| Subject: | [RESOGUIT-L] My Gene Wooten story and first time poster | | Date: | Tuesday, June 26, 2007 21:11:50 (+0000) | | From: | bluegrassrick <bluegrassrick @.......net>
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Hello everyone,
My name is Rick Randol and this is my first post after lurking for a long, long
time. The thread on Gene Wooten is just what I needed to get started.
First let me start by saying that I have met a few of you at SPBGMA during the
Josh tribute. I know our great poobah Howard and have struck up a friendship with
Paul Beard and I play one of his fine instruments. I play bluegrass in a band in
Indianapolis, Indiana. I play very simple breaks and most of my knowledge comes
from a, gulp, banjo background.
With that said, here is my Gene Wooten story.
It was SPBGMA in Nashville 1999. All the guys in the (my) band were there.
Someone said "lets go pick". So they did, as I got sidetracked for a few minutes.
This was the very beginning of me picking the reso so, I didn't know too much.
When I arrived at the hallway next to our suite, they were already pickin'. I
stood there a moment and listened myself. Some passer-bys stopped to listen, one
of them was Gene Wooten.
After a moment of being starstruck, I asked Gene to join the jam. He said he was
just listening. After a couple songs, seeing that the guys were pretty good (if I
say so myself), he did indeed pull out his guitar and join the jam. Upon seeing
him set down his case and start to open it, I ran to the room to grab my video
camera. I just never imagined that he would stand there and pick with the guys on
so many songs, but he did. And I filmed all of it.
After picking a good while, he said he needed to get to the Opry to play with
the Osbornes. As he was leaving he said he had really enjoyed playing and if it
was Okay would like to come back and pick some more after the Opry. We all said
sure that would be great, thinking that he was just being very kind.
Later that evening we were in the room doing some picking with some other
friends, when there was some knocking on the door. I answered the door and it was
Gene. He had indeed returned after the Opry. We invited him in. He stayed in the
room for a couple of hours playing the banjo, singing some songs and picking the
reso. I believe he had a good time, as did we all. I also filmed this.
As I was transfering many of my video tapes to DVD I once again saw this tape of
Gene. I had forgotten how good it was. I can't imagine not sharing this, what I
believe to be rare footage, with others. I have made some copies that I will let
go for postage and material cost. I don't want to make anything from this. I
would even like to send one to Gene's family if anyone knows where I should send
it, as I feel like that is the least I could do. If you guys and gals are
curious, you could ask the Poobah Howard, as he has seen the DVD. There is 35
minutes of picking in the hotel hallway with Gene taking breaks on all the songs
and I only recorded the music. Then there is 50 minutes in the hotel room
jamming, again I taped only the music.
Well, that's my story. Kind of a longwinded first post. If anyone has questions
or if you are interested in getting a copy, please contact me off list.
Thanks for letting me ramble,
Rick Randol
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[RESOGUIT-L] My Ge
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