A Look At 2008
Thanks so much for taking the time to visit this site. As I reflect on the tremendous number of great things that happened in 2008 I’m grateful for the guy that allowed me to get my message out to the world Mr. Chris Craft. Thanks for the web design Chris! I’m able to share with you everything that’s going on in my world and I love it!
I’m sitting here wondering what happened to 2008. I’ve never played so many notes in my entire life. As I look into my Polish Palm Pilot, (paper pocket calendar) I’m stunned that I survived this year. Let’s see;
January was “The Grand affair” at The SC State Fairgrounds. I was in a booth recruiting potential volunteers for Palmetto Health Baptist Personal Touch Department. I’m am a 6 year veteran of Personal touch and love it! Then I played at Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community with The Sensational Epics one evening and The Campfire Singers another evening. Mike and Lisa Driggers rededicated their marriage and I got to play a song for them outside before the beautiful ceremony under the ivy covered arch. What an awesome couple. Brian and Shelly Bohlman are the guys that kept me in shape as we helped them move into a beautiful home near the Columbia Airport. Brian is an air Force Chaplain responsible for the “Thank You ” project still ongoing. This great man goes around the country and has people send thank you notes etc. to the troops fighting for us. God bless the Bohlmans and their new home.
February was The Vista Room for Bill Dukes. Off to Seawells for the annual Carolina Collegiate Federal Credit Union’s annual meeting. It was great seeing all my University friends. Back to Still Hopes Episcipol Retirement Community for the annual sweetheart dance featuring Bill Johns on piano and me on sax. Love was in the air. Trax Side Studio was my second home form this point on as we continued to record “Amazing Grace” February was also the month for a surprise birthday for some Doctor who’s name I don’t know held at 300 Senate Street sponsored by Dupre Percival. Kevin Smoak and I were the music for the Harvest Church’s Singles Ministry’s conference held at White Oak in Winnsborough. God showed up there. Rhodann Richardson invited me to play along with her group at Dutch Square Mall center court. Talk about the sweet, sweet spirit of God. I finally got to hear someone else play for me. My buddy Mike McWilliams took me to The Newberry Opera House to see The Glenn Miller Orchestra. I sure wish Dad could have been there. Unbelievable music. Don’t tell Mike I told you about him running a red light.
March arrived and I continued to remind myself the new word of the year was “NO” Say it. . NNN OOO ! Not a chance. I played at Agape Home Trenholm Road with The Campfire Singers. How could you say no to such fine people? By the way, the Campfire Singers consist of Marvin Bienstock, Munsy Ridgill, Hardy Merritt, Carol Hansen and yours truly. I always look forward to March because I always get invited to judge Teen Talent for The Pentecostal Church. I was born for this . I absolutely love to see young people use their talent for the Lord! Another event I look forward to is Career Day at C.A. Taylor Elementary School. I arrive disguised as a musician.
April was pretty cool. I got to see and meet Randy Stonehill at The Pavilion in Cayce SC. This dude is very cool! I played his music when I was an 80′s DJ. My daughter Melody knocked it out of the park as she stared in “Hansel and Gretel” at Columbia College. She was Hansel. Doug Leonard , a realtor hired me for an open house. I must say this was unusual but very cool. I sure do hope the house sold. A fine organization called The Youth Corps hired me for their annual banquet. This year it was at The Raddison Hotel. This is a solid organization. Late April I played at The Golden Hills Country Club with The Palmettos. Great band! Off to The Clarion. I did the awards banquet with Mr. John Mcullough (piano) for the Veteran’s Hospital Volunteers banquet. Mike Tronco hired me to play with his band for a wedding in Lexington SC.
May I played with a band called City Lights in Florence. We had a ball! Off to Still Hopes again. Agape the next day. I missed my daughter’s graduation day to play with the Sensational Epics at Dataw Island but my daughter, Lindy Collum forgave me. She now has her Masters Degree. Way to go girl! Arthur Luongo and I played at The Officer’s Club for Veterans and Kevin Cohen was Emcee. Thank God for the men and women that serve. Thank you!
June I was introduced to a fine center called “Helping Hands“ What this is is a day care center for adults. I have never met so many beautiful people in my life. Every soul is special to me at this place. So glad I can help. Sensational Epics opened the Summer Concert Series at Finlay Park and man was it hot! Look for the 2009 Columbia tour guide. We’re in there. The shot was taken before Mike Tronco started to cramp. Did I mention it was hot? June 11th , “Amazing Grace” arrived!!! I have an appreciation for UPS. WMHK held a car wash at The Harvest Church, my church. All I got out of the deal was sunburned feet. I loved holding the sign on hwy #378. Many people beeped. Not a whole lot of takers. But that’s ok. WMHK is still on the air. Tune in to 89.7 FM Belmont Baptist Church and The Lowman Home were the next engagements for The Campfire Singers. The Sensational Epics performed another wedding for Dupre Percival.
July I was off to Saluda Shoals with Mike Tronco again. You’ll also see a video of me in the “video” section from WIS Television disguised as a person you can count on. July 19th I went to see Glenn Beck at The Koger Center. Glenn went for hero to zero. I listened to this man every day since Sept 11 2001. I tried to get Glenn a copy of my Christmas Cd so he could hear the Auld Lang Syne poem. I went in the back door at The Koger Center, got stopped by security, gave the man a CD and asked him to give it to Glenn. You would think I was asking for somebody important. Right! He’s got more security than the Pope. I’ve e mailed him. I’ve called him. I ‘ve asked our local affiliate’s announcer Kevin Cohen from WVOC to give him a copy (while Glenn was in town) as I visited and spent money at a remote for Columbia Flag and Banner. All I got was basically the man ( Glenn) is untouchable. The next day I turn on the radio and some listener from Columbia said he had Zesto’s chicken with Glenn and Glenn was a real person. Right! OOOOO YEAH. Give me a break! Dude, people like me support your sponsors. Good luck on Fox. I finished July off with a very special event at The Harvest Church. I actually did some stand up comedy for the Son Shiners (our 50 and older crowd) Some of them laughed! Then I played sax for them as well. It was a blast.
Here comes August. This was a special month for me. Not only is it my birthday, I was available to help kick off a ministry at The Vista Grille Sponsored by Stephon Propps. He’s a waiter there. There was a lot of music and ministry. I went to my 30th year class reunion in Holland NY. Springville class of 1978 rocks! College Place Methodist Church was my next stop with Melody. We played for the Leisure Club. This was our first concert since the release of the hymns CD. We had an awesome time. The Sensational Epics performed at The Capital Senior Center. Great dancing took place there. August finished with a bang! The Sensational Epics almost felt what hell feels like. We performed at The Saluda River Little River Festival. No covering. . .H O T !!!
September things were starting to pick up. Dupre Percival hired me to help the United Way with the kick off campaign. I put a little combo together and we got the job done. Myrtle Beach was the site for the next gig for the annual Magistrate Judges Convention. Believe it or not I saw some folks from Columbia I knew. I enjoy this job every year. Northside Baptist Church held a Hawaiian Louall. This was for the Singles Ministry. What a great church! State Street Baptist Church was the next stop. I was able to share my hymns with these fine folks. You’ll see I returned in December. The Columbia Chamber Of Commerce was another fun gig. This was with The Mike Tronco Band. Then it was off to Hilton Head with The Palmettos. Finally I got to perform with Elvis. Phil Urban and I did a 50th wedding anniversary party for his in-laws at the Tri-City Leisure Center. This guy is the real deal! Keep in mind at this point I’m still at Agape, Tucker Center, Still Hopes and Helping Hands. Now USC football is at full blast. At this point I’m playing tailgating parties with various bands.
October welcomes yet another new band. . .The Footnotes out of Sumter SC . We played for a beautiful wedding at The Charleston Yacht Club. The Sensational Epics were also the host of Harvest Hope Food banquet. Off to Isle Of Palms. for a wedding with City Lights. This is where God lives! The Sons Of Italy had a big deal at Riverfront Park in October. I actually played with three band that night. The Sterling Band, The Mike Tronco Band and The Sensational Epics, Great food yum yum!!!
November it started to get crazy. The Sensational Epics were hired to play for The Jacksonville Gamecock Club. The ride all the way the way there was rainy as well as all the way back. Yep, had to come back that night to participate in the Trinity Episcopal Church Bazaar at 8:30 AM. Sold 5 CD’s. What a let down. I felt invisible. Regions Bank hired me for Vista Lights. They served wine and cheese for free. Pretty cool bank. Please refer to the Pye wedding on my web page for another November event.
December. . .look out!!! Bank of Meridan had me first as Dupre Percival hired me and my computer. Then it was off to Main Street Methodist Church with the Campfire Singers. The next day The Sensational Epics played for the Columbia Junior League. What a great time with great food! Off to Columbia Country Club for a timber company. Then Morgan Keegan hired me to play for their Christmas party for there happy clients. Ok 2009 will be better. Off to Congaree Elementary School where I helped with Career day. I was a musician. How unique. I tried to talk the kids out of being musicians. OK, just kidding. The Harvest Church had their Christmas drop in. I was the clown in the foyer playing the sax. SC Farm Bureau had their banquet at Seawells. The Sensational Epics was the band. We sure did a great job once again! I had to sneak off to do a couple of tunes with Bill Johns at Park St. Baptist but it was well worth it. The people there were very kind. Emmanual Lutheran Church was another stop for Melody and I. THIS is the real deal! These folks were very receptive to hear what I had to say and play. They loved on me and Melody as if we were one of there own. I’ll go back there any day! Thank you Emmanuel Lutheran. Then it was off to Forest Lake Country Club for the small business banquet. I saw so many great people that keep this city rolling. Thank the Lord for small businesses! Columbia After Dark is a ministry for singles in the Columbia area. They have a lot of fun every Monday. I was honored to play some music for them in December at Carolina Wings in West Columbia this year. I had a lot of fun seeing my old friends again. Riverland Hills Baptist Church is dear to my heart. I was honored to be invited to play for their Christmas concert. I absolutely love this church! Of course we were on live TV December 19th as you can see on WIS’S web site. The video will be on my web site soon. It’s back to State Street Baptist Church again for a Christmas story. I actually played clarinet in the orchestra. This was very special to me. I finally finished up at Helping Hands. Made the way for Santa. He was a big hit. Finally thanks to Brent Johnson and the awesome personalities on WTCB for playing my Christmas CD. I can’t explain how cool it is to drive in a car and hear yourself on the radio. Lock ‘em in. WTCB 106.7 or you can listen on line.
Why share all of this? I guess it’s to answer the question “Why are you retiring at 48 years of age?” If you look at my schedule it’s a no brainer. That’s right. I’m retiring January 2nd. I’ve been a SC State employee for the last 29 years as mostly an irrigation tech. I’ve done numerous job for the State as well as The University of South Carolina. Please pray for me as I enter into pre-nursing school. My desire is to be a psych nurse. I want to thank the folks of the great State of South Carolina for giving me the opportunity to serve them. I love this State!
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