When I very young -My Uncle 13 years older then me Would practice with his band. He was one of the best steel guitar player in mid-west. A lady came and sang at my Grand-parent house. Found out it was Patsy Cline. Donnie sat in with the band when she was in the area. He would go to Nashville and sit with the bands. Randy Travis wanted him to sit in with him. But couldn't was very sick-cancer. Played his music at funeral-not many dry eyes. Could make that steel SING.
I grew up in Highland Falls, N.Y. which is just south west of West Point, the military academy. I met General Dwight Eisenhower when he was running for president. At the time my father was working for the general's son Major John Eisenhower. The general gave me a big bag full of I LIKE IKE buttons. I promptly took them to school and gave most of them away. Around the same time our next door neighbor was babysitting the general's grandson David. We had an old boat sitting in the backyard and one day David Eisenhower came running over to see it. I held him up so he could look inside the boat. At about that time the neighbor lady came out her back door shrieking like a banshee because she couldn't find David. She was extremely upset and grabbed him up and took him back to her house. David was not happy. A few years later while I was in high school my buddy Leon and I went to a country and western concert in Newburgh, N.Y. We just a little late and things had already started when we headed in the door. Behind us somebody said, "Hi, there boys. How you doing?" We turned around and there was Johnny Cash and all his crew waiting to be introduced on the stage. He was out there about five minutes and spent the time chatting with us. As a mere coinsidence, some years later I married Laura (dooley.) Turns out she is a distant relative of June Carter Cash, who was of course Johnny's wife. So, I think she qualifies on my list of famous people. dr
While I was in college my Daddy had a grocery store and I worked there when I was home. One day the bread salesman came in and chatted with Daddy and me while stocking the shelves. He really had a bad stuttering problem. When he left my Daddy said "do you believe that when he sings he doesn't stutter and he can really sing." That stuttering man was Mel Tillis before he went to Nashville. He came in to visit my Daddy after he became famous and had Burl Ives in tow. I had Reagan and Loren Green (on different mornings) wish me a good morning in the hotel lobby but didn't really carry on a conversation with them. My cousin is a writer of myteries and has had numerous books on the "top ten best sellers list". Does that make him a celebrity? Naah, he's just my cousin, don't want to give me the big head.
Just Look In The Mirror Just look in the mirror. I'm with member carolyn keiper. I avoid the media and entertainment industry, and no TV for me. We're all on the same playing field. (except for criminals)
When I was in college (eons ago!), Joan Baez came to play & discuss song-writing with my creative-writing class. I have also met Mike Meyers, as my son played the sitar in Mike's movie (the one that bombed & that I can't think of the name of, right now!) & Mike attended my son's wedding! Although I didn't meet him, back in the late 60's Bob Dylan would show up unannounced at a little beatnik-type place called the Catalyst, in Santa Cruz, Calif. I happened to be there 2 or 3 times when he played.I also went toa dinner at the Plaza in NYC for the President of Pakistan & got to shake hands & exchange "hello's".Unfortunately, the man was asassinated some years later when his helicopter was shot out of the sky.I hosted a big 4th. July bbq a few years ago & Beverly Lee, one of the Shirelles, attended. She is the sister of my next door neighbor,Cece Lee.
He rode first class, of course DH and I were on a plane to Los Angeles. Cheech of Cheech and Chong was right there in first class. Very nice guy. Signed a lot of things and was very friendly. When he got off the plane he went straight to the McDonald at the airport. Just a regular guy!
