There was a scene in the movie Tombstone, where Josie, who would later become Wyatt Earp’s wife, walked across the street in front of Wyatt and Doc Holliday as they were leaving town, which prompted Doc to utter the line; So, she walked out of our lives forever.I was reminded of that line last week When I mailed a big box to the international Bluegrass Music Museum In Owensboro, Kentucky. In that box were letters written to me by Rose Maddox bridging a 16 year span, from 1980 to late 1996. Along with that, there were several newspaper clippings,Show flyers, magazines, and other items relating to Rose Maddox.
Early last week I was looking through my filing cabinet when I ran across a folder and large manila envelope stuffed with all the letters, clippings, etc. etc. that I had acquired since 1979. It was One of those sad/happy moments we all have in our life, when we look back on things that have happened to us going down life’s road. Most of the letters that Rose wrote me were happy and reminders of all the good times we had playing music together. The one that broke my heart was the one that she wrote me from a laundromat in Sacramento telling me that her son Donnie Maddox had suffered a severe stroke and was in the hospital there in Sacramento. She said; He can die on me any Minute and I know how you can talk to God, so please say a prayer for me and Donnie. [Donnie passed away Sunday after she wrote that letter] The second saddest letter that she wrote me, was the last one I received from her in late 1996. By this time ,age had taken its toll on my friend Rose, and tremors made it hard for her to write legibly, but that never stopped her one bit. Her spirit was strong right up to the very end, and that trait served her well all of her life.
Sitting here at my desk reading all of her letters, and the Flyers for shows that we did, and the newspaper clippings and magazines, made me realize that there were a lot of her fans that would love to see this material and read it. It had been in my possession for a lot of years, and it would have been selfish of me to keep it from her fans, and future fans that will discover her music in years to come. So, I called the international bluegrass music Museum and asked them if they wanted all of it? The curator said are you kidding? You better believe we want it! So on Wednesday, August 13, 2014, I boxed it all up and mailed it to the museum in Kentucky.
Today I received a nice thank you message from them which read;
Dear Mr. Rhynes;
On behalf of the trustees and staff of the international bluegrass music Museum, I would like to thank you for the generous gift to the museum. It is because of donations from people like you, who love bluegrass music, that we are able to have such a wonderful museum. With your help and support. We will continue to educate people and promote bluegrass music and its history.
Yours sincerely,
L. RaShae Jennings
Curator of collections
So, her physical memories walked out of my life forever. Thank you Val Kilmer for such an unforgettable line.
Yer Friend JD Rhynes
