leroyvandyke

I received a phone call in early May, 2000 from Leroy Van Dyke's band leader. The band was leaving the next afternoon to play a benefit concert that night in Lafayette, TN.

I was given a work tape with about 30 songs, most of which I had never played before. In an 11-hour marathon session at home, I learned all 30 songs.

The benefit was organized by Jett Williams, Hank's daughter. I got to meet Johnny Russell, George Hamilton IV and Don Helms, the only surviving member of Hank Williams' band, The Traveling Cowboys.

After the show, I rode 716 miles with Leroy and his wife to western Wisconsin where we played a concert in Westby, WI for Westby's Syttendi Mai festival, which celebrates Norway's independence from Sweden and reflects the area's Scandinavian heritage.