By Vicki Scott
As I write this column, I am waiting for my dear patient husband Alan to return home from bible study to take me to see The Goldens with William Lee Golden and his sons at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center. This is my birthday present due to my innocent obsession with Golden’s sister’s lake house located across the slough from our house in Dadeville.
It might be the fact that I did not know who William Lee Golden was when I met his sister Lanette that Alan decided to help. He put our television station on a channel that plays old country music, with a younger version of William Lee playing much of the time. My helpful husband somehow knew that where he put the station would stay until he changed it. He would then go outside. sometimes he would be gone most of the day.
Because of this, I learned about the RFD station with Joey and Rory Feek, who played at the Country Music Reunion several times. Joey died of cancer, leaving one daughter between her and Rory. Her name is Indiana, a cutie pie with Down Syndrome. Before Joey died, the Feeks would invite fans to their home for a party. Alan eventually changed the station, and I do not know what Rory does now.
Recently, we’ve been watching a station with Country Family Reunion along with a show that takes place in what looks like a restaurant. Both shows feature old country music hall of famers, many of whom I did not know. While watching, I would Google the performers and learn some of their history, learning more than I ever wanted to about anyone.
If any of these people on the channel were in concert, Alan got tickets for us to see them. The tickets were not expensive, but some of them should have been. We saw T. Graham Brown play in a honky-tonk in Wetumpka, and I became a big fan when I heard him sing Wine into Water. I now know his voice when I hear it. Awesome!
We saw Marty Haggard in concert, and I did not realize how many talented sons he had. To be honest, I did not know who Merle Haggard was until my husband’s “help.”
We saw Brothers of the Heart in Montgomery one night. The band included Jimmy Fortune, Ben Isaacs, Bradley Walker and Mike Rogers. I had not seen the group play together until the night of the concert but I did see Jimmy Fortune on television on the reunion show.
The band played several songs by the Eagles, which made me a fan. Bradley Walker, who is from Athens, proved that muscular dystrophy could not stop him from blessing our lives with his singing. Like many other people in the country family he was honored to have played for a time with the Gaither Family, whom I did not realize wrote “Because He Lives,” which is in our church hymnal. Small world.
I wish Alan would turn the television off when goes outside, but for some reason, he cannot stand for the TV to be off. When I voiced my complaint to others, I’ve been advised to get off my lazy hiney and turn the channel. Even if I did so, Alan will turn it back on and go back outside. Some folks asked if we enjoy the modern convenience of a remote control. Yes, we do. It sits in front of the television most of the time. I learn by experience.
The house across the slough was lit up last night. Alan said it was renters, not William Lee Golden and his sons. Hopefully at the end of the concert, the band will have a meet & greet and I can ask them. Maybe I can at least get a picture with them. Who knows?
Vicki Sott may be contacted at lily200383@yahoo.com.