Front Porch Conversations: Wicker Rocking Chair

Imagine a front porch with two wicker rocking chairs. What if I told you that you could spend the evening on this front porch with one person of your choice whom you've always admired. Who would that person be, and what would you ask them?

Every Sunday evening I host a radio program called Front Porch Bluegrass Revival. When producing this program I try to create a little "theater of the mind" and make the listener feel as though they are stopping by for a visit on the front porch of our radio station along with many bluegrass greats both past and present.

One of the bluegrass greats that stopped by for a visit was Rodney Dillard who performs a couple of my favorite songs Wicker Rocking Chair and Don't wait for the Hearse to take you to Church. I'm sure many of you are already familiar with Rodney Dillard especially if you've ever watched the Andy Griffith Show. Rodney Dillard and the Dillard Band played the role of the "good natured trouble makers" -- The Darlins. Today Rodney is still performing and recently released a new CD and in conjunction runs a ministry that evangelizes using the small town principles and life lessons of the Andy Griffith show.

It was a fun time talking with Rodney and hearing about their humble beginnings back in the 1960s. Back then it was make it or break it and you had to make courageous decisions. Theirs was hitting the road with only $5 and then happening to run into Andy. I love success stories that start with humble beginnings.

On the program we also play Bill Monroe -- the father of bluegrass, Alison Krauss and Union Station, The Osborne Brothers, Flatt and Scruggs, but the person I would love to spend the evening on the front porch with is Dr. Ralph Stanley. The good doctor will be 86 this year and just last year he released one of the best bluegrass gospel albums -- A Mother's Prayer.

Ralph Stanley grew up in the Primitive Baptist Church and his signing style reflects the old shape note singing style of that church. One cannot listen to his music and not hear the "years" of wisdom and experience reflected in every note. One reviewer correctly notes that the album showcases the "sad" spiritual ratio between mothers who pray and fathers who don't -- for how often do you hear a song about a father's prayer? The same reviewer notes that Stanley's unique singing style is displayed the best in John the Revelator, and the final cut -- What kind of Man -- gives the listener a rousing portrayal of who Jesus is.

 I'd love to sit on the front porch with Dr. Ralph Stanley and just ask him questions about life in general. About how to cope with bad times, lean times, and success. And I'd love to discuss his lifetime experience of following Jesus, but for now I guess I'll just have to be satisfied with gleaning what I can from his music.

So who would you like to invite to the front porch?