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About labor day...a couple of weeks ago, I heard somebody on the news
complaining that she couldn't get the job she wanted. She said she had the right
to have the job she wanted. I don't think so. I think having any job is a privilege,
one you have to work to be worthy of. If the job is one you want and like and
enjoy, what a greater privilege it is. What a blessing it is to do honorable work, to
be part of this great country, to contribute something, however large or small, to
each other. Sherry and I met a young fellow in Canton. We shared a table at a
church lunch pavilion and had a cheeseburger and talked about life in his town.
He is a maintenance man for a local company, and he's proud of the work he
does. Two years ago, I think it was, he and many of his co-workers were laid off.
He said it was a hard time. He had to go on unemployment, and it bothered him.
He knew he had paid for it and earned it, but it was against his nature, not to
work. So he found a part time job, driving truck, for a man who would pay him
cash. Otherwise, he'd not have had enough to care for his family. It wasn't the
work he wanted, but it was honorable work. He told us, "The Lord found a way."
He's the kind of person, I think, this day of celebration is about...celebrating the
privilege of doing honorable work and being one of us. This celebration in Canton
has been going on 104 years. It reminds us all of who we are. We saw a sign at
a company in Sevierville, that does concrete work. It read, "We work to become,
not to acquire." I think that's who most of us are.
complaining that she couldn't get the job she wanted. She said she had the right
to have the job she wanted. I don't think so. I think having any job is a privilege,
one you have to work to be worthy of. If the job is one you want and like and
enjoy, what a greater privilege it is. What a blessing it is to do honorable work, to
be part of this great country, to contribute something, however large or small, to
each other. Sherry and I met a young fellow in Canton. We shared a table at a
church lunch pavilion and had a cheeseburger and talked about life in his town.
He is a maintenance man for a local company, and he's proud of the work he
does. Two years ago, I think it was, he and many of his co-workers were laid off.
He said it was a hard time. He had to go on unemployment, and it bothered him.
He knew he had paid for it and earned it, but it was against his nature, not to
work. So he found a part time job, driving truck, for a man who would pay him
cash. Otherwise, he'd not have had enough to care for his family. It wasn't the
work he wanted, but it was honorable work. He told us, "The Lord found a way."
He's the kind of person, I think, this day of celebration is about...celebrating the
privilege of doing honorable work and being one of us. This celebration in Canton
has been going on 104 years. It reminds us all of who we are. We saw a sign at
a company in Sevierville, that does concrete work. It read, "We work to become,
not to acquire." I think that's who most of us are.
One of the highlights of the Canton Labor Day Celebration: The Little Roy and Lizzy Show.
If you love bluegrass gospel music, you know the Lewis Family. Due to illness of several
members of the family, the Lewis Family retired, but, thankfully, not Little Roy. He started in
show business over 60 years ago and formed a new band with his foster-daughter, Lizzy
Long. She plays as many instruments as Little Roy and sings up a storm. Other members
of the band include Al Hoyle on guitar, Lisa Hoyle on bass, and Doug Flowers on mandolin.
If you love bluegrass gospel music, you know the Lewis Family. Due to illness of several
members of the family, the Lewis Family retired, but, thankfully, not Little Roy. He started in
show business over 60 years ago and formed a new band with his foster-daughter, Lizzy
Long. She plays as many instruments as Little Roy and sings up a storm. Other members
of the band include Al Hoyle on guitar, Lisa Hoyle on bass, and Doug Flowers on mandolin.
What incredible
energy this man
has! And check
out the Moose hat.
energy this man
has! And check
out the Moose hat.
There's our great friend, Cliff Hannah, the man who married us, doing his stint as prime-time
Master of Ceremonies at the Canton Labor Day celebration. He also gave a stirring
rendition of "The Ragged Old Flag." You remember the Johnny Cash recording we play on
Independence Day and other patriotic days. And that lovely lady with Cliff is his bride,
Donna. Wonder where Cliff got that Moose shirt?
Master of Ceremonies at the Canton Labor Day celebration. He also gave a stirring
rendition of "The Ragged Old Flag." You remember the Johnny Cash recording we play on
Independence Day and other patriotic days. And that lovely lady with Cliff is his bride,
Donna. Wonder where Cliff got that Moose shirt?
Among his many talents, Cliff is a picker and singer, and, a while back, his guitar broke,
big-time. He wheeled out this new beauty and said, "They GAVE it to me." Couple of old
radio geezers there. Kind of guy Cliff is...he invited Jay to intro Little Roy and Lizzy.
big-time. He wheeled out this new beauty and said, "They GAVE it to me." Couple of old
radio geezers there. Kind of guy Cliff is...he invited Jay to intro Little Roy and Lizzy.
Cliff warming up the audience between performers, and Mr. Hase warming up to
Donna. Remarkable people...you spend ten minutes with them, and you feel as
though you're old friends just getting together again.
Donna. Remarkable people...you spend ten minutes with them, and you feel as
though you're old friends just getting together again.
Father and daughter, David Teague and
Kelsey Ferguson. Cliff told us Kelsey
does Patsy Cline songs almost as well
as Patsy. He was right, too.
Kelsey Ferguson. Cliff told us Kelsey
does Patsy Cline songs almost as well
as Patsy. He was right, too.
The Hominy Valley Boys, a
group of good ole boys from
Hominy Valley, of all places.
group of good ole boys from
Hominy Valley, of all places.
That's Barry Scott with Mr. Hase. Barry was with Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, and
has formed his own group: Barry Scott and Second Wind, an incredibly fine bunch of
musicians. You'll hear some of their music on the show, when vacation's over. Barry
stood in with Mountain Faith, an excellent local area gospel group.
has formed his own group: Barry Scott and Second Wind, an incredibly fine bunch of
musicians. You'll hear some of their music on the show, when vacation's over. Barry
stood in with Mountain Faith, an excellent local area gospel group.
On the left is Joe Black,
for many years MC at
Shindig on the Green in
Ashville, doing the early
MC duties. Great house
band, local guys who
played all day and well
into the night. Quite a
few instruments around,
and Mr. Hase checking it
all out.
for many years MC at
Shindig on the Green in
Ashville, doing the early
MC duties. Great house
band, local guys who
played all day and well
into the night. Quite a
few instruments around,
and Mr. Hase checking it
all out.
CLOGGING? YOU GOT IT!
Clogging is REALLY big in the mountains of North Carolina. We saw The Fines Creek
Flatfooters, The Smoky Mountain Stompers, The Rough Creek Cloggers, The Green
Valley Cloggers, and The Southern Appalachian Cloggers. Some of these folks have
been at for over 50 years, and they you have the young ones...very young, indeed.
Flatfooters, The Smoky Mountain Stompers, The Rough Creek Cloggers, The Green
Valley Cloggers, and The Southern Appalachian Cloggers. Some of these folks have
been at for over 50 years, and they you have the young ones...very young, indeed.
We enjoyed them all, but our favorites were these youngsters below...the pure enthusiasm
and joy of what they were doing shone around them like some sort of magic light.
and joy of what they were doing shone around them like some sort of magic light.
What a celebration of the joy of life! We're so glad our friend invited us to be a part of it.
One man has been here every year for 54 years. Must be worth coming back for. In fact,
we're already planning for next year. Thanks, Cliff, thanks Donna, and God Bless.
One man has been here every year for 54 years. Must be worth coming back for. In fact,
we're already planning for next year. Thanks, Cliff, thanks Donna, and God Bless.
Have you noticed? Mr. Hase always seem
to know where the pretty girls are.
to know where the pretty girls are.
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