Well, howdy everyone! It's sure wonderful to be home. The legendary Sons of the Pioneers and I just returned from a three-week road trip, where we did twelve performances in Arizona and Texas, which began on January 19.
As we finished our Arizona performances in Tucson on January 27, we saddled up and headed to Abilene, Texas for a performance on January 29.
Several years ago, one of our long-time fans, Jane Dement, from Clyde, Texas, reached out to us to share a rather unique situation that included the Sons of the Pioneers dating back to 1960 and 1961.
In 1958, Jane was beginning high school in Haskell, Texas. This little community is located north of Abilene a little over fifty miles. Jane and a group of classmates organized a choral group in September 1958 that would be known as the Nineteens. What is absolutely remarkable is that all nine of these ladies have remained connected as close friends over the years. They all have stayed true to their Texas roots, even though they no longer sing together as a choral group.
"We sang together for three years, performing at state conventions and for various organizations. We won every talent contest we entered," Dement recalled.
"In 1960 we were invited to join the Sons of the Pioneers performance at the Tumbleweed Festival in Colorado City. We were so honored!"
The Sons of the Pioneers lineup at that time was a five-piece group featuring Lloyd Perryman, Tommy Doss, Dale Warren, Karl Farr and Pat Brady.
Dement explained further, "We were invited again the next year in 1961 to share the stage with them at the Haskell Homecoming."
Several weeks back, Jane dropped a line to our Sons of the Pioneers Official Fan Corral, the group's Facebook fan page. She explained that she and the Nineteens would be attending the Abilene concert.
On Wednesday, January 29, arrangements were made for these ladies to do a backstage meet and greet with us before our performance. I explained to the guys this was huge, an awesome opportunity. If we can pull it off, we need to recreate the photo of them with us in 1960. Sixty-five years apart.
About thirty minutes before we went onstage, theater management brought five of the Nineteens downstairs to our dressing room for a wonderful visit and a chance to reminisce for a bit.
Getting better acquainted, I learned Jane's identical twin sister June was also in the Nineteens, and it was wonderful to meet her as well! Jane and June still sing together and recorded an album together in 1983.
It's moments like this that the Sons of the Pioneers and I greatly treasure. Here's our photos: The Nineteens and the Sons of the Pioneers, sixty-five years apart!
Happy trails, everyone!
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