Chapter 67

Saturday morning we had already packed our bags and were getting getting into the limos at our hotel, heading to the Ryman Auditorium for rehearsals when Mom tugged my sleeve, then held her arms out to me when I turned.

“Jerry, you get better each time you perform. I love the way you slow those ballads down. I want you to slow them down even more today when you sing them at rehearsal - and tonight too.

“Last night at The Mockingbird Lounge, when you did ’I Can’t Stop Loving You’ on the first set, then ‘Faded Love’ on that second set, you made tears come to my eyes ... I am so proud of you.”

“Thanks Mom. I’ll dedicate one to you tonight.”

“If you do, make it Faded Love. I’ve always loved the words to that song, and the way you sing it, makes it even more special.”

I didn’t have any idea Mr. Aycock was going to have me rehearsing so many of the songs I usually do on my shows.

“You’ll not get off this stage tonight with just two or three songs, Jerry. Be prepared to spend the night onstage...”

This auditorium was built to amplify the sounds of musical instruments and make them come alive, and I could tell the difference on my very first song.

Though I knew there was no way we’d do as many as ten songs tonight, we rehearsed them just to get the feeling of this sound system.

Mr. Aycock gave me a card with all the song titles listed.

“Do them in this order, and tonight, sing them again.”

Sonny James - Young Love - © 1956 Ric Carter & Carole Joyner

They say for every boy and girl There’s just one love in this whole world And I know I’ve found mine The heavenly touch of your embrace Tells me no one else could take your place Ever in my heart Young love, first love Filled with deep devotion Young love, our love We share with deep emotion Just one kiss from your sweet lips Will tell me that our love is real And I can feel that it’s true For we will vow to one another There will never be another Love for you or for me Young love, first love Filled with deep devotion Young love, our love We share with deep emotion

“I’m So Lonesome I could Cry” © Hank Williams 1957

I can’t stop loving you ©1957 Don Gibson

I can’t stop loving you
So I’ve made up my mind
To live in memory
Of such an old lonesome time

They say that time
Heals a broken heart
But time has stood still
Since we’ve been apart

I can’t stop loving you
So I’ve made up my mind
To live in memory
Of such an old lonesome time

We took a short break before we did the last two numbers. This was when I saw our entire recording crew backstage.

Chris told me, “Jerry, we’re going to have some of the best singles and the absolute best two albums we’ve released to date, coming out of this performance. We’ve already recorded your rehearsal and believe me, you were blowing smoke on this sound system...

“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to get each song of your rehearsal, and live show, on records as singles - and added to the albums also.”

Before the curtains opened for tonight’s performance, Mr. Aycock came over to me with a huge smile on his face.

“Jerry, there’s been some changes in tonight’s programming...

“First of all, this place is packed to the ceiling with standing room only and there are people outside still trying to get in. The producers and I have decided to cancel the three instrumentals we had scheduled for the house band. Also the two songs by another group - who we will bring back next week, just so we can give our audience and sponsors an entire concert with you alone.”

“REALLY? I mean...”

“Listen to them, Jerry. The announcement has just been made that you’ll be onstage for tonight’s entire show. This crowd is already calling for you to start.

I was four songs down the list and when I did ‘I Can’t Stop Loving You’ I didn’t even get to start another song before the chants started...

“Encore -Encore - Encore - Encore”

Instead of singing that one again, I decided to give them Cattle Call, before I come back and sing that one later in the show...

“This is a song that Tex Owens wrote back in 1934. Then, twenty years later, Eddy Arnold picked it up, knocked the dust off of it and made it one of his biggest hits ever. When I first heard it on the radio, I tried my best to sing and yodel like Eddy Arnold. I never could, but then one night about a month ago, I had just done another of Mr. Arnold’s hits and someone yelled for me to sing one more of his songs.

“My sister, Sherry - sitting right down there on the front row, told me I should do Cattle Call. I did and though I’ll never sound even close to Eddy Arnold, here I am again, trying to do this one in Eddy Arnold’s honor - and for Mr. Aycock over here, who asked me to do this one tonight, especially for him.”

I backed up and sat on the tall stool one of the stagehands had placed there. With just my guitar and me, I put everything I had into this song.

When I finished and stood to wave my hat at them, the entire audience stood and yelled “encore, encore, encore”, until Mr. Aycock walked out onto the stage with none other than Eddy Arnold himself, and boy did this crowd go wild then.

“Jerry, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Mister Eddy Arnold. He was standing offstage with me as you did Cattle Call and he told me he wanted to come onstage and meet you.”

There was a knot in my throat as big as my fist when he reached out to take my hand.