I just went with Jack to the GH IV show in Lake Wales last week and I must say George not only put on a great show but my buddy Jack sure did himself proud behind his Franklin.
Nice job Jack.
Don
Last edited by Don Sulesky on 31 Jan 2008 9:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
Thanks for the story Roger. It reminds me of Sept 1977. My wife and I had arrived in Nashville from the ISGC.
I think it was George Jones' Possum Holler...and Geo the 4th was entertaining. At break time, he came and sat at our table and we had the most neighborly chat that anybody would want. I offered him a beer but he settled for coke.
There is something so gratifying to have an entertainer of that stature treat you with total respect. That man has class right down to his fingertips.
Glad to see the pic of Jack on a great gig. I always thought George could use a larger body guitar. His always look like toys. Not that Franklin, though. That's lookin' good and sounding likewise, I'm sure.
Last edited by Ron Page on 1 Feb 2008 9:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
George wrote the sleeve notes on the first LP I made
back in 1973, later I was with a band called Culpepper County, and had the pleasure of backing him at the Wembley Country Music Show London, around 1977...
Roger, it was a pleasure to finally meet you and your wife Susie. George had "old home week" at that show with several musician's that he had worked with in the past including you. Roger got to try a Franklin that evening and even took a picture of the undercarriage.
This was the second year we toured with George IV and is probably the easiest person I've worked with. George works with so many different bands and with his Christian disposition whatever we do or did was perfectly fine with him. I often make the comparison that he could have a song that is in G and if we started him in A it wouldn't make a difference he would just go along with it and never say a word.
George was well received every place we worked. We ended the George IV tour on Monday evening and started our tour with Tommy Cash last evening (this will be the 5th year working with Tommy here in Florida). Roger, we'll be in Punta Gorda on Feb 13th.
George IV left this morning for Nashville and will be on the Opry this weekend.
Jack your right about George being a lovely bloke, I have had the pleasure of working with him on his several visits to New Zealand over the years - you couldn't find an easier guy to work with.
I should add that it's been my pleasure to work with George many times back in the Old Country. When he was the Narrator on Mervyn Conn's production of 'Patsy Cline - A Musical Tribute' I was Music Director and played steel and electric on something like six hundred performances with him. That included a spell in London's West End where we played the Whitehall Theatre.
Anyone who has spent time with George will already know that he really is the kindest and most considerate of people. He never forgets a name or a place, and is always genuinely delighted to renew an old acquaintanceship.
It's amusing to note that, when I've finished taking a 12-bar steel solo in one of George's songs, his appreciative smile is no different from the one he no doubt gives to Tommy White at the Opry. That's some disparity right there!
I've never met a more humble celebrity in my fifty years as a player.
Ricky, I haven't been on Ascension Island since 1969. I'm sure much is the same as it was back then. Other than possibly some new equipment there probably isn't much else changed. I could have used a bottle of Irish Mist from the English commissary
