Musician Roy Clark’s recent death at age 85 reminded me of a story I wrote here decades ago and want to share again.
In 1962 at Fort Polk, La., I played in a piano-bass-drum trio every Saturday night at the officer’s club. It was fun, and it paid $15 per man which came in handy on a Sp4’s pay.
We were asked to play as a backup group for an entertainer who was on a USO tour. It was Roy Clark, traveling solo with his guitars, violin, mandolin, harmonica and a 12-string guitar on which he played classical music. Notice I said violin rather than fiddle, because he played that instrument both ways.
We’d never heard of Roy Clark and neither had any of the three audiences he played for that week, but none of us ever forgot his name or musicianship.
He played to packed audiences at the Service Club on Thursday, the NCO Club on Friday and the Officers’ Club on Saturday. He was gracious to his backup trio and easy to play with, as the best musicians always are.
It was later that year he recorded his first of many hits. He was big-time even before 1968 when he co-starred on a new country variety show, “Hee-Haw.”
Class act, class man.
—bc—
On a lighter note, this from a musician friend I’ve enjoyed gigging with, Jay Stephens Taylor of Johnson City. As one who is getting a little long in the tooth for hauling around a set of drums, it is very true.
You know you're too old to gig when...
• It becomes more important to find a place for your box fan than your amp.
• You refuse to play out of tune.
• Your fans have left by 10:30 p.m.
• Your after-show party is at the DQ.
• You can't play more than one hour without a pee break.
• Instead of a fifth member, you want to hire a roady.
• You lost the directions to the gig (which you got from Mapquest).
• You need your glasses to adjust your amp.
• You're thrilled to have New Year's Eve off.
• The waitress is your daughter.
• You stop the set because your Ibuprofen fell behind the monitor.
• Most of your crowd just sways in their seats.
• You no longer use a tip jar.
• You refuse to play without earplugs.
• You ask the club owner if you can start at 8:30 instead of 10:30.
• Your gig stool must have a back.
• Your wife doesn't care what time you get home anymore.
• You can't get your Fender Twin Reverb out of your basement.
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