Since before I can remember my family has been known collectively
as “The Raleys”. Long before I was born
and for a while after they were a travelling bluegrass band, known throughout
the Midwest. Some of my earliest memories involve trips to Minnesota on a big
maroon bus listening to my mom sing “Ruby” and my uncles complain the whole
way. This is undoubtedly the reason that music was my first love.
Listening to my family play in
bluegrass festivals was fun, but the true heart of this life was watching their
practices in my grandparent’s kitchen. I would sit on the floor at my mom’s
feet and tap my own feet with the music, singing with my mom. There always
seemed to be more jokes cracked than songs sung, but that was just fine with
me.
As they
grew up and started families of their own though, music was moved to the back
burner and practices in my grandmother’s kitchen were few and far between. Now,
I’m lucky if they all meet in the kitchen to play once a year. Every time they do
though, I am there. I’ve been upgraded to having my own chair, but I usually
prefer the floor, right next to my mom.
Well it was my birthday today; my husband took me out to dinner and a show for the evening. What I found whenever we got back to our hotel I didn’t know whether or not to be surprised or truly upset, because this is not what I was expecting. A bunch of semi-old people, in my hotel room, playing some kind of fancy western music. What a scene I tell you, it threw me off from the start. I knew it was going to be a long day from the start. But I started to notice something was off about this room in some weird kind of way. So I decided to look around while the band people kept doing their thing. I started to notice that my stuff was missing and that the pictures on the wall were different. Then that’s whenever it hit me, this isn’t my room at all. So as I started out the door the musicians heard me and said “it’s all right dear, you can stay for a while if you wish, and you weren’t bothering us.” I was so perplexed by their offer that I decided it be best if I went to my OWN room and got some rest because it made me realize how much of a long day it had been.
ReplyDeletethe Raley clan is practicing for another bluegrass shindig and only one person realizes that there are pictures being taken. This is of course before Bayless’ time but if it were now she would definitely be the lady with the guitar already singing and strumming. On that note I must assume that is her mother. Although it could be an aunt, but I don’t see it happening. They clan could be tuning their instruments. That could be a likely thought. I wonder who the guy with his back to me is and why no one else realizes there were pictures being taken. Ii know when someone starts taking pictures of me I start sunning
ReplyDeleteIt was the most amazing moments of Bayless Thompson’s life. On her birthday, her parents had hired a group of musician to come to the hotel room and sing her a happy birthday song in the jazziest way. Bayless was speechless and had a hard time figuring out what to say. She watched as the people sing to her a birthday song and started playing these amazing huge instruments. To Bayless, this was one of the best surprises she had. She hummed along with the tune and danced her heart out. Once the music was over, Bayless had several presents to choose from. She had a tripled chocolate frosting ice cream cake and a couple of Lay’s BarBQ chips and originals laid out on the TV area. She have never thought that her parents still remembered her birthday and she was entirely excited to see that they surprised her. She looked at the picture she had taken and smiled. She knew that one day she will look at this picture again and love her parents even more. She tucked the picture in her suitcase secretly encasing it neatly so it would not be ruined once she gets back home.
ReplyDeleteIt’s twelve in the morning and these insane musicians are booming the hotel with their loud classic music. Awoken by the sudden playing of loud classic music, Bayless is furious with their actions. “What on earth are they doing?!” she says as she slowly rises from under her blankets. “Rise and shine my beauty cause it’s time to root and toot,” said one of the musicians. As they continue playing their loud classy music from within their room, Bayless ignores the fact that they are disturbing the other residents and takes a picture of all the musicians playing. “This will be great for a future assignment, I know it!” she whispers and slowly crawls back into the comfort of her bed. The musicians begin smoothing out their songs to allow Bayless to rest better than a sleeping Snorlax.
ReplyDeleteBayless: The musicians were in there hotel room practicing for the big night ahead of them. The competition they entered was like American Idol instrument style. This was the last night; the final winner would be decided. Harry, the one in the black shirt, kept saying come on guys we have to get this song. To the rest of the group it was hopeless. The song they were given to play was simply not in their genre of music. The song chosen was Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi. They had never played anything like it before. Harry kept pushing them saying we can do this, we can win this! Angela had enough and she was tired of the paparazzi taking pictures while they tried to practice. She gave the camera a go to hell look, and snap the photographer took the picture. Once they got the paparazzi out of there room Harry said, “Okay guys one more time.” They played through the whole song and hit every note!
ReplyDeleteBayless Thompson: Everyone knows that Branson, MO is known for their live performances. Ton and tons of shows a night, can get exhausting for some entertainers, so that is why they are always looking for new ones. There was going to be an audition held, kind of like American idol but in Branson form. Once people heard they filled with excitement and started practicing. One family from Arkansas 2 sisters, and 2 brothers had always loved playing music and had always preformed at birthday parties and weddings, so why not. They took a road trip to Branson, not like it was far, but they were ready to win! They got to their hotel and wouldn’t stop practicing.
ReplyDeleteThe Muchacho family band is back together and going to do a performance in Mexico City, Mexico. They’ve been practicing for months and finally have their performance nailed. In a matter of days they’ll be in front of an audience of over 3000 Mexicans, playing instruments and singing songs for a 6 hour concert. “Tomorrow let’s try to come up with a new song,” Pablo says. “That sounds like a great idea!” Alejandro replied.
ReplyDeletea. This amateur folk singing group was awaiting their big break. They were just a group of good people from church who had brought their talents together for their own amusement. Their friends and family had wanted them to be heard by other people because they thought their music was good enough to share. One day Zebidiah had received a phone call that would help bring a good start on their career. They packed up their bags and headed for Oklahoma to perform at the Stetson’s wedding. They made it to their hotel and began to rehearse but only the worst was to come. Nadine, the lead singer came down with laryngitis so Anita had to step in. But all in all when the performance came to they had rehearsed just enough to where they were ready to take on the tough crowd of the Stetson’s wedding.
ReplyDeleteBack in the late 90’s this group of want to-be folk singers is waiting in a hotel for their gig at a very big multi-cultural wedding. When all of a sudden a huge earthquake rips through their hotel and kills one of their members (yes it was that banjo guy with his face turned away). This was the last they would ever see of him because the fault that opened up was just under his feet. The two women here were injured causing them to have to abandon their musical careers, but the guy with the violin still plays today at all kinds of weddings. This was his big break he had been hoping for but he didn’t want his friends to leave him all alone to bask in the riches all by his lonesome.
ReplyDeleteThe family had been practicing for the big night. Joey was ready to propose and had whisked Rachel away on a romantic getaway to Niagara Falls. He had met with all of his future in-laws to have their help when he popped the big question. You see, Rachel came from a family full of musicians and Joey wanted them to be playing her favorite song “The Way You Look Tonight” when they walked in the hotel room. He took her out for a nice romantic dinner and the family set up camp in the room and practiced as they waited for the couple to arrive. They were dressed in their finest for the occasion and couldn’t wait to see the look on Rachel’s face when she walked in the room.
ReplyDeleteThey finally arrived and Joey unlocked the door and held it open for Rachel. Inside she saw her mother, father, sister, and cousin just beginning to play her absolute favorite song. Joey got down on one knee and the rest, as they say, is history.
Bayless- She is related to Mexicans, so when one of her family members got married they hired a mariachi band to play for them. Well before the wedding, the mariachi band was practicing in a small room. The instruments they used were two guitars, a small violin, and a big violin.
ReplyDelete