Church… David and Rusty

Sunday morning we were sitting at McDonalds sharing our biscuit and having coffee. Sherry got a phone call saying ‘David and Rusty’ were gonna be at the First Church of God North of Eustis.

David is a very good ventriloquist and Rusty is his side kick (dummy). We always enjoy them so we took off and got there in time for church. Sherry had time to talk to David before church and found our he will be up in the NC area this summer.

I have done some ventriloquist acts in entertaining, but never an entire program. I had a monkey called ‘George’.  I was never the professional David is.  He is also a class ‘A’ singer and he and Rusty sing together. they are always a hit. Sunday was no different.

(Taken at a Hook a Book program in Key West, years ago when I had hair!)

It is probably my age, but I think kids are missing some very good down to earth clean entertainment, such as David and Rusty.

Now I must admit, we had never attended this church before, but seeing some things brought back some childhood memories. One was each ‘bench’ (Pew) had Hymnals Also in the rack were stick fans? Do you have any idea what I mean? We had them as a child, because there was no A/C in the churches and ladies would use them to stay a little cool. For some reason, they were all distributed by Funeral Homes, with their advertisements on the fan.

This was a fundamental church that along with the black churches produced some great singers: Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley, Whitney Houston and of course the greatest in rock and Roll Elvis. Dad’s churches were known for their singing, in the summer there was always a crowd outside looking in the windows and watching as the choir or ‘Special singers’ would sing.

(Sherry and ‘E’ in Tupelo, MS)

(The church was so big in Elvis’s life they moved the little Assembly of God church to the house where Elvis lived)

I know this for a fact, because as often as I could, I sneaked out of church, yeah, the real preacher’s son.  And yeah, I did get a couple tannings for the acts of rebellion.  All of the churches Dad pastored, had a band, I was a trumpet player, Shirl was: piano, accordion or French Horn.. (Always a multi-tasker)

In Valdese some of my friends had a trio. Jim and Bub Page along with Paul Settlemyre. They honestly sounded like the Everly Brothers, they were good, no, to be honest they were great, even as a kid, I loved to hear them sing.

Oh, I cannot close without mentioning Garland Page, Jim & Bub’s dad. I loved to hear him pick and sing, such a mellow voice, and such a wonderful man.

Yes, churches have launched many singing careers; and many, that were very good, were happy to entertain locally.

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shiplog

PS:

BRITISH HUMOUR

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1955  Morris