Well, I told my new friend down in Alabama that I would dig out some of my archives. I got out one of my old tapes and transferred a few files from it using my Otari MX5050B112 reel to reel tape recorder fed into an M-Audio Firewire Solo and than onto my hardisk using Goldwave v5.12. I couldn't believe I found an index card in the box with my hand writing and a list of songs and a date of  February 16, 1957. Now let me see, today's date is February 16, 2006. Isn't that creepy. Forty nine years ago today, I was laying in my bedroom listening and recording this stuff and noting the songs and artists on a 3 by 5 index card. I've have many more hours of tapes to go through and transfer to disk. Maybe I'll get it done before I pass on. I hope a couple of you will appreciate this old stuff. I recently made a goal to search out and find some of the people that were part of creating the music of the 40's, 50's and on into the 60s's. I want to preserve their stories to pass along to you and future generations.

I asked Robert what some of  his favorite artists were from the 50s. He told me Roy Acuff and Bill Monroe. I think I was able to fill your request. To enjoy these audios, I want you to relax and close your eyes. Try and imagine you've traveled back in time to February 16th 1957. Your lying in your bed on a Saturday night with your old 1930s floor model Zenith radio your folks picked up at a farm auction for you. It sits in the corner by your bed. You managed to figure out how to tap into a tube in the audio section of the radio and fashion a cable that would attach to your tape recorder. The old radio is tuned into WSM, which is about 300 miles away. You know that the music will fade in and out, now and than, but you don't care. You have such a strong passion for the music, and the fact that your able to listen to it live coming from Ryman, you don't even notice. It's almost six o'clock and your ready for six hours of the the Opry and than an hour of the Midnight Jamboree that is broadcasted from the all too familiar, Ernest Tubb record shop around the corner from the Ryman.

You have been to Ryman many times, and with your eyes closed, you can visualize the performers out on the stage as you listen. You can even see them backstage, walking out to perform while your standing off to the side of the stage as you had done several times in the past. Well alright; tape is rollin' and I got my Gibson out and ready to jam.

The first one below; like John's story goes - "I about fell out of my bed" when I heard three of my favorite banjo pickers performing together. This was probably the only time that ever happened, and I was lucky enough to have my tape rollin'. "Tut, I was around doin' it too".