I can tell you it was a completely enjoyable evening!!! Both Butch and I commented on the fact that Ray sounds as good today as he did when we started watching him in the early 1960’s. He is not exactly a young man anymore, but he has NOT “missed a step”, as they say about athletes.
This guy can still get on a stage and sing a song better than most of the talent out there today. Oh, you want to know about the Cherokee Cowboys? Well, there was Bobby, and anybody that has ever seen Bobby Flores, no matter what instrument you choose to put in his hands, knows that music just doesn’t get any better! Additionally, there were 5 other fiddles on stage. A gentleman whose name I never caught, but I think he came down from Dallas with Ray, and he was excellent. They were complemented by 4 violin players who I believe are from the San Antonio Symphony. Good grief, they sounded like they had been with the band for years! Incredible string section.
Ray brought a guitar player and a drummer that I believe have been with him for years and they are excellent, but you would not expect less. Additionally, there was my old friend Allen Chapman on upright Bass, and Andy Langham on Piano (and he is probably the best keyboard guy in San Antonio!), who directed the band.
Oh yes, Ray did have a Steel player and it was the forum’s own Tommy Detamore…jeez, what a treat!! If any of you saw Tommy’s post about the Sho-Bud Professional he got a few months ago, and how beautiful it was…believe it! He brought that guitar, and it is truly gorgeous!! 8 pedals, and only 2 knee levers, and what a TONE!! Tommy was nothing less that GREAT.
Butch mentioned that he had seen Ray a year ago and he didn’t let Tommy play much. Well, he let him play last Saturday! Nothing out of context mind you, but Tommy played what needed to be played and he blew me away. What a wonderful musician he is. I closed my eyes and opened my ears several times, and I could almost hear Jimmy Day or Buddy Emmons on stage. Tommy nailed it! It was one of the most enjoyable evenings I have spent in the last few years. Thanks Bobby, and you can use my old Yellow Blanton whenever you want to!!
B. Bailey Brown
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by B Bailey Brown on 26 November 2001 at 03:45 PM.]</p></FONT>
