Hit Parade

[flo]

have to add a P.S. onto that - will today's kids ever really know what County & Western music really sounds like?  Hate most of the new country. 

[frawin]

Got that right Flo, I've been listening to Reba and "George" all morning while I iron--George Strait that is.  I miss Hank Snow, Hank Thompson, Hank Williams, Faron Young, etc.  The music they played was truley country.

We used to go to a place called "Out Our Way Club" I think it was--it was between Independence and Coffeyville.  There was usually good bands that played there.  When we lived in Bartlesville in the 1970's we went to the Moon Glow Hut in Ochelata, OK sometimes.  Rodney Lay and the Wild West played there.  There were usually people we knew from the places where we worked. 

Flo, you need to come down some time, I have a guitar, accoordian, Clavinova and Piano, we could probably stir up some music.  It is always relaxing to me, to play.  I like to play in the dark.  Relaxes me at the end of the day. 

[Rudy Taylor]

I'm married to a wonderful pianist, and every night before Kathy goes to bed she turns off all the lights
except the lamp over the piano. Then she sits down and plays such peaceful music.  By this time, I'm
already in bed, half asleep, so I usually drift in that other world while smiling at the lovely sounds
emanating from our living room.

Dark is not all bad, is it?

[Bonnie M.]

There are too few piano players "these days!"  I really appreciate piano music.  As you said, it is so relaxing to just listen to the sweet music coming from the piano.  I play the piano "by ear," not good, but it's brought a lot of enjoyment throughout the years!  Flo, I used to play "Under the Double Eagle," and I'd forgotten all about that song!  Our daughter, Karen, is a good piano player, and therefore, she "got" to accompany all of the school musical programs, play for Church, etc., etc.! 

Myrna, I've wondered what happened to Rodney Lay.  I don't think he plays with Roy Clark any more, maybe he's "retired" and lives in Coffeyville.  He used to do the "Dalton Gang" bank robbery reinactment in Coffeyville each year.  I wonder if they still do that?

[frawin]

Bonnie, I don't know where Rodney Lay is either.  He had a western wear store in Dewey when we lived here before, but it is gone.  I have heard that one of his sons is a car salesman for one of the dealers in Independence.  Maybe I'll find out something when I have time get out and about.  I've been so busy since we got here that I haven't had much contact with the outside world, but we plan to change that when we get settled and get involved in the community and contact some of the people we used to know who are still here.

Myrna

[Bonnie M.]

Are you living in Bartlesville?  That would be a good place to live, I think.  We've always like it there.  I have a cousin, Stanley Elmore and his wife, Gleta, who live in Dewey.  They've lived there for years, and raised all of their family there. 

It would be interesting to see whatever happened to Rodney Lay.  He was a good musician, and a good band to back up Roy Clark.  "Rodney" played for dances at the Longton Fair Barn every once in a while.

[greatguns]

Rodney Lay currently manages Roy Clark's band and jointly owns with Roy, the Roy Clark Celebrity Theater in Branson, Missouri.  He lives on a ranch in Oklahoma and raises race horses.

[Jo McDonald]

That is good to know, Sally - I just got out my Coffeyville telephone book, and there are several Lay listings, but did not see one for Rodney.  Now we know why, don't we?

[Rudy Taylor]

I wrote quite a lengthy item about Rodney but apparently it didn't post. I'll wait to see if it happens later.
Actually, mine was probably not that good anyway.

[Rudy Taylor]

Let me try again. I'm not the greatest techie.

Rodney and his wife, Karen, recently moved from their ranch near Nowata to a home in Dewey. Rodney is experiencing some
health problems and the ranch was getting to be too much for him.

Karen manages health clinics for the Delaware Nation including the one here in Caney. And by the way, she grew up here as
Karen Mackey.

Rodney still likes to pull together some of his original "Blazers" for reunion concerts, and he has returned to classic rock for
many of his performances, although he still feels totally comfortable playing country music. That's really where he found
success, traveling with Roy Clark and writing for lots of Nashville performers.

He doesn't do tours or stressful concerts any more, and it's not uncommon to see him standing on the back row playing the
bass guitar for a local country band at a county fair.  He's just likes to play, that's all.

I talked to him recently and he really likes to visit with folks about their memories of those gigs that several of you
remember --- the ones at the Longton Fair, the Westernair Club, the Legion in Caney, etc. He's one of the friendliest
people you will ever meet and he never sees a stranger.

I did have his email address but I don't find it now. He loves to hear from old-time fans. Rodney is now in his late 60s.
I know for a fact that Karen is 66 and I assume Rodney is around that same age.