Gary Morris ‘n’ Me

Gary Morris has one of the most amazing voices in any kind of music, period...and has since he first hit the Top Ten on Billboard Country charts way back in 1981 with the song, "Headed For A Heartache." After a couple more singles hit the charts, he came out to my hometown of Fresno, CA to open a show for Lacy J. Dalton, who was also very popular in those days with a string of her own hits behind her. The band I was in at the time (the "original" Boy Howdy Band) was asked by the show's promoter (and our manager at the time) if we could learn 4 of Gary's songs (his hits up to that time), and back him up on them, after he started his set solo, with just his own acoustic guitar accompaniment. We agreed, and that was how I came to meet Gary. About 6 months later, he returned to Fresno to headline his own show, and for that one, we actually got to open for him.

Fast-forward about 30 years, to December of 2011. I was living in Jonesboro, AR, and Gary was going to play a solo benefit show at the theater on the Arkansas State University campus. A few days prior to the show, I got to interview him via the telephone, and asked him if he remembered that band that opened for him so long ago, and he said that he did. When I told him I was the drummer in that band, he couldn't believe it! Well, needless to say, I was at that show at ASU, and we had a very nice reunion. He even signed my vinyl copy of his Plain Brown Wrapper album, as you see in the accompanying photo.

Gary will be returning to the Crossroads for another benefit concert tomorrow night (5/8/14) at the Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts. The show is a benefit for the Bluebonnet Youth Ranch, the Victoria Lions Club, Theatre Victoria and the Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets can be purchased at the Welder Center Box Office and at WelderCenter.org. Individual tickets are $30 for each concert. Gary is amazing, whether he's singing with a symphony, or just his guitar, so I urge you to see this show!