I miss the stories that Vern used to tell about when he was playing music with Ray Park, and their travels on the road. I kick myself for not setting down with a tape recorder and proper chronicling their adventures of the road over the years that they played together. Every once in a while one will pop up in my memory that is lain dormant for a number of years and I try towrite it down before I forget it again. The other day I received an e-mail from my friend lesleverett and in that e-mail was a picture of a very young 12-year-old Brenda Lee on stage in front of about 3000 people at a park in downtown Nashville, and that triggered this memory of Vern and Ray playing that same park in 1966. Here then is that story as related to me by my old picking partner Vern Williams.
Vern would always start this story with this disclaimer; Now to appreciate this story in all its glory, you have to remember how absent-minded Ray Park is, and is always walking off and leaving stuff behind. It was in the late summer there in Nashville when this story happened. Vern said the musicians union there in Nashville used to put on free shows two or three times a year during the summertime for the country music fans. Vern said they would always have at least one and maybe two big-name country stars at the show, and the rest were up and coming acts, and at this particular show they were the token bluegrass band performing. The show was on a Saturday afternoon, and Vern said as soon as they got through playing their set, they jumped in his 65 Chrysler station wagon and headed for Los Angeles, California, as they were booked at the Ash Grove on Monday night in Los Angeles.
Needless to say haste was of the utmost. Herb Pederson was playing banjo with them and each one would drive for three or four hours,before being spelled. Vern said that old Chrysler was really humming along at about 85 miles an hour and was really making good time, stopping only for gas and bathroom breaks. Vern said it was my time to drive and we were right in the middle of New Mexico, when Ray let out a scream! MY FIDDLE!!! Herb said what about your fiddle Ray? Ray said I left it under the bench in the change room at the park in Nashville!! SOOOOO, Vern said the first telephone we came to,Ray jumped out and called his cousin and told him to go see if it was still there. He said Ray’s cousin called back in about an hour and said, yup it was still right there where you left it and I’ll keep it for you till you get back home in Nashville.
Ray’s forgetfulness was legendary, because his mind was always 100 miles from his body, due to the fact that he always had a song that he was writing on his mind.. Ray’s wife, Marlene always used to say,I could dress 10 people with the clothing that Ray has left behind when out playing music on the road. Vern said you could probably dress about two dozen people with the clothing Ray left behind. We always used to kid Ray about his forgetfulness, but I think Byron Berline told the ultimate story about Ray’s forgetfulness.
Back in the early 80s Ray was touring with Byron and they were playing a job in Ohio. Byron said they got through playing about midnight and most of the band wanted to go get something to eat, but Ray chose to go to the motel, and go to bed. Ray said about two o’clock in the morning, Byron turned the lights on and asked Ray if he knew where his fiddle and guitar was? Ray told him I know where my instruments are all the time,[ but Ray said in my mind, now where in the hell did I leave them ?] Ray said to Byron, if you’re so damn smart just where do you think they are? Byron said to him, they’re setting out in the hallway and your key is in the lock on the door. To which Ray replied, I know it and I’m going go get them in about 10 min.. True story folks! Like Vern used to say, there wasn’t a dull moment when you was around Ray Park.
Vern and Ray were two of the best friends this old country boy will ever have in my life and I miss them every day. I would give all my earthly possessions to be able to do it all over again with those two. We did not know how much fun we were having, what fun times those were. Walk slow down that heavenly road old friends I am not far behind you.
