“I have noticed that these pop bands will play our hillbilly songs when they can't eat any other way.”
- Hank Williams
Last Friday night, my friend Bob and I went to a fundraiser for the History Museum's 50th anniversary here in Springfield. Bob's an interesting cat. I'll have to tell you about him sometime. The event took place downtown on the square at the old Fox Theatre.
If you're a local and you've never been to the History Museum, I encourage you to go. It's down on the square too, and what a gem it is. It has a spectacular exhibit about Route 66, as well as Wild Bill Hickok's time here, Native Americans of the region and profiles on prominent people of the area. They also have a revolving exhibit that changes out every so often and highlights some important aspect on Springfield.
One bit of history that the museum highlights is that of the Ozark Jubilee. If you're unfamiliar, well, at one time it was quite the deal. It was a television variety program that ran from 1955 to 1960 and featured the major country music stars of the era. Hosted by musician Red Foley, the program was beamed out across the country every Saturday night and was viewed by nine million people each week. It helped put Springfield on the map and played a significant role in popularizing country and hillbilly music. Performers like Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins, Carl Perkins, Patsy Cline, Minnie Pearl, Porter Wagoner and many others made their way to the stage of the Jewell Theatre. Willie Nelson spent time in Springfield looking to be noticed. While he hung around the area, he washed dishes at Aunt Martha's Pancake House. A bit of lore for you.
The fundraiser was a recreation of the Ozark Jubilee program. It was hosted by Jeff Houghton and featured comedy and some killer musical acts from around these parts. It was all great fun. The best part of the evening, though, was the headliner, Bobby Bare, Jr. Okay, Bobby Bare's father, Bobby Bare, Sr, I've known about all my life. He's one of the old guard of country artists and he's written several country standard such as Marie Laveau and 500 Miles Away From Home. I suppose over the years I'd heard the name Bobby Bare, Jr around, but I paid no mind thinking he was just another person getting by on a famous parent's name. Well, I was wrong.
Dude blew me away. I wouldn't call him a country artist, he is way to eclectic for that. He didn't look the part, either. He came out sporting the event's red and white trucker hat sitting atop shoulder-length black curly hair (think Tiny Tim). He was on the heavyset side, dressed in what looked like borrowed clothes: white sweatpants, some kind of pullover thing and in his sock feet. If you've ever been hungover, had to rise early and be somewhere in a hurry, you know the look. It made his appearance all the more amusing. What are we going to get here, I was wondering. But then he launched into a short set of great songs in interesting guitar tunings - some were funny, some would get in your soul if you were listening. I had to come home and do some research; this guy was great. He'd spent several years in the alternative band Guided By Voices, but now he's back to just solo stuff. He's from Nashville and has nothing to do with Springfield, the Ozarks or the Jubilee, so I'm not sure why he was on the bill at all. But, I'm sure glad he was. You never know where the surprises are going to show up in life.