The gentle falling of snowflakes takes me back to the days when cold weather would bring a tough decision at the old family homestead. Being cold in the winter was a common experience, since the only heat came from a fire in the main room. Grandma would always be the one up early to get […]
As I place these words to paper, the outcome of the 2016 presidential election is yet to be decided. I would like to join the throngs of those saying the rhetoric has made this one of the worst election seasons in history, but I know as a student of history many before have been as […]
In the valley below the Gravelly Spur Mountain there was a partnership of sorts between the humans and the animals that worked the farms to create the crops that helped feed them all. There was no more needed partner than the mules that helped to cut the furrows straight along the curves of the mountainsides […]
Songwriting icon and legendary performer “Whisperin’ Bill” Anderson released his new autobiography Whisperin’ Bill Anderson: An Unprecedented Life In Country Music recently. In addition, listeners can sit back and enjoy a NEW audio book narrated by Bill Anderson. The audio book bundle also includes a Bonus CD featuring 10 never-before released self-penned acoustic recordings by […]
Often as an entertainer, I get the chance to share some time with other talented musicians. I was afforded that opportunity recently while spending a couple of hours with a talented group of musicians from England. While I heard them jamming with a different line up than their norm with their bassist playing banjo, the […]
While America’s media concentrated upon candidate negatives and battles in community streets, I was honored to spend some amazing hours away from these talking heads and among some of our country’s most amazing people. They had not gathered over political policies, perceived injustice had not placed them on opposite sides of a demonstration. Music had […]
The election is nearing and we will soon go to polls and choose a vision for the future of our country. Whenever such an opportunity is at hand, I reflect back on family stories centered around elections. In the early days of our country, people actually had a passion about the right to vote and […]
Award-winning author Randall Franks, best known as “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” moves his focus into the realm of fiction with his upcoming November release “A Badge or an Old Guitar.” “After sharing snippets of fiction in my syndicated columns, I am excited to bring an entire story to […]
A Mountain Pearl : Appalachian Reminiscing and Recipes “A Mountain Pearl” follows the adventures of a young, Appalachian girl as she grows up in the secluded valley below the Gravelly Spur Mountain during the Great Depression. She and her family and friends experience the ups and downs of pioneer life in a beautiful valley almost […]
My career in country music has allowed me the blessing of doing shows with a lot of our stars. It always enthuses me when I can share great news about friends I have met along the way. One of those is country chart-topper Sylvia is who will release her new CD It’s All in the […]
