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April 21
Jimmy Tolbert and the incomparable Red Jones were broadcasting in the chilly
morning hours of this year's Dogwood Festival broadcasting live on WKNG. They
were doing a jam up job in getting listeners excited about the day's
activities.
My girls loved the vendors especially the blow up slide that cost a dollar to go
down on. They loved it so much I began looking for an ATM on Head Avenue. We
especially enjoyed the 2008 edition of the parade that featured everyone running
for political office riding in it with the exception of Senators Clinton, Obama,
and McCain. They were off in Pennsylvania slinging more mud than a 4-wheeler mud
bogging in Steadman. The high point of the parade in my opinion was seeing the
Haralson County Rebel Band led by Paul Ramsey who was a former band mate of mine
with the Marching Southerners at Jacksonville State University for the hour and
a half that I was a student there.
The Marching Southerners worked hard and no one worked harder than Paul did. He
played tuba and in the heat of the late summer and early fall could get a bit
oppressive in rehearsals going up and down the field perfecting the coming
Saturday's half time show. Mr. Ramsey's war cry was "beat the devil" to the
entire group. It kept our spirits up and reminded us that we were part of a
special musical aggregation. Paul's pride and passion he had back then is still
part of his philosophy with the Haralson County Rebel Band. I am quite proud of
the fact that I was a part of the very first Haralson County Rebel Band back in
'68.Â
I think local dentists were also responsible for the eight tons of candy tossed
at parade viewers that Saturday.
When we left the parade we walked up Head Avenue for one more look at the
various vendors and as we turned to go east on the sidewalk on Highway 78 where
Robert's Pharmacy stood I thought of how I wish I had an orange smash from the
soda fountain that was manned by Mr. Hutcheson who could mix a cherry coke and
sell you a box of Dr. Hitchcock's Liver Powder at the same time. The soda
fountain at Robert's Pharmacy was a special gathering place between Sunday
school and church at when there was about a 25 minute chance to grab a coke
float or that memorable orange smash. Dr. Roberts closed up just before the
eleven a.m. services each Sunday. We strolled further down the street to the
vacant location of King's Music Shop. I remember going in there every Friday to
hear the latest release by Paul Revere and the Raiders, the Beatles, Sam and
Dave, the Four Tops, the Dave Clark 5,and Otis Redding. 45 rpm records sold for
99 cents and we knew what we wanted to buy after hearing them on Joe Rumore's
show on WVOK out of Birmingham or WQXI, Quixie in Dixie out of Atlanta and the
former broadcast home of Red Jones in the 60's who now wakes up Tallapoosa and
all of West Georgia and East Alabama on King Country.
My first set of drums came from King's Music Shop. I was in the 9th grade and my
mother saved up enough to by me a set of Kent Drums. I wanted a set of Ludwig
Drums like Ringo Starr played but the Kent kit was an "economy line" that fit my
mom's modest budget. When I graduated from high school my mother got me the set
of Ludwig Drums that I still have today along with a set of the "Fab Four" kit
my kids got me a couple of years ago. I still bang around the set in the
basement of the house.
That first set of drums that came from King's Music Shop were bought from me by
Don Smith for one of his three sons. I don't think it was Chuck or Mark because
they were mastering chasing girls back then. Don sold them to someone else. I
would love to know where that set ended up. I wish I had thanked Reverend King
for being so kind to me when I was a lad. I recall Mrs. King would play the
organ on the sidewalk outside their music emporium on Saturday afternoons and
give the town a bit of a festive atmosphere for people shopping at Evan's Red
and White Food Store, the Western Auto Store, or Essie Mae's adult beverage
establishment. Reverend King's brother Robert King taught me at Tallapoosa High
School. I took business math and typing from him. Because of Robert King, I can
almost balance a check book and can kind of write this column for the Tallapoosa
Journal. I want to thank those of you that have dropped me letters or emails
over the past few weeks. I am grateful for the opportunity to stay in touch with
the place that will always be home.
Rhubarb Jones is a Tallapoosa Native and a member of the Georgia Radio Hall of
Fame and the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame. Contact him at P.O. Box 1001,
Tallapoosa, Ga. 30176 or at
www.rhubarbjones.com
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