|
|
 |
| In 1989 we went to the Grand Ole Opry for a short vacation.
We were sitting in the Balcony. A young man came and sat down beside
us, he was sittig by his mother and introduced himself as Danny Bell.
We started talking about Nashville, where we were from and what we were
doing. After several minutes he excused himself and thanked me for
talking to him. About 15 minutes later he return to the seat and
said, "Would you like to go and watch the opry backstage?" He explained
that he was one of the dancers with the Ralph Sloan Square Dancers.
We said we would like to do that. He said, "When we go
through security, you act like we are old friends. I work at a supermarket
during after school and we'll say I met you there." We didn't have
to do that as we weren't asked. He told us that we could go anywhere
backstage except where the "Yellow" lines were on the floor. He said
there is coffee and lemonade back stage in the "Green Room" you are
welcome to help yourself. We thanked him and he left.
We stood and watched people walk around for a while. I decided to go into the Green Room. There were several of the Opry Stars there talking to each other and others that were lucky enough to be back stage. Billy Walker was sitting by himself on the sofa. I knew Billy was from West Texas and had lived in Clovis, NM where I was stationed during my time in the Air Force. I walked over, stuck out my hand to him and said, "Billy, I used to live in your neck of the woods." Billy, being the gentleman he is, stood up and shook my hand and said, "Where's that?" I told him, "Clovis." He said, "That's were I got started. Did you know Pop Echols?" Pop Echols owned eithere KICA or KCLV in Clovis. I told him that I had seen Pop many times at the Roden & Smith Drug Store's coffie shop, but never met him. Billy told me how he had worked at the Base when they were building it, and a story about it that will remain untold. I had alway loved Billy's singing and became and even bigger fan, as he was truely a nice man. We talked for several minutes and it was time for him to perform. We shook hands again, exchange pleasantries and he left. In August 2000 Billy was at Rapid City for the Central States Fair with Dave Dudley, Leroy Van Dyke, Jan Howard, Johnny Counterefeit. I found Dave late that afternoon and stayed for the show. After the show, Billy was standing there. I walked over and told him I had met him years back at the Opry. About 2 years later, Billy was with LeRoy, Rex Allen, Jr. and Barbara Fairchild at the Rose Bud Casino. I saw Billy coming out of the Rosebud Room. I walked over and told him I had met him at the Opry and with Dave Dudley in Rapid City. I reminded him of the story he told me about working at Cannon AFB. He said, "I remember that. I have only told that story to about two people in my life and you were one of them." The next afternoon we spent time visiting. He said, "Pete keep in touch with me." I told him I would. From time to time we email . Billy and his wife Bettye are wonderful people, the kind that you would like to have live next door to you. Billy is guest legeng in Ray Scott's new video on CMT.
|