show. She herself hadn't paid much attention to the Opry, even tho' her lumberman daddy in Centerville liked it, before she was invited to appear on the show.

But as I've said before, time changes everything! The show fostered the music industry's birth and growth here, and not just Country and Western either! A WSM radio man revived the tag "Music City", first applied by none other than Queen Victoria when she heard the Fisk Jubilee Singers. National Life and Accident, parent company of WSM and its Opry, chose to move the show out of the inadequate Ryman Auditorium and into a suburban complex which would include a theme park. Opryland helped make Nashville a major tourist and vacation destination!

Eventually, Nashvillians were won over to the Opry and country music. Now, when one enters Metro Nashville-Davidson County on the highways, the green signs with white lettering greet you with "Entering Metro. . . Home of the Grand Ole Opry".

Tonite the Opry will return the compliment by helping with the Nashville flood recovery and relief. The Tuesday Nite Opry, in Ryman Auditorium where it was already scheduled as kick-off of the anniversary celebration, will include appeals for audience donations to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and its flood relief efforts.

The oh-so-special show will happen in two parts, the first a typical Tue. Nite Opry format, and the second a one-of-a-kind Opry Guitar Jam for Flood Relief. Prominent Opry cast members and million-sellers Steve Wariner, Ricky Skaggs, Brad Paisley and Vince Gill will perform, first individually and then jammin' together! Not only will this be broadcast live on WSM-AM 650 and at wsmonline.com, but the Opry Website will video-cast it.

How timely is this, that the show that's launching its 85th anniversary festivities -- in its best-known former home, in the heart of the city -- is lending its efforts to the flood disaster recovery of a hometown that took awhile to embrace it but now does so with a bear hug!

Listening in Music City

2010-05-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, 22 May, featured great listening pleasure for yours truly!

It began with an early trip to downtown, to return items to the central Public Library. Because I had a few minutes before doors opened at that imposing, Greek-architecture -- we're "the Athens of the South"! -- edifice I strolled over to Urban Market. This is an HG Hill grocery store next to the base of the L & C Tower (Nashville's first skyscraper). It's a very convenient location for getting a cup of coffee, and a breakfast pastry (or groceries).

While I was fixing myself a cup of joe -- adding Splenda and lots of creamer -- grabbing the pastry and getting in check-out line, to my great delight the sound system in Urban Market began playing "Listen to the Music" by the Doobie Brothers. It's always been my favorite Doobies song! And one of my fave from my Top Forty Pop-Rock listening days (early to mid Seventies).

As I unashamedly sang along, I considered how this was most likely my first hearing of "Listen to the Music" since I moved back to Nashville in A.D. 2008. I went on to think of what an oh-so-very appropriate theme song for Music City it would make!

Later, in the afternoon while driving around selling ice cream out of the truck, I was listening to the truck's radio -- but not just to music. Dear reader, the baseball team from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville (I was an adjunct instructor there off and on in the Nineties) was playing a season-ending double-header. Van Stokes who does radio play-by-play for the APSU Governors, is an old friend and former fellow church member. I enjoy listening to Van on the radio, and I enjoyed listening Saturday afternoon. Particularly since the Govs won both games handily, over UT-Martin. Indeed, the Govs won their final four baseball games, which lifted them from last place to seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference. But alas! the conference tourney only takes in the top six teams. So Coach Gary McClure and the bat Govs are finished until 2011.

However, the two other NCAA baseball teams I've been following ended season play with stellar records! The TCU Horned frogs finished 43-11, season champions of the Mountain Wst Conference. Closer to home, here in Nashville, the Vanderbilt Commodores won one and lost two against Arkansas, to finish 40-15 (16-12 SEC). This is plenty good en'uf for the 'Dores to go to the Southeastern Conference tourney which begins Wednesday in 'Bama!

Of course, I finished up my Saturday listening in typical fashion, by tuning in to the Grand Ole Opry show on WSM-AM 650. As always, the Opry was delightful, and I went to bed content.

Mental non-image becomes REAL image!

2010-05-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Wednesday, while I was on the Nashville MTA bus carrying me to work, my oh-so-active mind was contemplating various things (as usual when I'm on the bus). Since I'd chosen to dress nicely, I got to thinking about how I truly enjoy being nicely garbed, i.e., in slacks, dress shirt and necktie. And how I much prefer to dress quite casually on Saturdays (unless a wedding or other very special event prompts me to dress up). And how there are certain activities for which even I won't don a necktie.

One of these no-tie, casual-apparel activities would be mowing the lawn. Probably not even if with a riding mower, and definitely not if cutting the grass with a push-mower!

Well, lo and behold! in the afternoon, while driving my Goody Wagons ice cream van in the old-homes South Nashville neighborhood near the Napier projects, I espied an Afro-American gentleman about my age accompanied by a much younger fellow -- perhaps his son. The older gentleman was behind a push-mower, dressed in slacks, long-sleeve shirt and tie!

The two left the mower and came to the van to purchase ice cream treats; I couldn't resist commenting to the gentleman that I'd NEVER BEFORE seen a fellow in a dress shirt and tie behind a lawn mower. We both laughed about this. (He didn't give any explanation for his appearance and activity.) And I was thinking to myself that it was a good thing the weather was pleasant and low humidity, so that he hadn't perspired onto the yellow shirt or the nicely-striped bluish tie! In fact, he was, so to speak, rather photogenic, and would have taken a good photo, with or without the mower.

I reckon you never know when you might see something totally new and unexpected!

A movable show and a moving Sunday

2010-05-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

If you've been keeping up with my blog this month, dear reader, you know that one of the casualties of the Great Flood of 2010 was the Grand Ole Opry House. It won't be restored to usability for several months. But wonder of wonders, the world's oldest live radio show didn't miss a beat on the airwaves (so to speak)! See my post of 5 May for how the day after the flooding Cumberland River crested, the Tuesday Nite Opry took place in a former home of the Grand Ole Opry show.

Speaking of "homes", the Opry can now add another to its list. Friday and Saturday evenings the Opry was performed in the sanctuary of Two Rivers Baptist Church, right across Briley Parkway (and uphill!) from the flood-damaged Opry House. Listening to the two shows I kind of got goose bumps as I contemplated that I was listening to my favorite radio show at a historic moment indeed! "Eighth" may not be exact; it depends on whether you count the first two as one, since both were various studios of the new WSM radio station inside the National Life headquarters building.

Saturday for an hour before the Grand Ole Opry begins, "The Opry Warm-Up Show" is broadcast live on WSM-AM 650, with Mike Terry as host. He interviews a few of the performers who will be performing on the Opry, from the "green room" behind stage. For this on the Fifteenth, the choir room of Two Rivers Baptist Church became Terry's "green room". And the church's choir room really IS green, unlike the Opry House's!

Jeannie Seely was one of Mike Terry's interviewees on the "Warm-Up". Of course, they spoke mostly about our recent disaster here: the great flood. Jeannie's home had been flooded, and she spoke about her first return to the home and salvaging a couple of treasures from the waters, including her Grammy Award. She spoke about how so many other keepsakes, such as photographs were ruined, or if salvageable would still have elements from the floodwater which might induce sickness. Jeannie testified that hard as it was to let go of some of the stuff, she didn't want to live in sickness the remainder of her life. She summed it up by affirming that the keepsakes were the past and the past should not shadow the present and future.

I marvel at her intrepid, wise attitude!

Sunday -- Yesterday -- was Youth Sunday at my church, Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples). As with a year ago, a graduating high school Senior got honored, and there was a fellowship dinner after Worship. This year's honoree, Katie Burton, wrote a drama for the youth to do as the "sermon" portion of the Worship. Katie is one of my favorite "Friends" on Facebook, because she posts many positive messages concerning church and our upcoming events. So many times she expresses my very attitude of the moment regarding church!

After Worship and time for eating the fellowship dinner, Associate Pastor Michael Lehman got folk started off on saying things to Katie as our honored h.s. graduate. Katie's dad was the first up, and got very emotional -- you'd have tho't it was Katie's wedding! But bless his heart, he did move us. My own testimony was how I appreciated the postings on FB as expressing for me as well as her, and how I appreciated most, that "of all the good huggers in Eastwood, Katie is the best!"

And dear reader, yours truly is so very proud of Katie and all of our young people at Eastwood Christian! They're a major reason I'm so glad to be a member of this congregation!

May 2010 Commencements

2010-05-15T14:03:00.000-07:00

Well, it's that time of year again everywhere, including here in flood-recovering Nashville, when students who have completed their high school, undergraduate or graduate studies don the cap & gown and receive their diplomas.

You may not believe this, but yours truly actually LIKES going to graduation ceremonies, even ones I don't have to attend due to being student or teacher or having close relative graduating. Friday morning I went to Vanderbilt University to witness the graduation of my church's Associate Pastor, Michael Lehman, who received his MDiv from the university's Divinity School.

And I'm so glad I went!

It being warm and humid (and knowing that attendance would be high) I chose to not go to Alumni Lawn for the main Commencement start but rather enter the VU Library and bring up the on-line coverage of it. (That way I could also check out e-mail & do FB, switching back & forth between the windows on my screen.)

I was so surprised and delighted to see my old radio deejay buddy Keith Bilbrey's son Eric receive a Founders Award. (Surprised because I didn't even know Keith had a kid going to Vandy!) And then Chancellor Nick Zeppos gave a fine Commencement address. VU's fairly new chief kept it short & sweet! (It's long-standing tradition that Vanderbilt does not invite in a guest speaker but rather has the sitting Chancellor address the graduates.)

Then those receiving degrees from the graduate & professional schools left Alumni Lawn. And I left the library to enter nearby Benton Chapel, where Michael and the other divinity graduates would receive their diplomas. This part of the ceremony was much like a worship service, complete with hymn singing. To my surprise again, was Steve Gower was among the graduates! When he was intern at Eastwood Christian Church in 2008 I had assumed he was a first-year student. Steve received the Disciples of Christ denomination's own "Chalice Press Award".

Dean James Hudnut-Beumler, head of the D School, addressed the graduates in the presence of family and friends. He followed the Chancellor's lead, in keeping it short and sweet (the "KISS" Principle). Dean Hudnut began by alluding to the recent flood, and tying it in with the numerous images of water in Scripture. And he has a fine sense of humor!

I hope that sometime soon I can access on-line copies of both these KISS speeches, because both are worth remembering!

Afterward there was a reception, complete with rich and exotic finger foods -- kind of befitting a school nicknamed the "Harvard of the South"! And thank God, the forecast rain held off. When it did come later in the day, it was rather heavy, but not anything like 1 and 2 May.

Tomorrow, is Eastwood CC(DC)'s annual Graduation Sunday. We will be honoring especially our high school graduate, Katie Burton, who sings soprano in the choir. But we also have a couple of post-high school new alumni, including Michael. I'm really looking forward to the graduation celebration at Eastwood tomorrow!

All these Commencements are just what Nashville needs, to remind us that life goes on after the disaster of the flood! It's so appropriate for a city that long before it was called "Music City USA" was tagged as "The Athens of the South". Congratulations to all the graduates of 2010! Congratulations to Tennesseans for rebounding from the flood disaster! We are Nashville!

"The Show must go on!"

2010-05-05T10:20:00.001-07:00

Floodwater is still high here in Nashville, but it's going down noticeably, having crested Monday evening. Thank God for that!

This morning I read a great statement in the Tennessean that was posted on Facebook Tuesday. "Glad to see the only thing rising in Nashville now is love and support for one another (and from our friends in other places." --attributed to Joe Burchfield.

And Tuesday evening, the "Tuesday Nite Opry" show, which couldn't take place in the flooded Grand Ole Opry House, relocated to War Memorial Auditorium near the state Capitol and went on as scheduled. Opry cast member Jeannie Seely, who lost her home in the flood, performed during this historic show (historic because War Memorial is a former home of the Opry). Before singing, Jeannie commented that somebody had expressed surprise that she would be performing that evening. And her response had been, "well, it's not like I can stay home and watch TV. You can laugh about it or cry, and I don't want to cry."

Good for you, Jeannie Seely!

Also, US Senator and former Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander was at the show with the State's other US Senator, who were in town to survey the damage and support the request for federal disaster declaration. And Sen. Alexander, known for some musical talent, obliged a request, sat down at the piano and played one of our State Songs, "The Tennessee Waltz."

It was an "Opry Moment" for sure!

The Great Flood of 2010

2010-05-04T06:39:00.000-07:00

There have been floods and other natural disasters in Middle Tennessee over the years. For instance, I was living in Clarksville in the late 1990s when a tornado tore thru the downtown part of that city, leaving much destruction (fortunately, nobody was killed or seriously injured). Nashville itself has suffered major flooding of the Cumberland River on several occasions. Up to this past weekend local folk would sometimes refer to the flood of 1975 that inundated Opryland (the park had operated only three years at that time).

All these pale beside what occurred this past weekend. Saturday morning a front of severe thunderstorms which had already assaulted northern Mississippi and west Tennessee moved into the mid-state region. Thru Sunday the storms dumped over 13 inches of rain on Nashville -- a two-day record! The Cumberland River and its tributaries overflowed their banks, setting record flood crests!

Sadly, ten people have perished in the Metro area, 18 in Tennessee, including one in Montgomery County (Clarksville), and 29 in all states hit by the furious storm system.

The Cumberland did not crest until last evening. Opryland, of course, is history, replaced by a shopping mall. But that infernal mall (Opry Mills) now sits in water that's deeper than that of the Flood of '75! The Opryland Hotel and the Grand Ole Opry House both were invaded by the flood waters. Hotel guests and employees were evacuated to a nearby high school, and it will be months before it's back in business

And the world's oldest live radio show? Well, the show must go on, so it's returning to previous homes. Tonite's "Tuesday Nite Opry" will be performed in War Memorial Auditorium near the State Capitol, where the show was for a few years in the 1930s. And Friday and Saturday's shows will take place in the historic Ryman Auditorium, the Opry's home after War Memorial until 1974.

Downtown streets close to the river went under its floodwater, as did much of the area across from them, in East Nashville, and also a part of Metrocenter, north of them. Creeks in the southern and western parts of the county also saw major flooding. For instance, Mill Creek waters closed parts of Interstate 24 and major thoro'fares. And the creek floated a portable classroom of a private school off its foundations and onto the interstate hiway! Richland Creek to the west raged into a rock quarry that was well over a hundred feet deep, forming first a spectacular waterfall, and then a deep lake when the hole filled up.

When I arose Sunday morning it was during a lull in the rainfall. But by the time I went out to go to church it was pouring down at its worst! When I got out to Murfreesboro Road, its inbound lanes were a raging river, complete with rapids! So I saw that it would be very difficult if not impossible to get to services. But shortly I got a phone call that church activities at Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples) had been cancelled. And then local news coverage of the disaster reported that MTA bus service was cancelled. At last word, buses won't run again on the city routes 'til Friday.

All in all, this has surely got to be the greatest natural disaster ever to hit this area! I need to find some place that's selling tee shirts that say "I survived the Flood of 2010!"

LCA Alumni meeting again @ Belle Meade

2010-04-07T14:56:00.000-07:00

If the reader will go back to May of last year on my blog you will read a post about my attendance at a Lambda Chi Alpha Nashville-Area Alumni meeting in Belle Meade Country Club, a building I never dreamed the doorstep of which my shadow would ever darken. I title that earlier post "The Body of Christ, Part 3".

Well, I was back in the same building, for the same Alumni group meeting last evening. It was held in an upper-floor hall this time, rather than the main-floor hall of last year. This gave those who cared to look out the windows a great birds-eye view of the links on the golf course and the duffers playing there. But this was a minor distraction. Certainly, the mingling with men of all ages who had experienced the teachings and Ritual of Lambda Chi Alpha holds far greater interest than what might be going on on the links!

I was given a ride to the country club by Brother Carter Bondesen, alumnus from our Mercer chapter. As we approached the country club and I was reminiscing on the joy of last year's LCA meeting there and meeting Bro. George Spasyk, Bro. Carter allowed that he himself was old friends with Bro. George. To which I replied, "Can I touch you?" Then I added that when last year the first man I greeted in the country club identified himself as our Brotherhood's renown former chief executive (one of only three international leaders of LCA of the 1970s whose names remain prominent in my memory), I didn't want to wash the hand that shook his ever again!

Bro. Carter also revealed that he knew Spanish somewhat, partly due to three years residence in Zaragoza, España (working overseas for GMC). Then, once we were mingling in the upstairs hall, it came out that he'd met el Rey Juan Carlos, who at the time hadn't been King of Spain for long! Again I asked if I could touch such a lucky Brother!

But even before the revelation of Bro. Carter's meeting with royalty, while picking up my name tag and affixing it I ran into the Brothers from our international headquarters in Indianapolis. They were Bros. Mark Bauer (Education Foundation CEO) and Dan Hartmann (from Alumni Relations) whom I'd met before, and Executive VP Bill Farkas. After a goodly time of mingling and chatting, and some delicious, indeed elegant, country-club buffet food and drink, all three of the Brothers addressed the assembly. Bro. Bill's speech was a report on the state of our Fraternity in this the first year of our second Century of Brotherhood on campuses and after graduation. He had good news about the re-establishment of my home Zeta, Epsilon-Gamma at Idaho, and I repaid this good news by affirming from personal example the value of the Brotherhood's magazine, Cross & Crescent, going to an on-line version. (You see, thanks to my many moves I kept losing my subscription to the printed magazine mailed out by USPS; once the e-magazine began, that ceased to be an issue!)

There were four or five Actives from the Vanderbilt chapter present, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as we alumni enjoyed ourselves and the undergrad brothers' presence. I got to bring away with me some souvenirs, including a window decal proclaiming "LCA alumnus", and a very nicely-printed booklet covering the Centennial of our Brotherhood. This booklet began with an affirmation about the very spiritual nature of our Brotherhood, several heartfelt observations about the meaning of Lambda Chi Alpha in the lives of members, and a complete list of all the Zetas. This was so good that I sensed my eyes misting up, ready to shed a few tears of joy about being a part of this wonderful group.

Bro. Bill Loyd, who lives off IH 24 northwest of Nashville, gave me a ride to my residence after the meeting. We talked non-stop about our mutual Brotherhood. Indeed, I got so involved in this that at one point I paused to see where in the city we were and found myself disoriented. This embarrassed me somewhat, because I pride myself on knowing the city in which I live and how to get around in it. Leave it to a Brother Lambda Chi to put me in my (well-deserved) place!

A Glorious Resurrection Sunday! PtL!

2010-04-05T07:22:00.000-07:00

Wow! Wow!! WOW!!!

Yesterday, the Sunday Christians around the world celebrated the Resurrection of Christ, was an amazing, most blessed day for yours truly!

(I say "Christians around the world" but I seem to remember that Eastern Orthodox believers calculate the dating for the Resurrection differently from Roman Catholics and Protestants. And that their date is, shall we say, more in line with Biblical data. But let's set this aside -- since I myself haven't investigated this thoro'ly.)

So Sunday the Fourth of April in the Year of Our Lord 2010 passed in a most sublimely beautiful fashion here in Nashville. Put another way, Resurrection Day was unforgettable!

It began with a bus trip to downtown, to First Lutheran Church for their 7:00 sunrise service. Arriving early, before the doors were even open, I walked the two blocks down the street (Eight Ave. S.) to the Greyhound depot, to break my fast with a donut and coffee. As I walked back to the church about 7:40 I looked to my right and saw that the sun was just above the horizon in a beautifully blue sky. Immediately my mind heard Steve Wariner singing "Life's Hiway", and I considered what a fitting song it is for sunrise on Resurrection Day:

. The sun is up, time's at hand.
. There's a stir across the land.
. And so begins another day, on life's hiway.

. There is hope at every turn,
. A bridge to build, a bridge to burn.
. Here's hoping you. . . never go astray On life's hiway.

As with last year, the sunrise service at the Lutheran Church featured a chamber orchestra. This year they were a few strings, two trombones and two trumpets. One of their prelude numbers was Back's "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring" -- remember how yours truly really likes J.S. Bach. During the worship itself the group's special music included at one point two short movements from "Messiah" (Handel), and at the conclusion of the service traditionally anyone in the congregation is invited to come up and join the choir in singing "Hallelujah" from "Messiah". Last year I passed on this. But yesterday I considered how I'd sung the bass part of "Hallelujah" in a church choir in Fort Worth years ago, and I went up.

Let me tell you, dear reader, it turned out to be an exquisite sensation to sing that oh, so familiar Baroque-style praise song to conclude the sunrise service!

After grabbing some breakfast in the Lutheran fellowship hall I got on the bus and headed to my church, Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples) for our (tradition-time) worship. We in the choir sang not one but TWO Anthems, the second during the offertory; both terrific celebrations of Christ's Resurrection. And Pastor Jay delivered a most appropriate sermon, "Eureka!" The sanctuary was filled (ALMOST standing room only); we had several visitors, most relatives visiting member families, I think. Many little girls wore beautiful, brightly colored new dresses, as did some of the women. And lots of the men were in suits and ties (a few, I presume newly bought for the holiday).

After Worship we had an egg hunt for the children, and I stood around in the pleasant sunshine chatting with various members and visitors. Then I made my way across town to the Kroger in Green Hills. While I ate my salad I watched about the last third of the Cavs at Boston Celtics game. The Celtics, ahead by 22 points, let the Cavs catch up in the final quarter, and even get ahead, but managed to pull out a home victory! Very exciting. The ESPN channel kept notifying that the next game was San Antonio versus the Lakers, my favorite Team versus my least. I debated about hanging around to watch or going out to enjoy the beautiful day

Beautiful day won, and I made my way down 21st Avenue to the Vanderbilt University campus. After a brief stop in the library to check e-mail, I strolled across the campus and into Centennial Park. Once I'd crossed it to the 25th Ave. side, I saw that I had some twenty minutes before the bus would come along, and there was a wooden picnic table nearby. Therefore I took off my coat, shirt and necktie, lay down on the table and caught some rays. Aa-hh-hh-hh!

When the bus came along I got on (re-clothed, of course) and rode to downtown and then out Murfreesboro Road to Una Church of Christ. I'd been to an evening (weekday or Sunday) service there at least once before. Unlike Hart Street Church of Christ which I attend most Fourth Sunday evenings for the singing school, Una C of C is an Anglo congregation, but with a sister Spanish-speaking congregation meeting there too. At both churches of Christ I get the "feel" that it's more "open" than may be stereotypical for our non-instrumental brethren. Put another way, I like both congregations (and hope that they accept this Disciples of Christ visitor as much as I accept them).

Brother Todd Elliott, the preaching minister, met me near the door shortly after I entered, and remembered me from my earlier visit (or visits). I like this in a preacher at a church I visit more than once -- wish that had been my gift, too, in my pastoring years! Bro. Elliott was nicely attired in a dark blue suit, medium blue shirt and colorful reddish necktie. I was rather surprised that he and I were almost the only men present who wore suits and ties. Later I remembered this had been the case on my earlier visit(s), and that it contrasts sharply with Hart Street, where nearly all the men and teenage boys wear ties, most of them with coats. Oh, well, perhaps the brethren of African heritage are simply more into "looking good for the Lord" as they worship Him?

Anyhow, the service started out with a cappella singing of four hymns (apparently a standard worship feature among the non-instrumental congregations). One of these was our co-founding leader Alexander Campbell's slight revision of the great and classic hymn "Holy, Holy,Holy, Lord God Almighty". Bro. Campbell dropped the final line of the first and fourth verses and substituted the more New Testament conforming "God over all and blest eternally". I like that, and since one never encounters it in Disciples of Christ hymnals, it was a real treat to sing it!

Bro. Elliott's message was in its way a real treat, too. He didn't focus on the Resurrection of Jesus, which didn't surprise me, since I know of Churches of Christ that don't even acknowledge any special day annually, focusing instead on every Sunday as celebration of our Savior's Resurrection. (If you don't know, the first day of the week replaced the seventh as the day for disciples of Jesus to gather for worship because they felt His Resurrection on the first day was the start of the New Creation.) Instead, he called our attention to Romans 8:12-17, where St. Paul is delving into life lived in the Spirit, including the Spirit confirming us as children of God who call to him, "Abba, Father!" Bro. Elliott emphasized how RADICAL life in the Spirit really is, using as an illustration the story of Jesus observing the giving of offerings in the Temple and commending the widow who gave the only two tiny coins she had to live on. He confessed that he himself wasn't sure he could BE that radical, and by giving away all his earnings throw himself on the providence of God our Father! He also included passages from the Apostle's letters to the Colossians (3:7-11) and to Titus (2:11-14) in his exposition of the radical nature of living by and/or in the Spirit.

What got me about his message is that I've been confronted with this same theme, certainly in writings of notable Christian leaders. In fact, I kept thinking of that great Church of Christ brother back in San Antonio, Max Lucado, while listening to Bro. Elliott. I told him this as I was leaving, and I trust he took it as a compliment. Certainly, coming from yours truly, comparison of any preacher with Bro. Lucado IS a great compliment, as much as I esteem him.

And so, as the sun was setting in a bright golden sunset, my Resurrection Day celebration came to an end at the third worship in as many churches. And yes, I celebrated the spectrum of worship styles, from the highly liturgical Lutheran sunrise service (heavily Baroque-classical-traditional music, altho' there was one song by contemporary Christian artist Twila Paris) to the somewhat liturgical Eastwood (Disciples) morning service, to the "free-style" (non-liturgical) Una Church of Christ. That's just the way I am. I enjoy a wide variety of worship styles, and simply getting together with brothers and sisters in Christ regardless of their cultural background and tastes in worship styles, to simply love one another and worship the God who loved us so much that He gave His Son "as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45) and then on the third day raised the Son from the dead. To God and to the Lamb be the glory! Amen.

TWO "Opry Moments" in One Night!

2010-03-29T06:11:00.000-07:00

Often I've heard the expression, as you may have, dear reader, referring to "this was an Opry moment!" This calls one's attention to some very special happening on-stage while the Grand Ole Opry show is being performed. Well, on Saturday evening I heard not one but TWO happenings which qualify as "Opry moments"!

Before I get to the first "moment", let me set the stage. I was working my first Saturday on my new route in the White House area north of Nashville, selling ice cream out of a truck (actually a mini-van). It was a very sunny, windy day, starting out very cold; hence, I'm certain that my sales were slower than they will be on later, warmer Saturdays. And making up for the cooler air and lower income was the beauty of a Middle Tennessee countryside awakening to Spring after a brutal, long winter. Daffodils and other blossoms decorated the lawns and some of the flowering trees and shrubs. What caught my eye the most were the weeping willows, especially the several in this one property. The trees were just sending out the light green buds. In the strong wind the drooping thin branches swayed, weaving a mesmerizing picture of chartreuse gossamer.

I had the radio on to FM stations, mostly "Solid Gospel". But there I had to choose between the 104.9 (WBOZ - Woodbury) edition and the 105.1 (WVRY - Waverly) edition of the network. Usually the two air simulcasts, but this Saturday afternoon the Austin Peay Governors baseball team was playing, so 105.1 was carrying the game rather than the regular Les Butler-hosted programs. I chose not to hear two musics fight for my auditory attention, and listened to the game out of Clarksville (APSU's hometown). It turned into an exciting game -- lots of hits and home runs by both teams. However, Austin Peay won over visiting Murray State 11-8. Go, Govs!

Well, considering the coolness, I was making good sales on the ice cream. As sunset approached, I turned off the hurdy-gurdy nursery-rhyme jingles, left my final neighborhood and found a convenient place on the main hiway (US 31W south) to count my remaining bars, "bombs" (a species of Popsicle), cones, sandwiches, etc., and the cash I'd taken in. During this rather lengthy process I had the truck's radio on to WSM-AM 650, to hear the start of the Grand Ole opry.

Two notes. I call the vehicle a "truck" rather than the mini-van it really is, because the company has a slogan: "Stop the truck! Start the fun!" which I like. And this Opry show was the 4395th consecutive Opry (broadcast live on Saturday nites); the show is approaching its 4400th run, and shortly afterward the 85th anniversary of the world's longest-running live radio broadcast show!

Early in the first show (7:00-9:00 PM, the later being 9:30-11:30) a very special Guest comes on stage. She's Jordyn Shellhart, a Centennial H.S. sophomore from nearby Franklin, Tennessee. She introduces her first song by telling how exactly five years earlier, for her birthday her brother had taken her to the Opry; during the show he leaned over and said, "Some day you will be on that stage!" He'd passed away, but now on her sixteenth birthday she's making his prophecy come true, and she says, "he's got the best seat in the house"! As if that's not touching en'uf, after she sings a second song which she had written and is about to leave the stage, the cast stops her and sings "Happy Birthday" to her and presents a birthday cake! I don't reckon there's a dry eye in the house!

Moment Number Two comes later, in the evening's second show. A woman guest had sung her song while playing banjo, then introduces a visitor from Japan. He serves as a consul or some similar diplomatic title, but also plays and sings country-bluegrass songs. And so he comes out and starts a song, first just instrumental, then I hear him sing in Japanese. Then the woman sings in English. Then back to the man in Japanese, followed by her in English! This is fantastic on so many levels! Perhaps I say this because I've been a foreign language teacher and thus deeply appreciate songs that are bilingual! Now I confess, it's better if the languages are English and Spanish, both of which I understand and speak. But even a song bilingual in Japanese and English is a treat!

Whether it was for any other listener of not, it was my second "Opry moment" of the evening!

"Hello, Dolly!" -- Parton, that is!

2010-03-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

Early this morning I went, as I often do, to the nearest Mapco Express convenience store for coffee & the "laptop lottery". As usual the TV screen high up on the end wall was on Fox News, "Fox and Friends". And there communicating with the two guys & gal (not in-studio but long-distance) was Dolly Parton!

Let me confess here & now. When I first converted into a tolerator of & shortly afterward a fan(atic) of Country & Western Music, I became aware of Dolly. I considered her to be simply some dumb blonde who happened to be well-endowed in a certain area & that probably implant-enhanced. And not exactly well-endowed in the vocal cords.

Oh, how time changes everything!

For one thing, she's recorded some very good songs, and she's written some terrific lyrics. E.g., "Coat of Many Colors" sings such a great truth! And she wasn't bad acting in those Tinseltown flicks either. Maybe not Oscar-nomination worthy, but some actresses have won the coveted golden statue with less talent. Better yet, Dolly bought a struggling theme park near her hometown in the Great Smoky Mountains, gave it her name, "Dollywood", and caused it to succeed. Plus she's given much back to Nashville, her other hometown.

Listening to her speak on "Fox & Friends" about this year's 25th anniversary for Dollywood, I was impressed again (as I seem to be every time I hear her speak) that here is no "dumb blonde" but rather one smart cookie! My newer-and-now good impression got underlined a few months ago when Dolly got a star in the Music City/Nashville Walk of Fame on the same day as did Charlie Daniels, the late Ernest Tubb, etc. I was at the induction ceremony & afterwards got fairly close to the country superstar. Close en'uf that I could have said, "Hello, Dolly!" and she would have heard above the noise of the crowd around her.

Plus, Dolly has said two things that simply delight me. Great quotes! One is, "You'd be surprised how much it costs to look so cheap." And the other, "There are only three real women singers: Streisand, Ronstadt and Connie Smith. The rest of us are just pretending."

Now, don't tell me"some dumb blonde" would say stuff like that! No, Dolly Parton is one smart cookie! (Especially when it comes to Connie Smith -- LOL.)

A Museum is history (as in "is toast")

2010-03-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

Well, it wasn't called a museum, just the Musicians Hall of Fame. However, it was just as much a museum -- to an aspect of what brings in income to Music City USA -- as is the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The Musicians Hall of Fame sat just two blocks up the hill on Demonbreun street from the CMHoFaM.

"Sat" is the operative word. It sits there no longer. It's gone. A facility that celebrated musicianship and its history and development is itself now "history". Toast. Gone.

Other buildings in the block and adjacent blocks are also toast. Such as Rockettown, where aimless and at-risk teenagers were ministered to. Like a garage that specialized in foreign-made cars like BMW or Volvo.

You see, dear reader, the "city fathers" of Nashville -- Mayor, Council, Chamber of Commerce -- chose to ignore an expert from San Antonio who supplied data that Nashville did not need to build another convention center. San Antonio may well be the most experienced convention and tourism metropolis in these United States. Nevertheless, the "city fathers" ignored an expert from there, and voted in favor of erecting another convention center. To replace the existing one downtown, which (they say) is inadequate.

Surprised as I was that Nashville ignored an expert, I was even more surprised that Gaylord Corporation, which runs a second and huge convention center out at what used to be called the Opryland Hotel (and Convention Center), are silent in their opposition to this potential competitor. And so buildings have fallen near the CMHoFaM. And the earth-moving machinery is beginning the task of digging deep, deep into the ground for the underground portion of the new convention center.

Meanwhile, Nashville teens have lost an entity that could have helped them cope with the challenges of juvenile life of the 21st Century. And those who would have honored the people who helped make this Music City USA have lost a facility where they could have.

Such is what they call "progress". . . .

"Back to the Barn" in more ways than one

2010-03-08T11:42:00.000-08:00

At the start of A.D. 2009, perhaps even in the final days of '08, WSM-AM 650 began an advertisement about how in 2009 they were going to be taking Nashville "back to the barn". I wondered just WHAT they intended to do; I even e-mailed Keith Bilbrey about this before Gaylord so shabbily fired the iconic deejay (and Opry announcer). Keith didn't give me much of an answer, as in "wait and you'll see". Oh, well!

Then, some time in this calendar year, it finally hit me what "back to the barn" meant! Later last year, after Keith's firing, the station began a brand new live music show. It's on Wednesday evenings -- which means I've never listened to it since that's choir rehearsal time -- out at the Loveless Café. This famous eating establishment and former motel is, or used to be, out in the country on State Hiway 100, just past the northern terminus of the historic Natchez Trace Parkway. (More about the "used to be" remark later.) The show takes place in a large (and I think rather new) barn located out back of the café and former motel rooms. It's called "Music City Roots" and is billed as featuring artists from Americana, bluegrass, and (pop) country music.

Perhaps because I've yet to actually get to listen to the new show (and probably never will), the fact of its venue passed me by. Then one day I was musing about the program -- and suddenly (like a freight train!) it hit me. It's in a barn at the Loveless Café! "Back to the barn"!

Well, yesterday (Sunday) I actually got to go out to that venue. After another supremely blessing time of Sunday school and worship at Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples) we had a potluck dinner in the fellowship hall. Dieta Duncan even provided a chocolate birthday cake for yours truly, even tho' acknowledging that my birthday is really NEXT Sunday. Well, dear reader, I gave some effort to moderating my eating -- a rarity for me at a church meal.

You see, I wanted to save space for later. Saturday evening I got a phone call from Ellen in Clarksville, that she and our daughter Sarah and Sarah's intended would be coming to Nashville Sunday afternoon to visit his grandfather in Centennial Hospital, and wanted to take me out for an early birthday supper. She having told me they'd be at Centennial first, I offered to go from the church to the Centennial Park-Vanderbilt area and hang out until they'd be ready to pick me up.

Therefore, after the church dinner I took the MTA out West End Avenue and walked thru the park to The Parthenon. After a time of just sitting enjoying the warmth of the bright sunshine and the sights and sounds of an abundance of citizens out enjoying the beautiful weather in the park, I decided to circumambulate the beautiful, historic and iconic building.

Late in the afternoon Ellen and the "young-uns" came by and picked me up. After just a bit of discussion we settled on going out to the Loveless Café for supper. So westward on West End we drove, past where it turns into Harding Road, past Belle Meade Plantation mansion, past suburban Bellevue and past Chaffin's Dinner Barn. I had wondered if Chaffin's were the structure of"back to the barn" because I didn't remember its relationship to Loveless. But it's considerably closer in to Nashville on Hiway 100. We continued on out to the formerly small, formerly rural community of Pasquo at Hiway 100 and Natchez Trace Parkway. Pasquo is definitely within the expanding development of metropolitan Nashville now, with a Publix grocery store and numerous other chain stores in a shopping center.

And Loveless itself has changed. As we drove up I saw that just past it was a Shell gas station that wasn't there last time (several years ago) that I'd been this way. The motel rooms have recently been changed into shops, including a prominent one called "Hams and Jams". Out behind it sits the new Loveless barn that houses "Music City Roots.

But after just a short wait for a table in the also now-larger café, we discovered that the food is as home-like and delicious as ever. The four of us chose to go with family-style eating: all you can eat at your seat, two meats and three sides along with the famous Loveless biscuits made from a "Secret recipe". I was delighted that the drink selection included Pepsi products and Sierra Mist. The fried chicken that was one of the selected meats was "nothing to write home about" (as Ellen taught me to say), but the meatloaf and especially the home-made-from-scratch macaroni and cheese more than made up for this! The biscuits themselves could have served as a satisfactory meal, being served with blackberry, strawberry and peach jellies and honey.

Thus it was that I, having finally figured out what "Back to the barn" signified, literally went back to that barn. Or at least back to the famous wayside café behind which it sits! And what a totally pleasant ending to a totally pleasant Sunday! So pleasant I didn't even waste time mourning that the Loveless Café isn't out in the country like it used to be.

Baroque of an evening, Bluegrass next morning

2010-03-05T12:54:00.000-08:00

Only in Nashville, a.k.a. Music City USA!

Thursday evening (i.e., last evening) I attended my first concert of A.D. 2010 in the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. This concert offering was "Bach's Masterpiece". Since Baroque music is one of the historic styles I really like, and Johann Sebastian Bach is my favorite Baroque or Classical composer, I had a strong desire to experience this concert. And I was not at all disappointed!

"Bach's Masterpiece" is his Mass in B Minor. It's rather odd that a German Lutheran composer would be interested in composing musical settings for the Latin Mass of the Catholic Church, but such is the case here. The printed program for the concert -- "In Concert" is actually a magazine that covers all Nashville Symphony concerts scheduled for a given month -- revealed that Bach worked on this monumental work of art (the score is some 180 pages long) in stages over the latter part of his career. And Bach never got to hear it performed. Indeed, it wasn't done until well into the 1800s, at which century it also received its name.

"Mass in B Minor" is something of a misnomer, according to the program; the central key chord is actually D (Major). What the musical score presents is the "Ordinary" parts of the Mass; that is, those portions which are always present in the ritual, all thru the year. Such as the "Kyrie Eleison" or the "Credo"; the former starts out the music in B Minor (hence, probably that latter-added name), and is actually the only part of the Mass in Greek rather than Latin. The Nashville Chorus plus a four-some of the four parts (soprano, etc.) sang along with the orchestra's musical rendition. Helmut Rilling, born in Deutschland, conducted voices and instruments. How appropriate is THAT, that a Deutsch conductor lead a work from a Deutsch composer -- possibly the greatest composer who ever lived!

Yep, I'm about as much a fan of J.S. Bach as I am of George Strait!

A couple of times during the evening I overheard others in the audience remark about not being able to follow the Latin lyrics. Neither do I know the dead language, but I'm quite familiar with Latin's daughter español (e também com outra filha, portugués), and I've attended Mass in Catholic churches sufficient times to be familiar with those "Ordinary" portions for sure. I could follow along fairly easily. Also could enjoy and appreciate the various tones and nuances Bach put into this work. Mass elements presenting solemn or even somber themes (such as our sin, or Jesus' atonement for us on the cross) sounded solemn, slow, even heavy. Portions with joyful language of praise or celebrating God's goodness sounded up-tempo and uplifting. Plus, Bach having worked in stages, finishing it all in his final year or so, it's a summation of his earlier compositions and musical styles which influenced him or European music's development. The program told that there were also elements of the just-emerging true Classical style in the work. ("Classical music" in general usage covers genres from Baroque or earlier to Romantic or later, but the strict term is for that European music composed and performed in the later 1700s, between Baroque and Romantic.)

And do you know, dear reader, there were certain praise portions of the Mass that the master composer put me in a heart-felt mood of praise and worship of the Heavenly Master who inspired Bach's creativity!

Overall, it was a very musically lovely evening! And then, having gone home and to bed for the night, I arose early this morning (Friday) to go back downtown, to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, for another session of WSM-AM 650's "Coffee Country and Cody" wake-up show, in the Ford Theater. Keep in mind that the CMHoFaM is cater-corner across the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Demonbreun Street from the Schermerhorn, where I'd been the evening before.

This morning the show featured added excitement. The staff had several newly-made WSM coffee cups, courtesy of Brentwood Jewelry (which advertises on the station), with three packets of instant coffee from Starbuck, to give away. The first question offered was about something I remembered had come up the day before; Bill had announced that it was the anniversary of the marriage of George and Nancy Jones, in Jasper, Texas. The question was where they went for the reception, and I remembered at once that the answer was Burger King. So I won the first cup given away! Yippee!

Well, Bill Cody hosted another stellar set of Guests, who more than made up for the absence of Bill's sidekick Charlie Mattos (away in Georgia to cover the Vanderbilt women at the SEC Women's Basketball tourney). First "on stage" was songwriter Roger Murrah, a 2005 inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The long list of his songs, become hits for Country singers includes "Don't Rock the Jukebox" (Alan Jackson), "Ozark Mountain Jubilee" (Oak Ridge Boys), "High Cotton" (Alabama) and "Life's Highway" (Steve Wariner) for starts.

Played near the end of Murrah's session with Bill was the recording of Sammy Kershaw's hit, "National Working Woman's Holiday". Nice segue, since Kershaw was next up. I've always liked Sammy and his songs, and listening to him speak with Bill was hence a great delight. I'd have loved it if the staff had played his hit "Vidalia"; don't know if it's also a Murrah song but it's my favorite Kershaw hit and one of my favorite country-music videos. Well, it wasn't played, even tho' others in the audience besides me suggested playing it.

The staff DID play "Queen of My Double Wide Trailer", and that one has personal significance too. When it was a hit heard often on the country-music airwaves we Grahams were living in a trailer in Devine, Texas. I took pleasure in slightly altering the chorus' lyrics to fit our home:

. She is the queen of my single wide trailer
. with the leveller (sp?) blinds and the pinewood porch. . . .

After his session I mentioned this alteration to Sammy and why, but only after commending him for insisting in reply to a Bill Cody question, that he NEVER changes lyrics on a song pitched to him by a songwriter. He has too much respect for their labor to do so. He also had respect for his listeners this morning, because he left autographed copies of his new song "Better Than I Used to Be". That one is a very, very good song! Love its lyrics!

Final Guests were Del McCoury and the Del McCoury Band. Having never seen these guys but nattily attired in suits and ties, I was a bit disappointed that they appeared sans suit and sans tie. However, it didn't affect the sound of their live bluegrass performance. They commenced with a good portion from a song as sound check, before performing a couple songs off their most recent album. In between, there was much humorous banter between Bill and Del.

So it was that I enjoyed Baroque/Classical music live Thursday evening and Bluegrass/Country music the very next morning. Only in Nashville, Tennessee, can such happen of a fellow of the eclectic musical tastes of yours truly! I think I love this town!

The Nashville Sit-Ins (50th Anniversary)

2010-03-02T09:07:00.000-08:00

Sunday the 28th of February A.D. 2010, was the closing day for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. Even tho' I have little if any interest in ice hockey I was nevertheless aware that the USA hockey team was doing well, had beaten Canada in the first round and was about to play the same for the gold medal. All on top of it being the 30th anniversary of the historic victory over the Soviets in the Lake Placid Olympics! So, once Worship was done at Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples) and I was planning activities for the rest of the day, seeking out a TV to watch the hockey game was one option considered.

However, Sunday was also the final day of Black History Month. So once I had eaten dinner at the Green Hills Kroger while observing an NBA game between my San Antonio Spurs and visiting Phoenix (S.A. went on to win it, I discovered next day), I chose to forgo watching a televised game in favor of visiting a museum with a special exhibit. The Tennessee State Museum (in downtown Nashville in the TPAC Building) is commemorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Nashville Sit-Ins.

From my first residence in the State, I was vaguely aware of the sit-ins to integrate lunch counters in downtown stores. I was aware of a few of the leaders involved, such as Kelly Miller Smith (who has a residential tower named after him where I'd delivered many prescriptions for Bradley on the bank of the Cumberland River opposite MetroCenter) and defense attorney Z. Alexander Looby (whose home was bombed and who has a branch library named after him in MetroCenter).

The extensive and well-designed exhibit provides plenty of information to enrich the observer's understanding of the historic event and its centrality to the civil rights struggle of the 1960s.

To keep it brief, Kelly Miller Smith, James Lawson (a VU Divinity School student who got expelled for his involvement in the sit-ins) and Diane Nash led Nashvillians of African heritage in the organization of the Nashville Christian Leadership Conference (later the SCLC). They sparked a movement to open the downtown lunch counters to people regardless of race. Toward the end of 1959 and into 1960 they did extensive training in non-violent protest tactics. One of the first displays in the exhibit lists sort of a "ten commandments" for how to conduct oneself as a peaceful sit-in protester. Training was based on teachings of Christ, Gandhi and a young preacher already becoming famous: Martin Luther King, Jr. Training was held in First Baptist Church -- not the large "white" church on Broadway at Seventh Ave. but rather the "colored" church on Capitol Hill. Most participants were students at the historic Afro-American higher-ed campuses: Tennessee State University (then Tenn. A & I), Fisk University and Meharry Medical College. In February 1960 they started entering downtown stores and sitting down at the lunch counters. Tensions built to a climax on the 27th, which saw violence and arrests. BUT those arrested were the peaceful sitters and not the bigoted and violent whites who attacked them!

Many of the details I learned thru the exhibit impressed me. But two in particular leapt out. One is that Martin Luther King Jr. himself came to Nashville and addressed an audience at Fisk. He confessed that he had come not to teach but to LEARN from the demonstrators. The other salient factor is that the day after attorney Looby's house was bombed, a group of about 4000 silently marched from TSU past Meharry and Fisk to the public square and the steps of Metro Courthouse. There then-mayor Ben West met with the marchers. Diane Nash asked him point-blank if he believed the downtown counters should be desegregated. He replied in the affirmative and added that he "appealed to all citizens to end discrimination."

Next day the Tennessean ran the big headline: "Integrate Counters--Mayor". Store owners, who were being hurt financially by boycotting and the sit-ins (especially during the days before Resurrection Sunday which had lacked their usual rush to buy spring finery), readily complied.

The successful Nashville sit-ins served as model and inspiration for similar efforts to bring about desegregation, first thru'out the State of Tennessee and then in other States. Diane Nash and others involved in the sit-ins went to other localities to assist with other civil rights events and efforts, including voter registration and the famous Selma March.

This pivotal event that took place right here in Nashville is something I believe that residents of every race can be proud. Some details might make us hang our heads in shame -- the arrests of peaceful victims of violence and not their attackers, or the bombing of the Looby home -- but that the young people inspired by Christ, Gandhi and King succeeded in their effort is very praiseworthy. I'm so glad that the State Museum has this exhibit and will display it into April!

Ray Price -- Third time's a charm

2010-02-23T15:12:00.000-08:00

Ray Price is a country singer whom I highly esteem. He has a good voice, and did some great songs in the old-time traditional country way -- called the "shuffle", I think -- and later some great hits in the Nashville Sound that he and Chet Atkins and others developed in the Sixties. Most important, he recorded the song that's my second all-time favorite country song: "Crazy Arms".

I've been blessed twice to experience Ray Price live in concert. First in 2008 at Floore Country Store in Helotes, a formerly sleepy Texas village that morphed into a suburb of San Antonio. The second time happened last year in the Acuff Theater near the Grand Ole Opry House here in Nashville. (In both concerts he commenced with "Crazy Arms" medleyed with another of his hits.)

Well, I'd been eagerly anticipating a third encounter with Mr. Price. He was scheduled to be a guest of Eddie Stubbs on the WSM personality's show "Intimate Evening", which is done before a live audience at the Ford Theater in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Twice Ray was scheduled, twice I acquired a ticket, and twice the show with Ray got cancelled. The second time was recently and due to snowfall.

I despaired that Ray Price would ever make it onto Eddie's show, a usually once-a-month show in which I've taken great delight since my return to Music City.

But last evening (Monday the 22d), when Eddie came on-air to start his usual evening slot on WSM, he announced that Ray would be dropping by for a visit in studio later in the evening. Believe me, dear reader, I didn't allow myself to get out of earshot of my radio!

Ray Price did indeed come on during the 8 PM hour and continued for over an hour in conversation with Eddie. He spoke of his career, of the beginnings of the "shuffle" in country music and dancing -- I need to get a definition of just what a "shuffle" is! -- and other matters related to his very long and illustrious career in country and Western music. One delightful surprise for yours truly was to discover that Ray is in the midst of releasing an album of gospel music! Eddie even played a song from it. Ray may be in his mid-eighties, but he certainly isn't slowing down much! Indeed, at one point he insisted that he has no plans to retire.

And sure en'uf, late in the interview, Eddie played "Crazy Arms". It was almost like the time I was at Floore and the first notes to sound when Ray took the stage were the opening notes for it -- I felt like I'd died and gone to Heaven! Last evening I closed my eyes, and I was back once more in the ticket center just inside the gate to the late, great Opryland Park, selling tickets to Guests from far and near, and listening over and over to a set of about a dozen country hit songs by various artists over the history of recorded music. Some of my co-workers tired of the repetitive set, but I never did. I think I loved them all -- but most of all "Crazy Arms" with its terrific steel guitar slide at the conclusion!

And here I was, listening to the recording again, and to the singer who recorded it way back in the Fifties (it was No. 1 on the country charts in 1956, bumping Elvis & "Heartbreak Hotel" out of that spot) speaking about it to Eddie. True it would have been even better, I suppose, had this all been taking place in the Ford Theater before an audience including me, so that I could SEE as well as hear it. But simply to hear these two men, both of whom I highly esteem and who esteem each other, conversing like long-time friends about the love of their lives -- country music -- well, the listening alone was sufficient!

The Lord bless Ray Price! The Lord bless Eddie Stubbs! Thank God for country music! ! !

Emily's Ordination at Eastwood

2010-02-20T15:44:00.000-08:00

Possibly the dearest mother-daughter duo of my sisters in Christ at Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples) are Margaret Nourse and her daughter Emily. For a bit of background about them, see my post of 26 December A.D. 2009.

Well, unbeknownst to me at the time (or, I may have heard it mentioned & it just didn't register) is that in addition to being an alumna (undergrad) of TCU as I am of TCU's seminary Brite, Emily is also an alumna of Vanderbilt's seminary, and eligible for ordination in the Christian Church(Disciples of Christ). Her ordination service took place at Eastwood this afternoon. The weather was so beautiful that I almost wish the service had been outdoors!

The choir rehearsed its anthem for the service, "Lord Here Am I", in our practice room in the ECC education building, then walked over to the sanctuary and donned our robes. This powerful piece, which crescendos into a grand finale, almost had me in tears, and DID have Dieta Duncan (mother of choir members Josh and Jonathan) in tears. Then we left the chancel, disrobed and took seats in the nave (auditorium). I chose to sit fairly forward on the left (pulpit) side.

Amy Cates, who attended Vanderbilt Divinity School with Emily, preached the ordination sermon. She commenced by relating how the Nourses had earlier lived in the Texas coastal city of Corpus Christi but that Emily in answering God's call had to move inland and go to TCU -- at which point she made the TCU hand sign, which is the right hand with index and middle fingers crooked like claws. To which I automatically responded in like manner -- even tho' that sign got created AFTER my years at TCU's Brite!

Representatives of several groups spoke confirmations of Emily's ordination and/or gave her gifts. There were about five from the Nourse's former church in Corpus, Central Christian (Disciples). Others represented our Eastwood church family as well as the Serenity Sisters Sunday School class -- for which Emily recruited participants! -- and the regional church (Christian Church (DC) in Tennessee). Among the gifts presented during the service were a black academic robe, a very colorful stole and a copy of the Chalice Hymnal of the CC(DC).

At the laying on of hands Regional Minister Glenn Stewart first called for the congregation's Elders, then all ordained persons to step forward. While two placed their hands directly on the kneeling Emily, we others put one hand on the shoulder of the person standing beside us. Also, Dr. Stewart called on the laity left in the pews (and we had a good-size crowd!) to hold hands and for the nearest of us Elders-ordained to take the hand of the nearest. For me this meant Michael Lehman, our Associate Pastor and recent graduate of the Vandy D School; he's next in line to be ordained in Eastwood.

This move by Dr. Stewart really impressed me, because it symbolically involved everybody present in the laying on of hands! Indeed, as I experienced all of the ordination service I kept thinking forward to Michael's ordination service (as surely he was, too) and back to my own service in February A.D. 1989 in the United church of Moscow, in Moscow, Idaho. Mine was quite different in details even if similar in the basic outline. But I'd have loved to have gone back and included that anthem "Lord Here Am I" along with Gold City's recent Southern Gospel hit "Preach the Word". And especially I'd have wanted that means that Dr. Stewart provided of involving everybody in the laying on of hands!

I wouldn't change the gifts, tho'. No robe or stole were given me, since at the time a smaller percentage of Disciples clergy used those "high-church" vestments -- most wore suits and ties. And I've continued to uphold the original Restoration Movement's tenet of not making much distinction or separation of church people into laity and clergy. I eschew the title "Reverend" and consider myself to be no more or less "reverend" than ANY disciple of Jesus. Neither did I receive a hymnal, which I would not have minded at all, especially considering how my love of music, always strong, has grown over the years. What I DO remember receiving at my ordination was a Jerusalem Bible.

Well, that's plenty of THAT aside. After the Lord's Supper, at which Emily presided, and a closing song we adjourned to go to the fellowship hall for the reception. As the crowd moved out I was surprised to see Rusty Lawrence, director of Urban Housing Solutions (offices in Mercury Courts, one of the UHS properties)! And I gave a hearty welcome to all the Texans from Central Christian in Corpus.

As I mentioned earlier, we had a good attendance for this Saturday afternoon worship and ordination service. This was evidenced among other ways, in that at least a dozen of the men sported neckties. But when all these folks got into the fellowship hall, it was almost too small! There did appear to be sufficient food for everybody, fortunately. After several photos were taken of Emily alone or with various groupings, I suggested to her that we ought to get a group photo of all those present who had gone to TCU or Vandy D School or another Disciples-related institution. She considered it a good idea, and so had me get the attention of the crowd and call for this photo to be taken. It's now on my Facebook photo album, and I cropped it to be my current FB profile shot.

No threes, but three doubles

2010-02-16T08:20:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, Friday evening the 12th thru Sunday the 14th Valentine Day and on into Monday the 15th Presidents Day, passed in rather unexpected fashion for yours truly. I was actually hoping to spend part of it out of town, since it was Presidents weekend. But the opportunity never arose, and spent all of it here in Music City.

Saturday the 13th likewise did not go as planned or anticipated. On my new job with SecureWatch ADT it was my first Saturday, and my goal was to get contracts completed for three home security systems. Much to my shock on a cold, blustery day that should have encouraged folks to stay home, at least half of the doors I knocked on I didn't get any response. Not even a barking dog!

And of the homes where a person actually came to the door, one seemed interested but then revealed that he wasn't the "man of the house" (who wouldn't be home 'til after six) and another invited me in and let me give some of my presentation, only to stop me with that he was on fixed income and couldn't afford it. The result of all my efforts thru this cold day was zilch. Zip. Nada.

So much for my goal of three contracts and resulting commission.

However, making up for the vanity of work, I got blessed by a double double Saturday evening and another double Sunday evening! Let me explain, dear reader.

At one point on Thursday or Friday while my team's van was on Gallatin Avenue and passed by Eastland Baptist Church. The church sign announced that on Saturday the 13th Gold City would be in concert. With excitement I told the team where I wanted to be on Saturday evening. Then I explained that Gold City is one of the best gospel quartets in the ministry of Southern Gospel music.

Therefore, when we knocked off our work on Saturday -- nobody on the team got a contract, not even team leader Margaret -- I got dropped off at the church. Just going into the facility was a pleasure. It is an old, historic building, on a foursquare and two-level plan, with a marble column at each of the four inside corners. I chose to sit on the left not far from the platform.

The evening's program commenced with a male trio I'd not heard of before: Southern Salvation. One of their songs is presently on the charts for Southern Gospel music. Another one proclaims that the BEST thing about getting to Heaven will be meeting Jesus. To which I say a very hearty and heart-felt "Amen!"

Then it was Gold City's turn. These guys were my other SG concert performers since my return to Nashville -- see my posting of Thursday, July 2, 2009.

But wait! There had been personnel changes in the quartet, changes that provoked a mixture of amazement and delight in yours truly. First, Tim Riley, who had retired a few years ago after singing bass almost from the group's 1980 beginnings, is back with the quartet. It's my understand that back then Tim was also the manager or some sort of leader of the group. Whether he is again I don't know, but it certainly was a rich blessing to hear Tim singing bass again with Gold City!

The other addition was just as much a delight. Despite the decade since I'd last seen him, I recognized Josh Cobb as he sang tenor. Josh was the original tenor in the new quartet Legacy Five that began ten years ago. I was at their debut concert in Marietta, Georgia, having driven from Clarksville, Tennessee, for the historic event. Scott Fowler and Roger Bennett, formerly of the incomparable Cathedral Quartet, had started the new quartet to carry on the music ministry in the Cathedrals style after Glen Payne and George Younce retired the Cats. As I told Josh after the concert, I clearly remember the setting in which I first heard Legacy Five on the radio. A few months after the debut concert I was driving in Clarksville and had Solid Gospel 105 on the radio. As I turned a corner opposite my church of the time (St. Bethlehem Christian, on Dunbar Cave Rd.) I heard Josh's clear and distinctive tenor coming over the airwaves. Knowing this was my first L5 song to hear on the radio, I pulled onto the shoulder of Dunbar Cave Rd. and got blessed as Josh was featured in the powerful song "I Stand Redeemed"! And here he is, singing tenor again after several years hiatus! Praise God!

Gold City started out by singing a cappella an abbreviated version of their 1991 hit "One Scarred Hand". This majestic praise song was followed by the rousing "When I Get Carried Away". They sang more recent hits such as "What Children Believe" and "I'm Rich". This last song is one I can really get into, as I did one evening on a street corner waiting for a bus, when a street preacher had it sounding out of his loudspeaker behind me. The final verse (which Gold City repeats) contains the words "He's building me a mansion beyond compare; HALLELUJAH! I'm a millionaire!"

So, even tho' they didn't sing another recent hit that I really like, "Preach the Word" (if I could go back and re-do my ordination service, this would be in it) nor their signature hit "Midnight Cry", the concert there in Eastland Baptist served very much as a blessing. Particularly with the double return of Tim and Josh to Southern Gospel singing ministry!

But the weekend wasn't over. Not by any means! The next morning at Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples), Bob Frech offered me a ticket to the evening women's basketball game at Vanderbilt. But I put the invitation on hold while I phoned Vine Street Christian Church (Disciples) to inquire about the Second Sunday evening program. I was told that yes, it was "on" and would include the return of potter Helen. So I told Bob, "Thanks but no thanks".

You see, dear reader, I wasn't about to miss a second experience of Helen and her pot-throwing at the Second Sunday evening worship at Vine St. We commenced as always with a fellowship dinner in the downstairs fellowship hall. Then we went upstairs to the sanctuary, where Helen had spread a tarp and set up her potter's wheel. While she worked the clay she would comment about the process. Then K.K. Wiseman would give spiritual significance to it, and would make the passage from Jeremiah about the potter's workshop come alive for us! (Read Jer. 18:1-8.) And K.K. tied it all very nicely into the traditional church season of Lent, which begins Wednesday the Seventeenth with Ash Wednesday. And as with Helen's first appearance at Second Sunday, each of us got to leave with a small ceramic figurine as a memento and reminder of the experience and its lessons.

E.T.'s birthday

2010-02-09T16:46:00.000-08:00

This morning on "Coffee Country & Cody" AND Charlie, the weekday wake-up show on WSM-AM 650, Bill Cody told how today is the birthday of Ernest Tubb. Then his "Cody Classic Song of the Day" (aired weekdays about 6:55 AM) was one of E.T.'s hit country songs. I appreciated this, because I honor E.T. Not because I'm a great fan of his; I like his "Waltz across Texas" and "Walking the Floor", for sure, but I find his voice isn't all that pleasant for the listening ear.

However, long before I found out about the Grand Ole Opry, I knew the name Ernest Tubb. Then, once I became a fan of country music and the Opry, I got to attend the show for the first time, during a convention of my fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha, at Opryland Hotel. The year was around 1982. This was when the hotel was fairly new and before the first of many expansions - it was still just a "mom & pop" business then, that happened to be next to a theme park and also the world's largest radio studio.

I cannot say that the other three "Pillars of the Opry" made much of an impression on me. Not Roy Acuff, nor Minnie Pearl ('tho later I became a great fan) nor Bill Monroe (I don't even remember that he & his Bluegrass Boys were on that evening. But E.T. made quite an impression. Perhaps because his was the name among the "Four Pillars" I had known before I was even aware of the Opry's existence. What then inscribed itself indelibly in my memory is how when other artists were on stage performing during E.T.'s part of the show, he as host would gesture with his right hand to raise the applause of the audience. That gesture really impressed me!

Years later another fact about E.T. caught my attention. It was that early in his life he moved to San Antonio and was a deejay on station WOAI. Listening to the records of other artists that he sent out over the airwaves, E.T. decided that he could sing as well as they could. And so a singing career got launched -- and not the only one that came out of a deejay of a San Antonio radio station (the late Charlie Walker of the Opry was one of the other S.A. radio deejays-turned-singer). Finding out that somebody I admire has direct connection with that city in Texas always deepens my admiration!

And so, I'm thankful that Bill Cody called our attention to Ernest Tubb's birthday (9 February A.D. 1914) and honored his memory by playing an E.T. song as his classic for the day!

"Freebie", Lee, Leslie - the CMHoFaM

2010-02-06T15:23:00.000-08:00

Well! I just came from a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (CMHoFaM). Today was the Ford-sponsored free-admission Saturday, snow-delayed from last Saturday.

This "freebie" day resulted in even greater pleasure and even happier memories than did last year's "freebie" day!

Upon arrival I passed thru the spacious lobby and by The "Ambassador of Music City" David Andersen, who was entertaining us on his electric guitar. I went up the elevator to the top floor and the start of the museum tour. First I viewed the special (limited-time) Brenda Lee exhibit. It's called "Dynamite" because Ms. Lee is nicknamed, among other things "Little Miss Dynamite". She's very short and small, and of course she was one of the first child singing stars. I was impressed to discover that her musical and singing start was in country music; I'd always considered that her start was in pop-rock and later she moved into country. But the special exhibit indicated that no, at that point in her life she was actually returning to her country roots!

Then I began the tour of the regular permanent exhibits, which of course commence with the origins of what we call "country" music" in the 1920s. To the left are display cases of artifacts, most of them instruments or costume pieces of the stars of what was first known as "hillbilly music". On the right, over a clear glass wall-railing and across the drop down to the next floor, are four screens, each of which has a couple of brief picture shows about this or that aspect of the history of the music. The second screen, for example had clips from the singing cowboys. My eyes misted up while I watched the performance of the Sons of the Pioneers along with Roy Rogers, my boyhood hero.

Then it was time to go down to the ground floor and the Ford Theater, for the Songwriter Session with Leslie Satcher. Leslie had been a guest on "Coffee Country and Cody" of WSM-AM 650 some months back. I'd been charmed then, and was even more charmed this time around. Among Leslie's songwriting credits is George Strait's great song and recent hit that sounds so autobiographical, "Troubadour" -- for it alone I would honor her! The first song she sang was one that became a hit for Martina McBride, "When God-fearin' Women Get the Blues". She talked about how she met Naomi Judd, who was one who helped her significantly, thru their mutual membership in Christ Church (Pentecostal) in southern Davidson County (metro Nashville).

After I left the songwriter session I got in line for the musical petting zoo on the opposite side of the museum lobby. I really wanted to "pet" a pedal steel guitar. It turned out that none was there; the closest thing was an electrified Dobro guitar. But then both instruments are played while sliding a metal pipe along strings, and the resulting sounds are very similar: the "twang" in country music. After "petting" the Dobro for several minutes, and asking the volunteer docent questions about it (like tuning as compared to a regular guitar), I moved on to other nstruments in the petting zoo. I tried the banjo, mandolin -- and an instrument I had played in grade school in the Sixties: the autoharp!

I wrapped up my "freebie" visit to the CMHoFaM with a walk into the Hall of Fame itself. One of the first plaques I stopped to read carefully was that hero from my early boyhood: Roy Rogers. My head threatened to leak again, as I contemplated memory of hours of sitting on the living room floor eyes glued to Roy's TV show, and the great role model he remained all thru his long, full life. I'm glad for Roy that he's with the Lord now, but I miss him!

Just before I finished circumambulating the round Hall I came to the plaque of a much more recent inductee, the REAL cowboy from Texas, with the smoothest voice in country music and among the smoothest who still sings in ANY genre. I'm referring to George Strait! I smiled as I read the Strait man's plaque, then I tipped my hat to him and exited. On my way down the ramp descending to the lobby and main entrance, I could first hear, then see, David Andersen still bending the strings on his electric guitar.

Wow! what a joyful afternoon in one of Music City's greatest attractions! And all for free, too! Thanks, Ford Foundation, for enabling this great day!

Busloads of barking baboons

2010-02-03T09:01:00.000-08:00

Yours truly hasn't posted much on this blog about the local city bus company, Nashville MTA. I've deliberately refrained, for fear that I would stoop to ugly or even obscene language. You see, dear reader, compared to the service I experienced riding San Antonio's MTA, VÍA, that of this city IS obscene!

To paraphrase something I read in "You are so Nashville if. . ." about the late Starwood Amphitheater, I could say, "Nashville MTA, dear Nashville MTA, how do we hate thee? Let me count the ways." First, we hate the confusing-to-read, lacking-in-info and inaccurate pocket schedules. We hate the weird schedule intervals that make no sense. We hate bus drivers speeding from time point to time point so they can take a break due to arriving early. We hate overcrowded buses.

Get the picture?

Another great difference between Nashville MTA and VÍA has to do with demographics, in part. In San Antonio, where the majority are Hispanics, so are bus riders -- but not remarkably more than their share of the general population. And I enjoyed overhearing conversations in Spanish or even code-switching, between two fellow passengers. Sometimes I'd even join in the chatting. But here I seldom hear Spanish, despite the remarkable growth in the local Hispanic community. More likely the non-English I hear on the bus is Arabic or another language of the Islamic part of the Old World. (This is due to the immigration of numerous people from there, to work in hotels.)

Here in Nashville the majority now has changed from Anglo (or white) to Afro-American. And the vast majority of MTA riders as well as drivers are Afro-American. I usually don't mind this, even tho' I cannot relate to their culture like I can to lo chicano. However, conversations I overhear, often spoken at loud volume audible all over the crowded bus, tend to revolve around prison time served, paroles, crimes committed -- or sex -- or sports.

Which leads me to the topic here. On Sunday last, day of the NFL Pro Bowl, twice I was on buses leaving the downtown depot for East Nashville, and several African men were sitting in the back, higher portion of the bus. Somebody would bring up the Pro Bowl, somebody else would ask what time it kicked off, and away they'd go talking about pro football. From the day's bowl to next Sunday's Super Bowl to the Titans to previous Super Bowls. . . and getting louder and loud as their enthusiasm waxed. Shortly they all sound like a pack of barking baboons!

As I say, this occurred twice. I began to wonder if this sort of enthusiasm will continue all thru the week between the two NFL bowls. Well, that got affirmed last evening, when it happened again. Only this time a mere pair of speakers were involved in the chatting, and it didn't start with the Pro Bowl, I don't think. But once again these two covered the range of sub-topics under general topic of NFL. And the got louder and louder in their enthusiasm. And eventually just the two of them were sounding like another pack of barking baboons!

No, Nashville is definitely NOT San Antonio! Go Spurs go! Y también, ¡arriba lo chicano!

The Music of Music City

2010-02-01T15:59:00.000-08:00

I haven't done a verse of "The Music of Music City" in awhile. That is, I haven't posted specifically with what makes Nashville "Music City" in mind. I could have done that with either of my two recent postings that were set in the Station Inn. Why I didn't think of it I don't know. . . .

But regarding what I experienced here yesterday I simply cannot avoid it! TWO -- not one but TWO -- doses of the music of Nashville!

Sunday morning I made my way thru the snow that had fallen to about four inches on Nashville. Snow that, by the way, had cancelled a free-admission Saturday at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Bummer! But Pastor Jay had sent out e-mail that Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples) would be having church -- even if it were just his wife Dawn playing piano and he preaching to the pew cushions. LOL

The Hartleys and yours truly were not the only ones to show up, praise God! The folks we needed most to sing the anthem for Worship were there, too. Scott Hallgren played piano, Associate Pastor Michael Lehman electric bass guitar and Jonell Mosser sang the solo portion of Ken Medema's inspired and inspiring "Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying". I had sung this in the choir back at Alamo Heights Christian in San Antonio and knew at once when choir director Julie Duemler presented it to us at ECC, that the solo portion was perfect for Jonell and Jonell for it! The mere rehearsing of it last Wednesday had pumped me up to sing the choral part and be blessed by the whole piece. Had we had to cancel, believe me dear reader, it would have bee much more crushing than the Hall of Fame being closed on Saturday. Seriously, much worse a casualty of the snowstorm.

All in all, we had over 50 in attendance, not counting choir (I think). And we even had a couple women to sing alto who hadn't practiced and hadn't been part of anthem singing in awhile. But I know we all did fine! I know without a doubt that the Spirit moved in us -- and particularly Jonell -- as we sang!

The second note, or chord , or measure, whatever, of Sunday's verse (or episode) of "The Music of Music City" was attending a concert of "The Creation", composed by Joseph Haydn. The ECC choir had actually sung Movement #13 "The Heavens Are Telling. . ." a couple Sundays ago as the anthem, and Dawn had announced to us in choir that this concert was going to happen. Somehow I missed that the Nashville Symphony (or a good portion of it) would be involved until she appeared in the parsonage, ready to drive me there, dressed in a long black gown (like women orchestra members wear) and carrying her bassoon (in its case). Well, that made going to First Presbyterian Church south of Nashville in suburban Oak Hill all the better!

The audience barely outnumbered the symphony and choir combined. I suppose the low attendance couldn't be helped, since secondary and neighborhood streets and even some of the major thorofares were still coated snow packed down into ice. But "The Creation" was a masterful example of classical music from one of the great composers of that genre, and symphony and First Presbyterian's choir did it well. I'm glad I was able to go! Thank you, Dawn!

So, morning and evening yesterday, Sunday, were memorable experiences of the Music that makes Nashville "Music City"! One a spirited, jazzy church choir anthem, the other a classical concert in a church. Neither of them country music. But I trust that I made it clear to you long ago that country music is far from all there is to why this city is "Music City"!

"I need a little 'Twang'!"

2010-01-29T12:55:00.001-08:00

early this morning I was walking down Murfreesboro Rd. here in Music City and powder snowflakes were falling all around me. Shortly they fell harder and began to weave a blanket of white on the Nashville ground.

Meanwhile, I passed a Chevy dealership just a couple blocks from my residence. Filling the air audibly as the snowflakes filled it visually was the country music that the car dealership always has blaring out from its P.A. system. I've heard some good tunes whenever I've passed it since it opened. The song of the moment was "Twang".

My wife says she hates "Twang", and yes, it's not one of the Strait man's best efforts. Indeed, the arrangement would sound better fitted for a voice like, say, the other, older George or Chesney or Lawrence. On the other hand, the Strait man could release a recording of himself snoring and I'd buy it!

On the other hand, too, whoever would be singing it, "Twang" is my anthem of the moment! You see, as a boy growing up in Boise -- and during pre-teen years living a mile away from radio station that was to Idaho what WSM is to the Southeast, i.e. strong wattage & strong country music -- I absolutely loathed country music. I dissed it as "that twangy stuff on the radio!"

Then going to University of Idaho and joining Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity I had half my brothers there being farm-boys from Whitman Co. WA, and that was their music. Had to learn to tolerate it. From there it's been a step-by-step progression to where I love country (& Western) music most of all. The traditional type country music became my favorite sub-genre. You know, with fiddle and/or steel guitar. I love that steel guitar! ! !

Back in the Nineties I was reminiscing about the development of my love for country music and realized that the steel guitar had become my favorite instrument in that genre. AND that this was the "twang" in the music I had loathed as a boy! So-o-o-o. . .

" I need a little twang! A little hillbilly bendin' on some guitar strings!
" Some pedal steel whinin' like the whistle of an old freight train!
" To get that foot stompin' honky-tonkin' feelin' going thru my veins!
" I need a little twang, twang, twa-a-a-anggg! "

Hey, somebody show me to the Station Inn!

Well, I sure got a little "Twang" last evening

2010-01-29T12:32:00.000-08:00

The Station Inn is touted as one of the music landmarks of Music City. It's been a stage for acoustic music -- Americana, bluegrass, country-traditional -- for around four decades, according to what WSM-AM 650 says, and "The Legend" should know. To celebrate this the radio station commenced one of two new shows at the little tavern. It's called the "Station Inn Sessions", and the first session on the airwaves for A.D. 2010 was Thursday evening.

ON WSM I'd heard "Sessions" host Mike Terry describe the featured acoustic group for the evening, "The Westbound Rangers" as students from Belmont University here, and other details of interest to yours truly. So being free for the moment, I took myself over to Twelfth Ave. South at Eleventh Ave. South -- yes, the latter bends to run into the former -- to have a look 'n listen.

Well, the four young guys were terrific! The foursome are still Belmont students -- what'll happen to them upon graduation? And they use the standard instruments of a bluegrass quartet: upright acoustic bass, acoustic guitar, mandolin and banjo. They did some traditional and very old bluegrass and string band numbers; the one that impressed me most was "Old Plank Road". I'd heard the recording of it by Uncle Dave Macon, and feel these young fellows' cover was worthy of it. They also played songs off their debut album, and at least one for a prospective second.

As I told Mike Terry at one point, "I'm really impressed with these guys! What they lack in the finesse of years of experience, they make up for in the fire of their freshness!" They may not be Nashville Bluegrass Band -- yet -- but give 'em time, dear reader (and listener).

An Icon - in the Sky even! - Retires

2010-01-26T14:55:00.000-08:00

As the Year of Our Lord 2010 got started and got running into the usual work weeks, I noticed on WSM-AM 650, that traffic reports were not being provided by Richard Thomas, who had done this duty since before I moved to Tennessee the first time (mid-summer A.D. 1983). And when the traffic reporter on duty was introduced, it wasn't with something like "filling in for Richard, who's on vacation, is" so-and-so. I suspected that the silence indicated that Richard had retired.

Retirement is usually a planned and welcome transition in a working person's life. But I knew that if true of Richard Thomas it would be sad for me and many others. Richard and his little Cessna have been an icon in the sky over Music City for decades! Over the course of my extended sojourns in Middle Tennessee, listening to his WSM traffic reports had been entertaining and at times had provided very helpful information. I remember that during one of the phases of widening Interstate 40 east of downtown, there had been an evening "rush hour" report -- why do they call it "rush hour" when driver generally creep along at those times rather than rush? -- that Richard commenced with "On I 40 we have invasion of the rubber-neckers, due to an accident in front of Percy Priest Dam!"

The other thing that's fixed in my mind is that over the years his reports have chronicled, in a way, the growth of metropolitan Nashville, as the "hot spots" of traffic move out away from the inner city along with the growth of the suburbs. For example, to the south along IH 65, where the greatest growth has been, I can remember in the early years Richard would use the names of Concord Road and Moores Lane with frequency. But since I returned here in Ought Eight his "buzz locations" have been Highway 96 intersection in Franklin and more often "Goose Creek-Peytonsville (Road)" further south. I was ready to start hearing constant references to the IH 65 and Loop 840 intersection - even further out south. But that didn't get to happen.

I finally broke down a few days ago, phoned Bill Cody on the "Coffee Country & Cody" wake-up show and asked what had happened to Richard. I think I even couched my query in terms of had he retired. Bill paused and then answered solemnly that something bad had happened to him; after another pregnant pause, he added, "He's in prison." Now, I've listened on air to "Buffalo Bill" (as he was often called years ago on San Antonio's KKYX) for quite some time and interacted with him during several live-audience sessions of the show; I was sure that he was pulling my leg. He admitted that it was so, and that my guess that the "sky guy" had retired was correct. He added that they had wanted to have a proper send-off for Richard, but he had been quite ill. At earliest opportunity they would invite him into the studio and do it.

Well, this became a "done deed" today. Richard Thomas was in the studio for awhile, and let me tell you, dear reader, that he sounded totally different on the ground than doing the reports from his little airplane. Totally different! A couple of callers-in and Bill's sidekick Charlie Mattos all remarked about this. All the callers I heard wished Richard well and expressed that we listeners were going to miss him. Especially those who rely on the reports for their drive-time commutes. He has a successor doing traffic reports, of course, but Richard's personality cannot be duplicated.

We will indeed miss Richard Thomas flying the sky-ways over Nashville and giving his traffic reports over the airwaves of WSM. Happy retirement, Richard!

No "Magic" at Memorial Gym

2010-01-25T09:25:00.000-08:00

"Memorial Gym Magic" is a phrase that should be familiar to followers and supporters of Vanderbilt University basketball, and lifelong residents of Nashville. It refers to how the Commodores round-ball teams seem to always win in the friendly and unique home environment of the campus main gymnasium. Memorial Gym is unique because the two team benches are not on the side lines but rather at the end lines, and the audience seating to the sides goes lower than the playing floor -- making for an effect that you're watching the game being played on a stage!

Hm-m-m-m! To watch university sports being played in a place that resembles a place for musical or drama performances. Shall we call this "Music City USA meets the Athens of the South"?

Yesterday, Sunday, at the conclusion of another blessed time of worship in Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples), fellow member Bob Frech told me he had an extra ticket for the afternoon game, featuring the VU women's team. The Frech family are strong supporters of Vanderbilt athletics even tho' none attended or worked at the university. So I went with Bob and his dad Soapy to the game. As we crossed the floor -- the "stage" -- I chose to pause by the broadcasters' tables and inquire about my friend Charlie Mattos. Shortly I saw him crossing the floor toward me, attired in a purple turtleneck. We greeted each other and chatted briefly about various matters, and I complimented him on the turtleneck.

The Frech family's season seats are right behind the opposing team's bench -- I think because Bob likes to heckle them. Just a little heckling; Bob's a good Christian gentleman! We not only had to our left a pep band this time (other games I'd been to recently were during the holiday break, with student body absent) but a good-size pep band. As in no less than five sousaphones, etc.

Then, at halftime I was interviewed by a young woman student, for a communications course of some sort. She asked such questions as my association with Vanderbilt athletics (wife Ellen received a BA here in 1976 and I an MA in '88), who my favorite players are (Hannah Tuomi and Meredith Marsh), how many games I'd attended (not en'uf, only 3 or 4).... She concluded the interview with standard invitation to the interviewee (me) for final comment. To which I replied, "Go, Commodores!"

With that I scooted back to my seat to see a neat and very different halftime show. It was the very end of an exhibition of oversize mascot types, accompanying Mr. Commodore. As these were then leaving the floor -- the "stage" -- the Mighty Raptors came out. They are special needs students formed into a cheerleading unit. Bob Frech told me as we watched that some of them are from the school where he teaches, Station Camp HS in nearby Sumner County. I replied that my very first sub-teaching assignment when I lived in San Antonio was the Life Skills class at Lanier HS, and I quickly came to love those special students! Surely it took patience, time and understanding by their trainers, but the members' enthusiasm and effort matched any bunch of cheerleaders I've seen! Did I say, "Go, Commodores"? Well, how about "Go, Mighty raptors!"

But alas! the magic didn't happen in Memorial Gym for the hoopsters this afternoon! The Vanderbilt women had surged ahead 10-2 to open the game against the women of Mississippi State. But the visitors, who had bested the VU women earlier in Mississippi, soon took the lead and never relinquished it. So I got to be present and watch my first ever loss. Final score was MSU women 65, VU women 66.

Later, in the evening I got some small consolation, in that I attended a supper for Building Lives, a local veterans aid organization, hosted by Clark Memorial UMC. This historic Methodist church, Afro-American but United Methodist rather than of the African Methodist denominations, is located off Jefferson on Fourteenth Avenue, near the Fisk University campus, but its earlier sanctuary still stands on Fourth Avenue a few blocks south of the Schermerhorn Concert Hall. The food was delicious, and leader and mentor Tim Gregath gave a brief presentation on a program Building Lives will provide soon, a version of Dave Ramswy's financial self-help instruction.

But what caught my attention the most was one of the many plaques on the wall of the Clark Memorial UMC fellowship hall where this all took place. It was a plaque recognizing folks who'd contributed $1000 or more to the restoration of the historic facility. Among the names was that of Edward Temple. I asked and got confirmation that this is none other than the famous Coach Ed Temple of women's track and field at nearby (but not nearly as close as Fisk!) Tennessee State University. A historically black state institution, TSU is alma mater of the famous Olympic runner Wilma Rudolph. And Coach Ed Temple was her coach! A street that passes just east of the TSU campus is named in his honor. I was further informed that he not only is very much alive but very much active in the congregation!

Being a lover of track and field even more than I love basketball, baseball or football, and one who cherishes the memory of the late Wilma Rudolph and her inspiring story, this tidbit of information fascinated me. As in "Wow!" So I concluded my evening at Clark Memorial by touring the sanctuary. I found it a rather small one but beautiful in its tradition appearance. Especially the dark-stained wooden rafters supporting the cathedral ceiling above me.

So despite the loss by the Vandy women, yesterday was a very good, memorable Sunday, sandwiched between two good churches. In the Buckle of the Bible Belt even!

"Coffee Country & Cody" at Hall of Fame - again!

2010-01-22T09:31:00.001-08:00

This morning WSM-AM 650 presented the monthly live-audience show of the station's wake-up show in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. And so for the second time in less than four days I was inside the Ford Theater there. The first time was Tuesday evening for Eddie Stubbs' WSM show "Intimate Evening" (see the report posted immediately before this). Now it's "Coffee Country & Cody", to which I like to add "AND Charlie" because I strongly feel that sidekick Charlie Mattos is as crucial to show's success as is host Bill Cody.

As I walk into the Hall of Fame building a pretty, petite young lady passes me going out. While I pause in the lobby to shed my overcoat she re-enters, heading for the theater with a fiddle case and bow in hand. This clues me in that she was one of Bill and Charlie's guests. Shortly I learn that she's none other than Amanda Shires! Of the many musical ladies that the Cody show has introduced to me over the airwaves, Amanda is probably my favorite. One reason is that she's from Mineral Wells and Lubbock and hi-lites the West Cross Timbers region of Texas (where the former city sits) on her most recent recorded album.

Amanda Shires gave us reason to become bigger fans of her - literally! She carried in a quantity of home-made snickerdoodles, of which I got to sample one. Yum, yum!

Well, if I get goose-bumps from this unexpected proximity to Amanda, SHE gets goose-bumps from playing fiddle alongside today's first live Guest for the show, Michael Martin Murphey. Amanda and her fiddle accompany him in a medley of his hit songs -- not including "Wildfire" (which I picked up that he had sung before I entered). Murphey's other songs are off his "Buckaroo Blue Grass" album, and he finishes his portion of the show with one song off the soon-to-be-released Buckaroo BG II album.

Next Guest is Moe Bandy. At the earliest break (from the broadcast of the show) I make bold to request my favorite Bandy hit, "Americana" which is definitely third fave on my personal list of all-time favorite country hit songs after "Crazy Arms" (#2) and "Love Without End Amen" (#1). The first song done live by Moe is "Too Old to Die Young", probably my second fave on the Bandy song list. Later Bill Cody has a recording of "Bandy the Rodeo Clown" aired. Moe remarks on the origin of the song's lyrics and how Lefty Frizzell and Whitey Shafer came to write these. Two details strike me. First, that Moe's brother was a rodeo cowboy (Moe jokingly says he quit the rodeo circuit after two head injuries). (Thus neither Bandy brother was a clown.) Second, that at the time the song came out Moe was seeking not just a hit song but a gig in which to play. On that latter Bill comments perceptively that a place to do a gig isn't hard to find in THIS town!

Finally, Moe strums his guitar, singing "Americana". By the end of the first refrain and start of second verse my head's leaking. This song affects me so that I found it hard to sing along on the second refrain (Moe invited us to sing along second time around on chorus of "Too Old" as well as "Americana"). One reason I find the song so powerful is that I can remember my first hearing of it on the airwaves (or one of the first). I still can picture that I was driving alone in the afternoon on a narrow road in an isolated wooded area with undergrowth more lush than rank. Strange thing is I cannot place it otherwise. I want to associate this hearing of "Americana" with our 1992-94 residence in Devine, Texas -- which makes sense in that it's is a small town off a superhighway, the song's setting. But there's no place near Devine that would have a wood with tall trees and lush undergrowth. So was it in rural Leon County outside Tallahassee (1991-92)? When I asked him, Moe said the song hit the airwaves in 1988 - which is while we lived in Nashville the first time. So it COULD be that my memory of the location is a rural area outside Music City USA!

. Americana - pictures of a people proud and free.
. Americana - I'll keep holdin' to the dream.
. You're still what livin' means to me!

The last Guest on "Coffee Country & Cody -- AND Charlie! -- was songwriter (Jay) Fred Knoblock. He was there to promote a series of concerts at the Bluebird Café (a major gig for musical performers in this city) all thru January, to benefit the Alive Hospice program. Gina Killeborn of Alive Hospice was present also regarding this. Fred will be one of the artists on tonite's concert at the Bluebird. Like Michael and Moe, he too picked guitar and sang. One of his songs celebrated his home State (also birth State of Moe) "Feels Like Mississippi". The lyircs were so evocative and the melody so smooth that it caused me to vaguely wish I'd been raised in the Magnolia State too!

On the other hand, Moe's "Americana" echoes thru my mind. I've lived for significant lengths of time in three widely-separated States, and otherwise in three more of these United States. I love this country - all of it!

Another "Intimate Evening" at Hall of Fame

2010-01-20T07:49:00.000-08:00

Eddie Stubbs, deejay on WSM-AM 650, emcee on the Grand Ole Opry show, and all-around fountain of information about the history of country music, had his monthly "Intimate Evening" show last night. It was in the Ford Theater of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. George Hamilton IV, who is soon to celebrate 50 years as member of the Opry cast, was Eddie's Guest, and I was one in the audience.

This was my third attendance at the "Intimate Evening", and since at the second the unreliable Nashville MTA made me late (see blog post of 3 September 2009), I made sure to take a bus early in the evening. To pass time I browsed in the Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Broadway, where a candle burned in memory of the just-deceased country music icon Carl Smit. Then I strolled the block over to Demonbreun Street and entered the Hall of Fame. A long line of audience guests lined the walls of the lobby and listened to David Andersen, styled the "Ambassador of Music City", play classic country hit tunes on his guitar.

Once we entered and got seated I saw that the auditorium was over two thirds full. To my surprise Eddie and I were not the only men dressed in suits and ties; there were quite a few others. Even songwriter John Loudermilk sported a necktie. He wrote George Hamilton IV's earliest hit, the pop standard "A Rose and a Baby Ruth". We also learned during the show that not only George IV and son George V who sings with his dad had their family present (including young George VI), but also in attendance were some members of their church in Williamson Country including clergy!

The song that opened the show once broadcasting over WSM commenced at seven, was "Break My Mind" -- which I hadn't even associated with George IV! While the recording was still airing the Opry star himself came out to sit near Eddie. He wore his current standard apparel: a blue and white checkered or windowpane shirt and two pieces of a dark blue three-piece suit; the vest bore a Roman numeral IV. Three chairs in the stage area gave clear clue that George V would at some time be in the show.

Much of the show was Eddie interviewing George IV, and also John Loudermilk (about the background to "A Rose and a Baby Ruth") and George V. The senior George is touted as "The International Ambassador of Country Music", and we learned that this was due to a BBC fellow years ago. George IV has traveled and sung in almost as many countries overseas as he hasn't -- he did admit he's never performed in South America (which he regrets). In 1974 he got to perform in the former Iron Curtain satellite of Czechoslovakia -- and then in the very capital of the USSR itself! He told some wonderful anecdotes that showed how music is truly an international language that overcomes borders and artificial barriers. For me his testimony also seconded what a visit years ago to an exhibit of Russian religious art had taught me. Atheistic communism was doomed to fall sooner or later and the USSR vanish, because the Russians and their neighbors have deep spiritual roots.

As deeply moving as was his account of the visit behind the former Iron Curtain, I think the highlight of the evening happened when the two Georges took guitars and played and sang live a song written by George V. Live performance is hardly ever done during an "Intimate Evening" session! The song was "We Will Meet Again", a beautiful, sung testimony to hope and faith. They dedicated it to Carl Smith, whose funeral had been that day down in Williamson County.

Then, as if one live song wasn't enough, toward the end the father and son duet sat up on the stools again, guitar in hand and did "Forever Young" as a finale. I'd heard the two sing this song more than once while listening to the Opry. And now I was being blessed with "Forever Young" being done right before my eyes, not twenty feet away!

But wait one minute, the show wasn't over yet. (In fact, it ran overtime, to about seven after nine.) George V produced a gift for Eddie: a poster with rural emblems and the words "Think globally, act hillbilly." Laugh out loud! He spoke of how he had difficulty getting approval for the concept of the poster, because it was feared folk would find it offensive (due to the "hillbilly" word). But it took off like a rocket when finally available. And George V added that many of the customers were businessmen in suits and ties! Let me tell you, dear reader, yours truly wouldn't mind possessing a copy of "Think globally, act hillbilly." It really appeals to me!

Brotherhood - ΛΧΑ - in Music City USA

2010-01-19T13:52:00.000-08:00

Last evening I found my way over to the West End side of Vanderbilt University. On the way I looked up and amid the swiftly-blown clouds in the dusky sky saw a waxing crescent moon. This was very appropriate, because I was on my way to my fraternity's chapter house at Vandy. And the waxing crescent is a symbol for us in the Brotherhood. It's usually combined with a Greek cross (equal four arms), to illustrate our open motto Per Crucem Crescens ("Crescent in the cross").

For my fraternity is Lambda Chi Alpha.

The undergraduate Brothers (referred to as "actives" as contrasted with us alumni) of Gamma-Delta Zeta at Vandy ("zeta" means chapter) surprised me by all wearing suits and ties! Usually I'm dressed nicely whenever I attend a chapter meeting, but this being a holiday I wasn't even sure that the Brothers would be holding a chapter meeting. S o I'd worn casual garb, including my Xmas-gift "Eastwood" (Christian Church) sweatshirt. I felt more out of place that I've felt on earlier occasions when I was the only suited and tied fellow present! But oh well, what the heck!

The Brothers of LCA at Vandy had another surprise in store. When the meeting adjourned, they held the fraternity's Associate Member Ceremony to formally welcome sixteen new young men who are associating with us and will be initiated later in the semester. The ceremony consists of three or four of the officers explaining three or four of the symbols in the room and what they signify for the new associates. Having been High Phi or Ritualist at the Zeta at Idaho during my undergrad years, I am quite familiar with the topics covered in this ceremony, as I am with all ritual events in LCA. And once again I was moved in my spirit by this refresher on some of the spiritually-based teachings of this Brotherhood that I so cherish.

That earlier sighting of the waxing Crescent Moon had likewise moved yours truly. It was almost a year ago that on the Vanderbilt campus I had espied one up above the Parthenon as I was leaving the closing event of the Bluegrass Conclave hosted at Vandy by the Vandy Brothers, to mark the Centennial of Lambda Chi Alpha. It had been wonderful to participate in a gathering oriented to our hundred years of fraternal history -- then in the deed and now in the memory.

The Winter of 2010 in Nashville

2010-01-09T13:31:00.000-08:00

Weather forecast for Middle Tennessee early in the week predicted -- repeatedly predicted -- snow of up to 1 inch in Nashville and more elsewhere over Wednesday nite & Thursday morning, with storm to pass on out by noon. The snow did not commence until very late Thursday morning, and then hardly came close to an inch accumulation.

But the predicted frigid temperatures really DID happen! Nashville has hardly gotten up to freezing yet this year, and night-time lows continue to be in the teens or very low twenties.

With this in mind, my church, Eastwood Christian (Disciples), which already opens on the third Friday of winter months, to ten homeless men thru the "Room in the Inn" ministry, chose to offer our facility for any of the nights from this past Thursday thru tomorrow night (Sunday). As part of this I offered my services to drive the van, stay overnite and/or assist with breakfast. I ended up being assigned to do the first two on Thursday.

To be honest, dear reader, I had not driven in snow here (or anywhere else) in many, many winters, nor had I driven this particular van in anything but fair weather. But as I say above, the snow didn't get deep and at that it was powder snow like I grew up with back in Idaho, and the main streets were certainly pretty open and drivable.

So off I went from Eastwood in East Nashville, to downtown to pick up ten men to bring back to the church. All of us involved in this emergency (or "extra-nites"?) "Room in the Inn" effort were concerned how we would get the ministry done efficiently. It certainly wasn't like a typical third-Friday session, but still it went okay, I'd say. Certainly, Dieta Duncan cooked a very delicious supper at her home and carried it to the church for the men and the volunteers. And then in the morning Cindy and Gene Lovelace prepared a scrumptious breakfast int he church kitchen.

On "downer" sort of, is that the church has a television, but it's the old analog type, without digital converter-box. So nobody got to watch the BCS bowl "championship" game. I put the word in parentheses because as far as I'm concerned the REAL championship was played Monday evening, in the Fiesta Bowl, when undefeated Boise STate defeated undefeated TCU. Therefore, I was not much concerned whether Texas or Alabama won Thursday - I was convinced that BSU could handle UT or Bama as well as they did my Horned Frogs of TCU.

But I digress. Instead of television or the movie video or DVD that we COULD see on that big TV screen, I was prepared to read. And then I got to talking with Justin Prendley, the young man who had also volunteered to stay overnite. He recently proposed to Courtney Frech of our church, and I found him to be a likable fellow and easy to talk with.

And so went the nite of Thursday, ending the first week of A.D. 2010 in a frigid Music City, with Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples) hosting ten homeless men for the "Room in the Inn" ministry.

Teamwork! Teamwork! Teamwork!

2010-01-04T13:08:00.000-08:00

Whee! A.D. 2009 ended with a marvelous example of teamwork. And then 2010 took off where Ought Nine ended!

On Wednesday evening the 30th -- New Years Eve Eve??? -- I sat glued to the tube, in this case the community TV at Mercury Courts. I'm hardly ever even casually watching the "idiot box", but give me a broadcast of a sports contest involving a team dear to yours truly and I'll not just casually watch but get as fixated as if I were at the game in person!

And so it happened with ESPN's carry of the 2009 Humanitarian Bowl, from the city of my raising, Boise. My alma mater (undergrad), Idaho, was in this bowl for the second time. The first time was also the only H-Bowl I can tell you anything about -- and yes, the Idaho Vandals won that one, their first ever bowl appearance!

And what a game this '09 H-Bowl became, there on the "Smurf turf" of Bronco Stadium! The Vandals and the Falcons of Bowling Green State (in Ohio) traded leads, tied four times and piled up the points. When BGSU scored a TD with about half a minute left, to go ahead 42-35, I figured that once again the Vandals had snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

But I kept watching anyway. Alumnus loyalty for all my alma maters (high school to grad school) runs deep in my soul, and my blood was running silver and gold this day. Idaho too the kickoff and moved quickly down field with a passing attack. Got in the "red zone" and Vandal QB Ederle passed for completion in end zone. Time out. UI Coach Ron Akey called for a two-point conversion rather than a kick to send game into overtime. Receiver was almost alone by goal post. So, with four clicks left on the clock, the Vandals won 43-42!

Sunday morning I experienced another type teamwork. A spiritual teamwork. I attended Sunday School and Worship at my church, Eastwood Christian (Disciples). Part of the teamwork was just after Worship, when we removed and stored all the advent-Christmas decorations. Another part was when Bob Frech offered me a ticket to the Vanderbilt University women's basketball game in Memorial Gym that afternoon. I accepted, and had Sunday dinner with them at a cafeteria-style Mexican place on West End Avenue, across 21st Ave. from the corner of Vandy campus.

Then on to Memorial Gym. The Black & Gold women scored first, then Mississippi state scored a three-pointer to lead 3-2. It was their only lead of the game, with Vandy taking control right away. I was amazed at all the assists and other displays of teamwork! The Black & Gold gals led 47-33 at the half, and ended the game victors by a score of 86-72.

But again, dear reader, I was most impressed with the teamwork I witnessed. This I suppose is most evident in that VU had 24 assists. Go, Gold!

Wind-down to Ought Nine here

2009-12-30T09:03:00.000-08:00

Today & tomorrow and Ought Nine will be history. No more "Ought n" years. At least for 90 years - & I don't think I'll still be around for THAT. In fact, way things are going, nobody & nothing will be around in 90 years. Unless Jesus returns, which I'm trusting He will! And, well, when He does, history itself will be "history"!

But in the meanwhile, the story (history), and the news (history in the making), and the blogs (remarking on history, at least my blog), go on. . . .

Xmas & Xmas Eve in Nashville

2009-12-26T13:36:00.000-08:00

"In Nashville." I certainly was not planning on being in Music City for the holiday, but rather with family to the northwest in Clarksville. However, things didn't work out for this to happen. Could have seen this as a real bummer - a "bum-end" as my son remarked! But I refused to let the change in plans bring me down.

The result was a very memorable Christmas Eve & Christmas Day.

On the former day, I travelled by bus across town to my church, Eastwood Christian (Disciples) of our Christmas Eve worship. I carried my guitar and some villancicos (carols in Spanish) and Christmas sheet music with me. Just in case the Pastor wanted me to do something musical during it. He had expressed this several days ago when I still planned to go to C'ville. It turned out that no, he had the whole service arranged. But no problem! I was quite happy to simply participate in the celebration as an attendee and nothing more. Participate as one in a full house, I must add -- we were standing room only!

We had terrific music as it was! Beginning with the Pastor, Jay Hartley, on bagpipes, his son Joseph on recorder, Stuart Duncan on guitar, etc. The order of worship was a traditional "lessons (i.e., Scripture readings) and carols" format, followed by the Lord's Supper with us going forward in the central aisle, partaking by intinction (dipping a piece of the loaf into the cup and then eating it) and then acquiring a small candle (with anti-wax protector for the fingers) and proceeding up the outer aisle. With so many people, we didn't have quite en'uf candles, and in addition to lining the walls we stood all along the central aisle and packed the chancel (choir area)! The candles got lit and the artificial lights turned down as we all sang "Silent Night". After the benediction we sang "Joy to the World" to cap off this celebration of the coming of the Word of God into our world, in the flesh of the one born to a virgin and using a feed trough for his first cradle.

I had eaten little during the day, and this left plenty of room for a post-worship supper at Emily Nourse's home. Emily and her mother Margaret are members of Eastwood who used to live in Corpus Christi, Texas, and have been on cursillo-style retreats (the mom on Walk to Emmaus & the daughter on Chrysalis). Margaret's other daughter and her husband and a cousin were also at the worship and walked with us to Emily's house for the dinner. The other daughter (an alumna of San Antonio's Trinity University) and her husband had made tamales by hand earlier in the day -- and when I learned of this before the worship started, I remarked, "Oh, una tamalada! Had I known I'd have come over early and helped out!" (This despite the fact that I know nothing about how to make the traditional comida mexicana de Nochebuena y Navidad.)

While los tamales were heating up along with Spanish rice and guacamole was being made, we sipped on a delicious Spanish wine. It was neither dry nor sweet, but a combination or both, and very tasty.

After supping on this Mexican-style Christmas Eve meal, I pulled out my guitar and played a couple of villancicos and Emmaus songs while I sang los villancicos and we all sang the Emmaus songs. Then we wrapped up with "Feliz Navidad", the well-known Jose Feliciano Christmas hit. Everybody (except me, accompanying on guitar) did a dance around the dining room to this. I'd not seen this before but it was delightful to watch!

Then, when I arrived back at Mercury Court and went to the community room to check my mailbox, I saw that one other resident was there watching TV. I saw the credits for "White Christmas" and at first considered that I had just missed a broadcast of my favorite Christmas movie. (I'd forgotten that back then credits were rolled at the start of the flick, not at the end, as now.) But the fellow told me that no, it was just starting. So I "popped a seat" and watched the whole show. I found it significant that it ended about 12:30 AM on Christmas Day -- I usually do not stay up to midnight on Christmas Eve night.

Despite the uncustomary very late hour of going to bed, I awoke about my usual time and after lying there for awhile I decided to see about going to a Christmas Day service somewhere. While I lived in San Antonio I had attended worship on Christmas Day mornings at either San Fernando Cathedral or at Christ Episcopal Church. So I went to Christ Church here (also Episcopal, a cathedral of that denomination). Sure en'uf they were having a worship there, so I walked around for awhile (seeking in vain a place where I could get a cup of coffee or hot chocolate) and then returned to the historic church for worship.

The rest of the day was a quiet one, of riding around on the bus, talking to family over my cell phone and listening to Handle's "Messiah" on my CD player. Late in the afternoon I opened my few presents; they were all nice and much appreciated. After listening to the Friday Nite Opry on WSM-AM 650 I turned in for the night - at a much earlier, more normal hour than the previous night!

Christmas Sun. - 4th Advent Sun.

2009-12-22T13:51:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday was the Fourth Sunday of Advent, for those Christians who use the church calendar (or "liturgical calendar"). Being the Sunday before Christmas eve and Day, some also refer to it as "Christmas Sunday.

Either way, it was a wonderful Sunday for yours truly. Wonder weekend all around, as I got to spend Friday evening & much of Saturday with family, in Clarksville & on the road to the Nashville International Airport (BNA). The latter was because son David & his wife Allison (and grandchild to be born in April) were to catch a plane to Lincoln to spend the actual holidays with her family (we TN Grahams had our turn last year). The late afternoon was spent at church, in "dress" rehearsal of choir's music for the special Sunday.

So, as you can guess, dear reader, the beauty of Sunday commenced at Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples). All the extra songs sung were simply glorious! These included opening with choir director Julie Duemler singing a series of recitatives from "Messiah" (Handel's), leading into the whole choir singing "Glory to God" from the same. (Lyrics for all these sections of "Messiah" are Luke 2:8-14.) Later in the service we sang a special arrangement of "Silent Night", which I had reported on in an earlier post.

After this awesome Worship -- a spiritual feast indeed! -- we adjourned to the Fellowship Hall for dinner. Here was more food, this time of the material kind. Earlier, I had learned about Buche de Noel, a French pastry of Christmas-time. Dieta Duncan, who had via Facebook taught me what this is, gave me advance warning the evening before (at rehearsal) to go to the dessert table first (rather than the main food table). There was indeed a Buche de Noel made by her, resembling in appearance a Yule log. So I cut me a slice, selected a seat at a table and set it down there before getting in the main food line. The French pastry Yule log turned out to be "heavenly", as I told Dieta.

Santa Clause also paid us a visit, for the enjoyment of the many kids of ECC(DC). And even I got a present of sorts, for Bob Frech told me he had a spare ticket for the Vanderbilt women's basketball game later that afternoon at VU's Memorial Gym. So the enjoyment of the day continued, transferred to a different locale in Music City. The women were hosting the women's basketball team from Tennessee State University. The ladies from across town proved to be no challenge to Vandy's gals, as the latter never trailed and led 52-20 at halftime. I greeted Charlie Mattos, who in addition to being Bill Cody's sidekick on WSM's weekday morning show is broadcast announcer for the VU women. I showed him my Christmas tie, which he enjoyed a lot.

Final score was VU 84, TSU 47. Since the VU team had scored over 75 points, we all (I was with Bob and three other Frech family members) turned in our tickets to the Taco Bell just down West End toward downtown, to receive free hard tacos of the beef variety. Not my preferred type of taco (soft chicken is that), but still - free!

Later, after spending a little time in the Vanderbilt Library, I went to First Baptist Church in downtown Nashville. Earlier in the week I'd read on a half size flyer that the church would host a Fourth Sunday (Xmas Sun.) evening program of music involving a very large choir and a somewhat small orchestra (both of these being church members?). It was a delightful service, which included a couple excerpts from "Messiah" (one being of course "Hallelujah!") some new Christmas music and familiar old carols, which we the congregation were encouraged to sing along. And afterward there was fellowship and food downstairs in First Baptist's fellowship hall. The food included a treat I hadn't seen in years: cannolis! Shall we call these pastry delights a smaller Italian answer to the French Buche de Noel? Yum, yum!

And so a thor'oly delightful Sunday was, you might say, sandwiched between two church services full of music, followed by delicious food. San Antonio may know how to throw a party at the drop of a hat for any reason, but Nashville itself -- the Buckle of the Bible Belt -- knows how to celebrate this most special time of the year! And yours truly appreciates both the food and the music (food for the soul)!

Merry Christmas to you, dear reader.

Nashville Emmaus Xmas Party

2009-12-15T07:32:00.000-08:00

First, before going into the Emmaus community's monthly gathering/annual party, I wish to affirm something. Xmas. This is shorthand for "Christmas", of course. Some unknowing folks of the Christian faith object to it, on same grounds as their opposition to the greeting "Happy holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas" or otherwise taking Christ out of Christmas. I disagree. You see, in Greek, the original New Testament language, the letter "X" (called "chi") is the initial for the word xpistos ("KRIS-tos") or Christ, the "anointed one" or 'messiah". Indeed, in early Christian art a common symbol was Chi-Rho, that is, the "X" combined with the "P" (called "rho"), the first two letters of the Greek title! So dear reader, use of Xmas isn't eliminating Christ from Christmas but rather emphasizing Him!

Now that this affirmation is out of the way, to the party!

The Nashville Emmaus Community, like all Emmaus communities or fourth-day groups, has a monthly gathering. The one in December is held at The Upper Room headquarters (aka the UMC Board of Discipleship building) and is a Christmas or Xmas fellowship as well as worship gathering.

Saturday evening was the gathering for Ought Nine. I was there, along with my guitar. We started out in a fellowship or meeting hall downstairs, with lots of potluck food and a guitarist (not yours truly!) picking carols to provide background music as we dined and chatted around tables decorated in the spirit of Christmas and that of Emmaus.

Then we adjourned upstairs to The Upper Room Chapel for worship. We two guitarists led the congregation in singing two well-known and beloved carols, and then we went into worship according to one of the Methodist orders (which is basis for the Emmaus worship order found in the "purple book"). But this time we sang the "Sanctus" and the "Lord's Prayer" while we two guitarists played. This was a neat addition; I loved it! And while folks were coming forward during the Lord's Supper to receive the elements by intinction (i.e., taking a piece of the loaf and dipping it in the cup and partaking), we played as series of more carols. The entire service was very moving and season-appropriate!

A Saturday evening session at Station Inn

2009-12-07T07:57:00.000-08:00

The Station Inn is a well-known name here in Music City a.k.a. Nashville, for live acoustic music, particularly of the bluegrass genre or the Americana Music genre. It doesn't look like much from the outside -- kinda could fit on the stage of the Ryman or of the Grand Ole Opry House? -- and not much more impressive inside. I.e., it's very intimate. But I've been there a few times, including back around 1990. Found it to be a likable place to go for live music!

Well, I was there Saturday nite, after work. You see, dear reader, the Nashville Bluegrass Band was performing one of their rare concerts in their namesake city! I'd wanted to experience these guys live in concert ever since I got acquainted with their fiddler, Stuart Duncan, who with his family are active and cherished members of Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples) - my church. Stuart's wife Dieta had informed me of the NBB concert at Station Inn, and I was most grateful. It was a terrific performance, as the group lived up to their Grammy-earning talents. Stuart especially impressed me on the final number before they took a break. His sawing on the fiddle with the bow was so vigorous and enthusiastic and crowd-enthusing, that afterward I asked if he needed some ice cubes to cool down the bow!

Best of all, when I entered the building and mentioned to the hostess why I was there (the church membership connection) she informed me that several ECC(DC) members were present. And not just Duncans! Steve Walls and his son Nathan were among those ECC folk also present. I sat at a table next to Steve and swapped occasional comments with my buddy. This commentary and story-swapping continued as he drove me home after the end of the concert.

What a delightful evening of music in Music City! And experienced along with fellow shurch members, in "The Buckle of the Bible Belt"!

Stille Nacht (Silent Night)

2009-12-03T07:35:00.000-08:00

Last evening (Wed. the Second) choir rehearsal at Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples) was of course all Advent-Christmas carols and hymns we'll be singing the next few Sundays. we finished up with an awesome rendition of "Silent Night". It starts out unison singing of first verse, then repeats it in the original Deutsch (German), then wraps up with the final verse (in English) with a soprano descant. According to the score this last verse can be sung with the congregation accompanying on the melody.

Now, three times in the past week or so on the radio I've heard reference to "Silent Night" and how it got composed and sung the very first time. In brief, in the 1800s for the Christmas (Eve) worship at the church in Obendorf, Austria, a mouse had rendered the church organ inoperable. So Franz Gruber and Joseph Mohr composed the carol and introduced it to the congregation using guitar as accompaniment.

This history of "Stille Nacht" (Silent Night) charms and moves yours truly, especially the detail about guitar accompaniment (me being a guitar picker from way back). So I feel that I've been blessed thrice over the airwaves -- and Xmas isn't even for three more weeks!

Perhaps this is an explanation for why, as we rehearsed the carol last evening, I truly felt transported up to Heaven! Into the very presence of Abba! Right there with He whose birth on a silent night ('til the angels came to the shepherds!) is lauded in this carol!

Thank You, Lord!

Thanksgiving '09 in Music City

2009-11-30T07:43:00.000-08:00

Ought Nine's Thanksgiving weekend here in Nashville was memorable & wonderful!

It began on Thanksgiving Day with breakfast at Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples) in East Nashville. This potluck breakfast is an annual tradition of my church. And one which I greatly appreciate!

Pastor Jay led a brief worship (or devotional time) following the breakfast. We sang three traditional hymns for Thanksgiving. These included "Now Thank we All Our God", the English translation of Nun Danket -- it's originally a Dutch hymn. Then Pastor Jay's meditation was a story from Frog & Toad. Of course, he invited any kids present to come up closer so they could see the pictures as he read. He did a terrific job reading the story!

I saw Susan Mc Bride during the breakfast, and remembered that she had posted on Facebook about regular walks in Centennial Park with friends. I asked her when did they do this; she replied that it varied. But the exchange got me considering that I go over there today and walk. It wasn't particularly ideal weather for walking: cold and a bit blustery. Nevertheless, I went and walked. I circumambulated the park's pond, Lake Watauga. Then I circumambulated The Parthenon. Then, as I continued wandering around the park I considered the buildings of Nashville, and which might be my favorite.

You know, dear reader, as I get older and consider such listings (of my fave of this or my fave of that), it get harder to firmly choose just one fave! So it is with Nashville's public buildings. Certainly the ones in the running for tops will include The Parthenon. But then there is Kirkland Hall on the Vanderbilt University campus -- it's the original main building and still the administration building, done in red brick Italianate style with a very tall clock tower. OR it could be Furman Hall on the campus near Kirkland, because that was where the Latin American Studies department was housed, along with languages, when I studied for my M.A. at Vandy. It's a grey stone edifice in typical collegiate Tudor Gothic style. OR there's the Tennessee State Capitol building -- the most beautiful of all state capitols in my book.

I came to no conclusion as to which is my Number One favorite building in Nashville. But I did go home to rest for about an hour. Then I was off to Thanksgiving dinner. I was given a ride by fellow church choir member Steve Walls, who was contributing some delicious stuffed mushrooms to the feast.

The Stuart Duncan family, members of my church, throw a dinner each Thanksgiving for anybody in the church who would like to be there. I think the also invite Stuart's musician friends. Stuart is fiddler in the Grammy-winning Nashville Bluegrass Band. Naturally then, we had music to feed the soul and for which to be thankful. Even as we had food to feed the belly and be thankful! For Dieta Duncan, Stuart's wife, is an excellent cook. She even bakes communion bread for our weekly Lord's Supper at church!

So, even tho once again I didn't get to spend this special holiday -- Pastor Jay confessed that it's his favorite -- with family, it was a sweet and memorably day anyway.

Thank you, Lord Jesus!

A whole week of Music in your Face

2009-11-24T13:14:00.000-08:00

Last week, 16-21 November, was a week very, very full of music and music artists here in Nashville. Is it any wonder it's nicknamed "Music City"?

As I related in my previous post, the week began with hearing conversations between WSM staff and Steve Wariner and then Charlie Daniels. Wednesday was the expectantly nice rehearsal for the Eastwood Christian Church choir.

But I suppose the highlight came at the end of the week and involved a live performance rather than radio listening or a singing rehearsal.

Saturday evening I went to the Nashville Symphony concert, "Tangos, and Ravel's Bolero". I was a bit late entering Schermerhorn Symphony Hall, but still heard almost all the tango selections. But I was there to experience "Bolero"! This will seem odd to any of my Lambda Chi Alpha brothers who were initiated in the 1960s of 1970s in our chapter house at 720 Deakin Avenue in Moscow, Idaho. The night I became a full-fledged Lambda Chi I got to listen to "Bolero", on a vinyl disk in poor condition, for some 14 times! But this didn't cause me to loath the 14 minute long instrumental piece (unlike my frat brothers). And much more recently I had heard a live rendition of Ravel's piece at Fiesta Texas, as part of the last new show there before I returned to Tennessee. But THAT one wasn't by a full orchestra.

So when it was time for the solo snare drummer to commence his steady beating of the rhythm base for "Bolero" I gave him and the entire orchestra my rapt attention. I was somewhat amused that as the piece progressed, instruments steadily entering the performance and the volume increasing, I had recollections of that night 37 years previously when I had listened to it so many times. But my mind was more fixated on the beauty of Bolero's structure; I felt like I was getting swept up into the music while it gained in power!

A side interest was watching Giancarlo Guerrero conduct the symphony. There was very little of the arm gesturing one associates with a conductor. As another patron said afterward, it was more like the conducting consisted of his head movements or body language. This is probably due to the song being built on that snare drum foundation. If the orchestra has a drummer who does his part accurately, there's little need for much gesticulation by a conductor!

Whatever. . . the Nashville Symphony did an excellent, wonderful rendition of "Bolero"! The last note had hardly faded and the applause begun before yours truly leapt to my feet for a standing ovation!

And I heard the strains of "Bolero" flowing thru my mind all the way home that night. I don't remember now, but they probably punctuated my dream before the next dawn!

Steve Wariner and Charlie Daniels on the airwaves

2009-11-18T13:24:00.000-08:00

Early on Monday evening I was doing my usual, delivering prescription medications for Bradley Drugstore, and listening to WSM-AM 650 on the Ford Ranger's radio. Monday evenings WSM deejay Eddie Stubbs generally hi-lites songs recorded by members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. On THIS show he treated us to an in-studio live interview with Steve Wariner. Steve isn't yet a member of the Hall of Fame, but he IS on the Opry cast and quite an accomplished artist.

Earlier this year Steve produced a CD album called "CGP: My Tribute to Chet Atkins". It was the focus of conversation between Eddie and Steve. At intervals a song would be played from it. And of course Steve shared anecdotes of his years as a protegé of Chet. "CGP" is an acronym created by Chet, standing for "Certified Guitar Picker" which he attached first to himself and then to four other highly talented instrumentalists -- including Steve Wariner himself.

All of this was quite delightful to listen to as I made my deliveries. But the hi-lite HAD to have been when Eddie played "Producer's Medley" and he and Steve commented on it. The piece is an instrumental montage of hits by various artists (not all of the m considered "country") which Chet had produced. It features "The Three Bells", "Java", "Let It Be Me" and about five other songs, with Steve playing the guitar on all of them. The resulting medley is awesome! I caught myself saying, "Wow!" several times while I was listening. And when it was over, Eddie made his signature remark, "Any questions?" Whenever he says this, he's anointing the song he's just presented as being a real classic, a true diamond highly polished.

Well, the delights of radio listening of Monday evening continued on Tuesday morning. On WSM's wake-up show "Coffee Country & Cody" (AND Charlie Mattos, I might add!) Charlie Daniels was a late (final hour) in-studio Guest. He spoke with Bill about a new Christmas Album CD he's releasing. They played a couple of songs from the album, including an instrumental rendition of "The Christmas Song" (my favorite pop or secular song of the holiday).

Now, Charlie Daniels isn't a country singer I get enthusiastic about, and never has been, even tho' I like his "Devil Went Down to Georgia" and a couple other hits of his. But listening to him speak about this new Xmas album, and hearing excerpts from it really warmed me to the man! This album is a terrific project, almost up there with the Chet Atkins tribute album featured on WSM the evening before!

I tell you what, dear reader! San Antonio may have brung out the "party animal" in me with its constant festivals and celebrations of cultures and life in general. But Nashville is just about as powerfully affecting me and my deep love of song and music!

A fine football day in Nashville

2009-11-14T14:23:00.000-08:00

Well, I finally got to do it again! Attend a Vanderbilt University Commodores football game. While I was a graduate student at the University I probably attended most home football games, and in the years before and after probably attended one or two a year. But today was my FIRST since I returned at the end of July '08.

Yesterday while contemplating what all were possible on a rare Saturday off from work, I got a wild hair and decided that I'd go to the game, stopping by the Lambda Chi Alpha house on the way. The Brothers were having a "tailgate party" on the from lawn, as were the other Greek houses nearby. The sun was bright and warm but the air wasn't hot. It was "chamber-of-commerce weather", for sure!

Football Saturdays on the Vandy Greek Row are certainly different from what they were on the Idaho Greek Row! For one thing, most of the LCA Brothers (and other "frat rats") were wearing dress shirts and neckties; some also sported blazers or suit coats. However, a few of these with shirts and ties also sported Bermuda-type shorts and/or sandals! Strange.

Also, they had a couple of games going on: a bean toss and a game involving knocking empty beer cans off poles with a Frisbee. One of the Actives (undergraduate Brothers) talked me into a challenge at "beer bat" (I think it was called). This involved taking a slim hollow plastic bat with the large end removed, filling it with a can's worth of beer, chugging it, then dancing in a circle in the same spot (to the count of five, if I remember correctly), then trying to bat an empty beer can. Well, the dancing in a circle almost did me onto the ground -- whew! such dizziness! -- but I stayed upright and then actually hit the can tossed at me. This really seemed to please the Actives!

Nobody seemed anxious to head over to the stadium, Dudley Field, even after the game had been under way for a quarter hour, so I excused myself and walked on over. When I inquired at the nearest gate about whether there were tickets available for sale, one of the ticket-takers offered me an extra that an earlier attendee had given him. So I got in for free!

Just after I got into the bleachers the Commodores kicked a field goal (I could have caught the football had I made a little effort to move a very short distance and get my hands up but just didn't feel like it), to trail 3 to 7. On their next drive they added another field goal, and with little over two minutes left before the half scored a touchdown, to lead 13 to 10!

Halftime activities included an "appearance" by "The Beatles" for about a verse and chorus from one of their smash hits of the Sixties, and recognition of band seniors who had just played their final halftime show. Later in the second half, a champion bowler from VU was recognized, too.

But the Kentucky Wildcats pretty much controlled the second half, and beat my 'Dores 24-13. Even with the final score, I still felt good about being there at the game. I mean, the weather was so perfectly football-type weather. And participating in the Lambda Chi Alpha "tailgate party" had been such a fun prelude!

All in all, a fine football Saturday here in the "Athens of the South"!

Nashville's Walk of Fame

2009-11-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

Across the street (Demonbreun St.) from the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum -- also across the street (Fourth Ave. S.) from the Schermerhorn Symphony Hall -- is the Walk of Fame Park. On the sidewalks of this park are stars which represent well-known folk -- many but not all of them country music artists -- who have been significant to Nashville.

Yesterday afternoon (Sunday) the third induction of new stars into this Walk since I moved here. It was also the third time I've attended, and the FIRST induction with "chamber-of-commerce weather"! Indeed, last November I went to my first induction only because Martina McBride and Randy Travis were among the five being inducted.

This time around the inductees were Dolly Parton. Charlie Daniels, the late Ernest Tubb, the late Tootsie Bess and Kid Rock. The last-named was controversial, but at least we got him over with & outta the way first. The last inductee (first on my list) was introduced by the Governor himself, Phil Bredesen. Seems Hizzoner and Dolly have done some photo shoots together for some ad, which involved our Governor "cutting the rug". I think I'd like to see this!

It was fun to be there for the induction ceremony, with Bill Cody hosting and various folks introducing each inductee before the inductee (or a family member for the deceased) spoke.When E.T. was introduced by Little Jimmie Dickens and his star accepted by his son E.T. Jr., I remembered how E.T. was the one of the so-called "Four Pillars of the Opry" with whom I was familiar before I attended my first Opry show back in the early Eighties. I can still remember that evening, when my Lambda Chi Alpha Brothers (who were at Opryland Hotel for our General Assembly) and wives or girl friends sat there and enjoyed the oldest live radio show. I remember that when E.T. had other artists performing during his half hour of the show he'd gesture with his outstretched hand for the audience to applaud and applaud louder for the stars. Probably E.T.'s biggest enduring contribution to Nashville is the Ernest Tubb Record Shop -- the original on lower Broadway near the Ryman (and near the Walk of Fame) and a branch out in Music Valley.

Probably about that time I first learned about Tootsie's Orchid Lounge and its role as a sort of "green room" for the Ryman Auditorium across the alley during those years that the Grand Ole Opry played in the Ryman. And since I moved here in '08 I've learned how many a singer or songwriter sort of got a first step up thanks to the honky-tonk and its owner Tootsie Bess. So her influence on the music-life of Music City is quite evident!

Charlie Daniels and Dolly Parton both came from elsewhere to Nashville, to make a name in Country music, and have lived near the city and contributed to it in many ways. Therefore, as they received their stars they got much applause. And lots of the audience wanted to get photos or autographs from them; I doubt few succeeded, but I didn't stick around to see.

You see, this being the Second Sunday of the month I wanted to go to Vine Street Christian Church for its monthly Second Sunday evening program. This is a potluck supper at five, followed by an alternative worship. This time for worship we didn't even go to the sanctuary upstairs above the fellowship hall. Rather, KK Wiseman, who leads these Second Sunday worships, took us into the adjacent kitchen. There the bulk of the service involved taking the raw ingredients for making bread, mixing them, kneading them and baking the resultant loaf. During the process, KK repeatedly read verses from the fourth chapter of Philippians; she also drew out lessons from the process. And once the bread was baked, we had the Lord's Supper, which is always an element in these Second Sunday evening alternative worship services. I felt blessed, and that I'd really learned something!

Hooray, Saints! Hooray, Titans!

2009-11-03T10:17:00.000-08:00

No, this isn't about TWO teams in the NFL. "Saints" carries a very different meaning here.

You see, Sunday was the First of November, and thus was All Saints Day in the liturgical calendar. At Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples) worship on the Sunday nearest 1 November is altered to allow for recognition of congregational members who have died in the past year. Members' family and friends are also recognized. This is done by placing a stand at the front of the sanctuary, and after the sermon a few words are said and then as each deceased member's name is read a white ribbon with a bell on the end is carried from the main door down the center aisle and Hung on the stand. One additional ribbon with bell is hung while individuals call out names of significant others who have died in the past year.

The choir sings a powerful song titled "Death Shall Not Destroy My Comfort", rather British song arranged by Mack Wilberg. This year we also sang a second anthem just before the ribbon ceremony, "Heaven's Choir" by Pepper Choplin. Our choir director, Julie Duemler, had recently been introduced to this new piece and shared it with us at rehearsal a few weeks ago. We all liked it but didn't want to give up the other anthem, so we sang two!

After Worship I rode the bus across town to the Green Hills neighborhood along Hillsboro Pike. I often go to the Kroger there for Sunday dinner, but that had to wait for two other activities nearby. One was paying my cellphone bill at a Verizon store on Hillsboro. The other was the grand opening of a new piano store by ECC(DC) member Grand Houston. Grant had actually stood beside me in the choir as we sang earlier during Worship, but then had hastened to his new store to ready for the opening festivity. When I entered I saw three men there: Grant, another fellow choir member Steve Walls and a third man new to me (but apparently an old friend of Grant's). Several people came in afterward, including Pastor Jay Hartley and his family. I was impressed that Grant had one of the pianos playing, not with somebody's fingers tickling the ivories but from an i-pod. Grant even took the i-pod from that grand piano over to two upright pianos, connected them both and got both to play simultaneously!

After hanging out at the new piano store about three quarters of an hour I went on over to the Green Hills Kroger for a full meal -- Grant provided snacks like cheese, crackers and small fruits along with champagne, but "I live to eat" as somebody might say. Having purchased my usual salad bar meal and a Sierra Mist, I sat down in the small eating area. It has two large TV screens, which were on to an NFL game.

A few minutes after I sat down and began eating one of the store employees came over as if to change channels. I'm not a wild fan of either team in the game being showed, but I feared he'd put on car racing or something else boring instead, so I asked him not to change the one screen I was watching. But he did -- to the Titans' game! This was just starting, and was being broadcast from here in Nashville. It's always nice to see the landmarks of Music City on the TV screen during a Titans home game, and this was no different. Plus, the up to this date winless NFL team started out looking really good. The offense scored a field goal as I watched, and the defense seemed to be handling the visiting Jacksonville offense well. So I left happy in the knowledge that the Titans just might snap their season-opening losing streak.

And so it was. I found out later that the Titans won 30-13. Hooray, Titans! Perhaps the saints we remembered this Sunday the First of November were looking down with favor upon Nashville's hometown team! in which case: Hooray, Saints!

"Br-r-r!" & baked Alaskas are both back!

2009-10-19T11:58:00.001-07:00

Yesterday morning presented the first frosty lawns here in Nashville, I noticed while taking the bus to church. Looks like the typically terrible Tennessee winter is having an atypically early start this time around!

This morning, another frosty one, "baked Alaskas" were back on the buses. Yeah, I know that the real baked Alaska is a dessert. But the (sub-Saharan) African-American majority here in Nashville, or at least the young to middle-age females among them, in cold weather generally like to wear parkas with hoods up, which makes them resemble Eskimos. And so I call the resulting image of an African face framed by faux-fur hood, a "baked Alaska".

And ouch! what happened to the NFL Titans yesterday! Right after church I returned home and entered the community room to watch some of the televised game between the Titans and the New England Patriots. The game was in Foxboro and was it snowing! The field was already covered with snow, with more falling, almost in blizzard fashion. And the home team was unleashing a blizzard of scoring against the Titans! Five TDs in the second quarter -- an NFL record. Final score Pats 59, Titans zip. Ouch!

A "Super" spiritual weekend

2009-10-12T07:41:00.001-07:00

This past weekend consisted of several hours of my being in a church building or on property. And I enjoyed every minute of this! Or to put it better, I was blessed - so-o-o-o blessed!

It began early Saturday morning, when before dawn I was riding the bus to Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples) to help out with the annual yard sale. Tables were already set up with items for sale on them, so I strolled along the front driveway and browsed. I saw several items which I considered purchasing. But then I chose to practice self-discipline: I'd wait 'til just before the closing down of the sale and if an item I'd liked was still available, I'd consider that the Lord was allowing me to have it and I'd then buy it. Most of the items I wanted the most were gone, but I still went home with a few "treasures". These included "Bleachers", the only John Grisham book I've read and one of my favorites of the books I'd read back in San Antonio as member of a branch library's book (reading & discussion) club.

Saturday evening I attended my first Candlelight for a Walk to Emmaus since leaving San Antonio. Bill Burleigh, who's director for Operation Sand Down Nashville, picked me up; he already had a couple other passengers. He drove us to the IHOP in Hermitage, near the church that's the location for the Walk. It turned out that a couple of the others had lived in Texas (I think one might have been a native Texan). We got to comparing and arguing good-naturedly about Texas barbecue versus Tennessee barbecue. We also discussed fajitas over the IHOP fare that we were actually eating.

Then we went on over to HErmitage UMC for "Candlelight" for the Men's Walk to Emmaus #162. Some of the details of how Candlelight is done here are different from Candlelights in Texas, but the overall concept is identical. Therefore, it was good to be present for this event!

Sunday morning Eastwood Christian's worship included an arrangement of "Blessed Assurance" as choir anthem. Since I had missed two straight Wed. choir rehearsals I chose to "sit out" this anthem. As the choir sang it I had conflicted feelings. On the one hand I felt that I probably could have sung with them after all, and I was missing singing with them. On the other hand it was such an overwhelming blessing to be out there in the congregation listening to our gifted choir!

Associate Pastor Michael Lehman did the communion meditation/invitation. He remarked about the "Great Communion" joint worship last Sunday afternoon on World Communion Sunday. HE pointed out what I had missed: that there was precious LITTLE real fellowship and communication between persons of the various congregations and denominations represented. Then he called for us present this morning to pass the sign of peace to others, especially persons we didn't know or know well.

Wow! if this wasn't the Spirit at work, then I don't know what it was!

This being the second Sunday of the month, I went out in the evening to Vine Street Christian Church (Disciples) for their second Sunday dinner and worship. It was my second church dinner of the day, since Eastwood held a dinner right after morning worship. I sure was glad that my VA dietitian, Debbie, who's a Vine Street member and usually attends Second Sunday, was out of state. Had she been there and heard me confess to already having been at another church dinner the same day, I'm sure she would have glared at me!

For the worship, upstairs in the main sanctuary, KK Wiseman did something different -- which is par for the course at the quite alternative worship. She actually preached, about grace but that's the end of the story and we have to go thru the middle of the story which is sin. One hears very little about sin in today's sermons, at least among congregations of mainline denominations. And I think this cheapens the value of the divine grace which is so frequently the topic of sermons. So I appreciated KK's words about sin (she actually didn't use the three-letter word often, but clearly it was what she was talking about).

A week of anniversaries

2009-10-10T13:50:00.001-07:00

This first full week of October in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine is a week of anniversaries, or birthdays if you will in some cases. The commemorations commenced on Sunday the Fourth, which being the first Sunday of October was World Communion Sunday. It was a year ago on WCS that yours truly chose to join Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Since the Lord's Supper is such a highly meaningful element of the Christian life and worship to me, it made sense to put my membership into Eastwood that Sunday.

But this is a very minor anniversary, even for the day. You see, dear reader, two hundred years ago a former Presbyterian preacher on the American frontier, Thomas Campbell, published the "Declaration and Address (of the Christian Association of Washington, PA)", a document that was a strong call to Christian unity and the end to denominationalism and divisions separating the earthly Body of Christ. The "Declaration and Address" stands as one of the initial and pivotal documents for the Restoration Movement that spread along the frontier during the 1800s. This movement, to return the body of Christian believers back to its original New Testament simplicity and unity, developed into the current Disciples of Christ, Churches of Christ (non-instrumental) and Christian Churches (independent). More about Campbell and the document can be found at http://www.disciplesworld.com/newsArticle.html?wsnID=15564

In 1909, the Centennial of the "Declaration and Address" coincided with a general assembly of Restorationists in Pittsburgh, and was remembered by means of "The Great Communion", a mass worship service around the Lord's Table. Last year, just as I was moving into Nashville from San Antonio, the World Convention (of Restoration denominations) was being held right here in Nashville, and I attended the closing worship on my first Sunday afternoon here. It was mentioned that A.D. 2009 would be the Bicentennial of the "Declaration and Address" and that rather than attempting to gather a significant number of members of the three denominations in one location in a second such "Great Communion", there would be various gatherings on World Communion Sunday.

And so this afternoon of WCS brothers and sisters from the Disciples, the Churches of Christ and the Independents were invited to gather at West End Church of Christ, a very large church about a mile out past Vanderbilt University on West End Avenue. I found out thru my Pastor that there would be a joint choir (or mass choir) as part of the worship, so I went early in the afternoon to lend my voice to this. I was delighted when I entered the building, to discover that T.J. McLaughlin, choir director at Vine Street Christian Church (Disciples) just a little further out the avenue, would be our director. It must have been a unique experience for him to be conducting rehearsal with no other instrument than a pitch pipe. But apparently that was a concession that had been made, that since we were in a Church of Christ building we'd be singing a cappella.

However, after a couple of addresses about this day and this significant worship gathering -- all the speakers made some mention of the document whose bicentennial we were also celebrating -- the special anthem by the joint choir and the partaking of the open Lord's Supper by all present, a local Disciples congregation of French-speaking members of African descent, did two concluding songs, in French. The first was strict a cappella, but the for the second they employed a pair of conga drums! I had to wonder if THIS were not the very first time any musical instrument of any type had been played in this sanctuary!

But praise be to God, for even with drums the song was heart-felt praise. And I certainly do hope the non-instrumental brethren present were accepting of it!

And praise be to God for our Supper of unity, remembering a milepost-timepost for a historical document calling for unity.

Celebrating THE legend and pioneer radio station

2009-10-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

Monday evening I was involved in my final delivery run or two for Bradley Drugstore, and as usual on Monday evenings I was listening to WSM-AM 650 radio and deejay extraordinaire Eddie Stubbs. Ever since Eddie came to Nashville and the station back in the 1990s I've admired his love for real, traditional country music and his inexhaustible knowledge about every detail about every country hit song.

This evening he displayed a slightly different facet of his knowledge. For on this 5 October he took time to call attention over the airwaves to this date being the birthday of the very radio station for which he is deejay. He even remarked that it was about this very hour, "the 7 o'clock or 8 o'clock hour", of 5 October 1925 that sound began to be heard via the airwaves that a new station was broadcasting from Nashville. Thus was born a station which has become legendary in broadcasting. The station's call letters came from the slogan of National Life & Accident insurance company, which was "We Shield Millions". National Life got "sold" on the benefit of having a radio station (of its own) for advertising purposes, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Indeed, WSM became so prominent in broadcasting and so influential in not only broadcasting but also the development of "hillbilly music" that later was called "country and Western", that it was also called "The Air Castle of the South". And its broadcast tower, south of Nashville and close by IH 65 south, became a landmark. It's rather distinctive, since it looks like a very elongated pyramid atop an inverted, equally elongated pyramid.

So, here's a "Happy 84th birthday, 'Air Castle"!" from yours truly.

Friday Opry of "Birthday Bash Weekend"

2009-10-10T12:53:00.000-07:00

The world's longest-running live radio show (oldest show of ANY sort, I do believe) is celebrating its birthday (or anniversary if you prefer) this weekend. The Grand Ole Opry began 84 years ago, in a studio of the National Life & Accident Company's headquarter building here. And actually it started later in the year 1925 -- "officially" according to Opry archives -- but since the station that carries the show, WSM-AM 650, began broadcasting early in October, the powers that be choose to celebrate in early October.

Thus, on the Friday Nite Opry there was mention of the "birthday", and even a birthday cake. And as the 1990s country song goes, "I watched it all on my radio". Or at least as much of the show as I could, out of the car radio when wasn't out of the car making a delivery for Bradley Drugstore. The show commenced with John Conley, whom I've always liked since he became a singing star and Opry cast member in the early 1980s. Soon I'd be hearing from Patty Loveless, who joined during the late '80s. Just about the time I moved to Nashville last year she released an album, "Sleepless Nights", and now this evening she sang a song off her newest album, "Mountain Soul II". (But alas! I heard little of her performance on stage over the airwaves, since I was involved in an "involved" delivery to a nursing home.)

I was rather impressed with the prominent display of the love affair between the Opry and our nation and especially our military. Jimmy Dickens commented, after emcee Eddie Stubbs verbally noted the presence of another WW II veterans group, how much he had enjoyed his many trips overseas to perform for active military in theaters of combat and how soldiers were the nicest audience. During the final half hour, Eddie introduced an active-duty Navy man who had done duty in Afghanistan, Iran (covert?) and Iraq, and had just returned to the States. He got a standing ovation from the in-house audience.

And then after Montgomery Gentry, the duo who are the cast's newest members, came out and sang their latest hit "There's One in Every Crowd", plus "Back When I Knew It All", not only was a birthday cake rolled out on-stage, but a "tame" bald eagle was carried forward for the audience to admire!

I love this show! May the Grand Ole Opry show have many, many more birthdays/anniversaries!

Ray Price - live in concert, 2d time around!

2009-10-03T07:32:00.000-07:00

If the reader will go to my other, earlier blog, "Glen Alan's San Antonio", to 24 September A.D. 2007, you will read about how "I died and went to Heaven" when I went to a Ray Price concert. He sang at Floore Country Store in Helotes, Texas, and I was present along with my "baby" brother Patrick.

Last evening I got to experience the great legendary country singer a second time live in concert. He performed at the Acuff Theater, which is close by the Grand Ole Opry House, out where Opryland used to be. I'd received a discount coupon while I stopped in briefly at "Coffee Country & Cody" -- AND Charlie -- Friday morning at the Ford Theater. I was glad to get the discount, and even more appreciative when thanks to Nashville MTA I had to take a taxi part of the way.

I bought a good seat, near the middle about 15 or so rows back in the Acuff Theater. (This actually put me closer to the stage and the performer than when I'd been at Floore.) Eddie Stubbs, Opry emcee and WSM deejay, came out to commence the show, and then Ray Price's band, the Cherokee Cowboys, did about three instrumental selections. Well, they weren't strictly instrumental, since Ray's son came out and sand the lyrics, but the emphasis was clearly on the instrumental aspect.

Then Ray himself came out, and opened with "San Antonio Rose", followed by greetings and then a medley that began with all of "Crazy Arms". This start of the concert impressed me, because it was exactly the same as the Floore concert. And I'd assumed that that night (back in '07) the legendary singer had commenced with "San Antonio Rose" as acknowledgement of the proximity of the city to the venue. But I suppose Ray starts all his concerts this way, wherever.

The song selection may have been similar. And Ray himself was as strong in his stage presence as ever -- despite being 84 years old and this being only his fifth concert since having been in the hospital. But I was quite aware of differences. This evening we were indoors; the Texas concert had been outdoors. This evening the band was attired in dark suits and ties (with white shirts). Very few men in this Nashville audience sported Stetsons (possibly only myself and the gentleman to my left). However, as I was leaving after the concert it came to me that there was another similarity between the two concerts: most of the audience were my age or older -- folks who would have been around when the songs Ray sang were current hits. Younger folks don't know what high quality singing they missed out on!

But Ray didn't just sing songs that are immediately associated with himself; he also sang a couple of songs from other artists. There was one by Hank Williams, with whom Ray had worked in the couple of years preceding his untimely death. And the song that charmed me most (other than "Crazy Arms") was one Ray dedicated to his audience and fans before he sang it. It was Gladys Knight's hit "You're the Best Thing (that Ever Happened to Me)". He also made various comments during the concert that expressed his love for and appreciation of his fans. I like singers who do this!

The concert finished up with not one but two encores, and thunderous standing ovations. And Eddie Stubbs told us that when he could get up to the lobby and the concession (product) table, Ray would be signing CDs and he would keep signing until all who wanted it had his autograph. Wow! what a trooper!

Since I'd had to spend my money on a taxi ride I couldn't purchase a CD and get an autograph. So I consoled myself by sauntering out the door and seeking out the Grand Ole Opry Museum. It was not in relationship to the Acuff Theater or the Opry House in exactly the manner I was remembering from my years of working at the former Opryland. But the Museum was still there! I walked over and was surprised that despite the late hour and the schedule painted on the doors, it was still open! I didn't have sufficient time to view teverything inside, but from just inside the doors what I saw was exactly like I remembered it. This brief moment inside the Museum evoked vivid memories of my employment time at Opryland. Plus it was great to know that not everything out here had been annihilated when the park died!

Likewise, it was great to know that a great voice like Ray Price could still bless us with a live performance. I felt like my cherished memories of the earlier concert in Texas got truly doubled in worth, by this eveing's concert!