It wasn't quite my Birthday yet, but it was the only Saturday night open at the Brooksville Elks lodge...I was coaxed by friends and booked several months ago to do a show at the Lodge August 11th..I was told it was to be in the middle room and two weeks prior was told it had been sold out...I only go out to a few shows a year and I'm really only booked for two this year by choice..This was an add on I agreed to do for my friends at the Elks....Voila after the second set they sprung the surprise on me. ..Out came the Gigundo cake with $0 Candles. (enough candles on it to heat a good size room) What a great bunch of Friends plus they made this old cowboy feel like its all been worth the ride trhough the years...Thanks to Heather Ikonen Up and coming young singer from Nashville who flew in Friday to share the singing duties with me..I was given a new set of Taylor Made Golf clubs witha pro bag and personally monogramed from former PGA pro Jerry Heard...Also since I am a member of his Golf club an invitation to play a round in his foursom which I did Sunday with a huge hangover but shot a 80 and actually was low man....What a birthday now I hope I have a bunch more so I can wear out the clubs...Now I hope that Franky Carusos October 28th show in Massachusetts has good weather so I can play a round up there before I do his show.
My wife did that. Had someone call me for a gig at an outdoor pavillion. I show up with my rig and a tux on and all my friends are there for a surprise 30 year Bday party. It was fun.
Thanks guys; By booking it two weeks before my actual birthday it did throw me off from thinking anything was up..My wife was a great actress through it all... I never gave it a thought that it was anything else but someone being kind to a useta was and people wanting some good ole Country music. .My Wife of course got together with my friends to pull this off and I am still overwhelmed.Plus I got paid for the Gig to boot.. I made it to 70 now lets see if I can score that on the course..I probably won't live log enough to score my age Ron the Fairway wood is fabulous.I am a registed 8 handicap but at times its a struggle..I'm not going to St. Louis this year although I am going up to Nashville for a few days to run with Tony Davis and Smiley and see if Tony brought any ROO Meat with him from Australia.
A band from Cleveland, OH, who were close friends of ours, (I'd produced five of there CD's) were booked to play a dance up here in Buffalo. Well, about a month before, the band leader/friend of mine called and asked me if I could fill in with them that night on trumpet because their steady guy couldn't make the trip. This wasn't in any way unusual as I'd filled in with them several times before. I was then looking forward to the gig all month long.
When I arrived at the hall with my horn in hand, my wife and I entered the hall from the main foyer. However, when I walked in, I immediatly walked back out into the foyer as I'd found the hall full of people. I just figured that an afternoon party had been booked in the hall, and would be wrapping up prior to the "doors open" time for the dance that night. My wife then told me that since the party was going on at the opposite end of the hall, I could just go in and put my horn and other things on the stage for now. Good idea. Needless to say, when I walked back in I heard the "SURPRISE" yell. At first I still hadn't realized it was for me. I just thought that it was for someone else who came in through another entrance of the hall. I just proceeded toward the stage. It wasn't until the guys in the band came up carrying a huge cake, that I finally realized what was going on - especially when one of the guys was the fellow that I was suppose to be filling in for!
And in true musician fashion, what was the first thing out of my mouth??..."Hey? You mean I'm not getting to playing tonight??!" (I ended up playing a set with them anyway.)
I truly had no clue. I don't know how my wife and friends pulled it off without me finding out. Not easy to do with me as I'm always pretty alert to things going on around me.
It was a terrific party. Around 350 people. A lot of my musician friends and their wives - many of who made the trip from as far away as Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan, New Jersey and Massachusettes were there as well. I'll never forget that one for sure.
after the second set they sprung the surprise on me. 
Ron the Fairway wood is fabulous.I am a registed 8 handicap but at times its a struggle..I'm not going to St. Louis this year although I am going up to Nashville for a few days to run with Tony Davis and Smiley and see if Tony brought any ROO Meat with him from Australia.