MILITARY & MOTORCYCLES_JANUARY 11, 2013
In the Coming Weeks
In the coming weeks there will be entertainment for all ages at the Manatee County Fair. Having been an Associate Fair Director for a few years, I had the opportunity to deal with the stage entertainment, which the fair has presented.
On January, the 18 a very well known singer who has come out of retirement at the request of his fans will be center stage at 8 PM. This man is known to the world as Don Williams the ‘Gentle Giant’ (don-williams.com) will give us a show to remember for years to come.
Don had been scheduled at the fair a few years ago, and at the time he was going to retire with his last concert in London England. Thankfully, he has come out of retirement.
Having a fondness for classic country and bluegrass music, I have followed the career of Johnny Staats and the Delivery Boys for about 15-16 years. I guess it’s because I have spent so much time in ‘Almost Heaven’ West Virginia over the years. By the time Johnny gets here my ‘hillbilly wife’ Sue and I will have been married for 42 years as of January 16.
The back-story to this group is pretty simple. Johnny and the original band members were all employed by UPS (United Parcel Service), thus the name Delivery Boys. Johnny has played the mandolin since he was seven years old and won numerous awards throughout his career. In 1997, he garnered the top place for mandolin, guitar title and came in third in the fiddle competition at the Charleston (WV) Vandalia Gathering the same year. He also has won mandolin championships in 1996 and 1999.
He has appeared at the Kennedy Center in Washington, numerous times on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry as well as numerous radios and television shows.
This summer I went to Marietta, Ohio to one of Johnny’s concerts and I was even more impressed than I had been with his talent as well as that of his band. By the way, Johnny is still employed by UPS and he is always on time in the Sandyville, WV route area.
Johnny has played and recorded with many notables such as John Cowan, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Jim Hurst, and Tim O’Brien, Sara Evans and Kathy Mattea and others.
On January 19 at 7 PM Johnny Staats and the Delivery Boys (johnnystaats.com) will grace the main stage. You will find that he is a very high energy and talented mandolin player who has written most of his own music and lyrics and loves to entertain.
Following Johnny at 8:30 PM will be Marty Raybon and Full Circle (martyraybon.com) who will entertain us with his many Bluegrass Gospel songs. Marty has been in the music business for many years entertaining millions of folks around the world.
January 20 at 6 PM Josh Wilson (joshwilsonmusic.com) will be on stage performing Christian music for our listening pleasure.
For those of us who grew up during the tie-dyed years listening to the oldies ‘Yesterdayze’ will be present and accounted for during the Fair (manateecountyfair.com).
God Bless America and all those who serve to protect us.
Terry Longpre