Two of my very dear friends, Jimmy & Lorraine Smart, Hosts of Nashville Video Showcase,
which I am proud to be a part of, presented one of the best benefit showcases in Nashville
in many years. They worked as hard as anyone that I have ever known to make this benefit a
complete success. In the early going there were no problems at all. The major labels and
major artists were wonderful in their acceptance of this benefit, and they donated some
great auction articles, but when the date was almost upon them, they began to see the
fruits of the their labors, having problems, like musicians calling and cancelling or that
they couldn't be there, changes in the lineup, some wanting to go on early, some late,
some no showing, some not calling to let them know they would not be there. But through
all of this I seen two great people work all the problems out with ease and determination
to make everyone happy, WHICH THEY DID. I was especially impressed with their
professionalism in presenting this great showcase for the public to be able to witness and
at the same time to help such a worthwhile cause, that I think many of us do not realize
is here for us to use, God Forbid, when children are lost or abducted or kidnapped. This
much needed foundation should have been supported with more participation than it was, but
once again Jimmy & Lorraine Smart handled everything with the ease of real pro's.
Never did I see them or hear them have anything but words of support for the turnout of
people and the show itself. Speaking of the show, it was great.
I arrived around 1:30 with my daughter and there was a good crowd already gathered for
the show. Jimmy & Lorraine began the Benefit with a short talk on CAF and thanked
everyone for coming to the Benefit. After the initial introduction, Jimmy introduced Ray
Kirkland the Tennessee Mountain Boys, Kitty Wells great band. They did one song, Ramblin
Fever, which Ray Kirkland sang great, as usual-of course he had some great musicians
behind him. Ray plays base for Kitty, and George Edwards was on steel, Jeff Jared on
guitar and Allen Funderburk on drums. Great group. Ray then introduced an old friend of
mine, Bill Phillips and Bill did several songs. He still has that great distinguishable
voice that he had when he sang his great hit songs of a few years ago, especially his hit
duet song with Dolly Parton, "PUT IT OFF UNTIL TOMMORROW." It was good to see
Bill, and I might add he looked and sounded great. Bill introduced two fella's that I did
not know, but they sang a couple of songs each and they done well. Then Ray started the
Kitty Wells Show. He first introduced Bobby Wright, Kitty and Johnny's son, and as usual,
Bobby did a great job. He sang his great songs that he had when he recorded and he
definetly knows how to handle an audience-A real pro. Next Ray introduced the lady they
had come to see, Miss Kitty Wells herself. She is such a gracious lady, and that is why
she is the one and only "QUEEN OF COUNTRY MUSIC." She thrilled the audience, and
I told my daughter that she still has the voice that everyone in the world knows when the
first note comes out of her mouth. She still looks so very nice on stage and of course
her, Johnny, Bobby and the band dress so good. The new artists of today and their bands,
would do well to come and see this show. This was entertainment by STARS. Miss Kitty
received a standing ovation from everyone, and as usual everyone could not take enough
pictures. They especially loved it when she sang her signature song, "IT WASN'T GOD
WHO MADE HONKY TONK ANGELS." Next Ray introduced Johnny Wright, and as everyone
knows, he was the partner to Jack Anglin, who died in a car accident going to Patsy
Cline's Funeral. Many people still don't know the great songs these two gentlemen had, and
thank God Johnny is still with us. He did several of their great duet hits-"ASHES OF
LOVE-STOP THE WORLD & LET ME OFF-DOWN SOUTH IN NEW ORLEANS." He told some funny
stories about him and Miss Kitty. I think everyone knows that they are going on the 63rd
year of marriage. Unheard of-Congratulations to both of them. Johnny is 86 and Miss Kitty
is 81. They perform more shows and better shows than most of the young un's of today. Not
because the younger artists cannot do a good show, most of them have never had the
training or had to pay their dues, as we say in the business. Then Johnny invited Miss
Kitty back on stage, along with Bobby and all of the cast that was there, to close their
show with the gospel hit, "I SAW THE LIGHT." I can tell you this, Jimmy Smart
was in seventh heaven. It was a great show to start the evening. There was a short break
to change bands around and during this time there were plenty of great items in the Silent
Auction that was put together by Jimmy & Lorraine. Incidentally, Lorraine, I
congratulate you on a great job of putting all of the items where they were visible to
everyone and everything was just perfectly in its' proper place, just like a woman does
it. Kitty, Johnny and Bobby had family members with them to watch the show, and they came
out to sign autographs and talk with everyone that was there.
The next young lady that I watched and listened to, was Teri Lynn. I hope that I have
spelled her name correctly, but even if I have not, I will tell you that she was great.
She has a great blues voice and her back-up band was great. She knew what to do with a
stage. You could tell that she was a pro and that where she was standing was her acreage
and she laid claim to it, with some great songs and friends this lady has some great
pipes. Wherever she performs, make it a point to go and see her. I watched the show from
that point on, and I must ask those entertainers that I do not know their names, to accept
my apologies for not being a better reporter. All of them were great and I mean that. They
were all professionals and knew how to handle the word entertainment.
Got a chance to finally hear Perly Curtis sing, and he is a great country singer. He
plays steel guitar in Loretta Lynn's band, but he has a dynamite voice and the lady that
sang with him was super, super, super. I am glad that I had the opportunity to get to see
you Perly-You are a double-barreled piece of entertainment and Loretta is lucky to have
you with her.
Bill Anderson made it to the benefit, and as usual Bill was as gracious as we all know
him. Jimmy introduced him and had him come onstage to say a few words. I know for a fact
that Bill just got back in off of the road and had a real sore throat and was taking
antibiotics to get rid of it because he had to do the Opry, which he was the Host of
Backstage Opry this past Saturday night, along with his regular spots with the Po Boys
Band. Bill agreed to sign autographs and take pictures. This is a great man and he did
keep his promise to make an appearance.
I had a chance to watch my friend Bobby G. Rice, hitmake of "YOU LAY SO EASY ON MY
MIND," perform. What a pro he is. So as not to make it rough on the band, he dug into
his list of songs and came out with 2 standards and one that he had a great hit on,
"HIGH ON THE MOUNTAIN OF LOVE." Bobby, you know how to get it done, my man. He
is an entertainer #10 on a scale of 10. Bobby is singing great, and had his wife and
daughter along with him.
It was around 4PM and I had previous committments, so I said my goodbye's to Jimmy
Williams and Lorraine and Jimmy and had to leave. I know that Jimmy, Lorraine and my buddy
Roscoe were super great, and I missed Hanna, Trey Young and Kim Anthony, but I know these
people and I know that the crowd was treated to super entertainment. I just wish that the
benefit would have been supported with more enthusiasim, but I will predict this for next
year. We will make a super effort and I hope that both Jimmy and Lorraine will allow me to
help them in their efforts to do this again, at a different spot, and I promise to talk to
my friends, and with all 3 of us working at this, along with Jimmy Williams and all of his
wonderful people, we will give this City one of the biggest and best benefits that it has
ever been associated with, and for a cause that we hope we will never have to call on.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I SALUTE JIMMY SMART AND HIS LOVELY WIFE, LORRAINE FOR THEIR
SUPERHUMAN SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS FOR THIS CHILDRENS' ALERT FOUNDATION BENEFIT THAT THEY
HOSTED WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM, PROFESSIONALISM, AND LOVE FOR THE FOUNDATION AND FOR WHAT IT
STANDS FOR.
Although I did not stay to hear the song that Lorraine wrote, I will listen to it this
coming Wed. night when we tape the Nashville Video Showcase. I wish everyone could know
these 2 people as I do. They are true supporters of country music and they are an asset to
our community, not just the country music community. This benefit was a great success in
so many different ways, and is the start of what I hope will be an annual event, and build
and build each year. If these two people continue their efforts toward the Childrens Alert
Foundation, there can be nothing but success and help for the future. Thanks to both of
you.
MARTY MARTEL
http://msptalent.com
Also be sure to check out Marty’s newsletter, "Nashville News Today"
Our special thanks to Jimmy and Lorraine Smart of Nashville Video Showcase for the great
benefit they hosted for CAF. Get all the details on their site along with tons of
photos of the stars that shone their light on CAF such as the legendary Miss Kitty Wells!
