We were excited to hear Cal Smith was appearing at Bill Brown's Oklahoma Jubilee
April 1st...2000
    Ain't No Foolin we traveled a 143 miles to see Cal. We headed backstage where Cal was waiting to close the show. Ray opened the stage door and we said...
"Hello Country Bumpkin"!
    Cal stood up with a smile
and he gave us a warm welcome. We told him what a thrill it was for us to meet him and shake his hand.
    Then I began to tell Cal how his 1974 hit "Country Bumpkin" has meant so much to our family.
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    -It was December 19th, 1984 our son Joshua was born eight weeks premature... after thirty-six hours of labor, an emergency delivery and twenty-four hours of sleep later.... I was waiting impatiently to meet our bundle of joy, then the nurse finally brought him to my room ....As I held him in my arms for the first time...I marveled at our little miracle...an in that very moment "Country Bumpkin" began to play on the radio. Oh, I had heard it alotta of times before...but this time tears became to stream down my face as the lyrics really spoke to me for the first time...since then "Country Bumpkin" has held a special place in my heart.
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   Cal told us he had heard a lot of stories from fans, and how they've played that song at their weddings, anniversaries and even funerals. Cal said that's the beauty of Country Music, how one song can touch so many lives.

   Cal autographed Ray's guitar -Your Good Friend Cal Smith...    Cal shows off his guitar
given to him by the late great Ernest Tubb.    Ray had brought along a previously acquired authenic Ernest Tubb autographed photograph of Ernest Tubb & The Texas Troubadours in front of their bus.  Cal said he remembers when that picture was taken in 1964 when he was a Texas Troubadour.  Cal loves to talk about Ernest Tubb. He told us how much he misses Ernest because they were the best of friends, then Cal signed the photo across his pant-legs just like Ernest did way back when.
   Cal took the stage and played an awesome show perfoming his greatest hits and new songs from his latest release: Cal Smith on
 First Generation Records.
       We enjoyed being in the presences of this legendary entertainer....so after the show I asked Cal and his wife if they would join us for lunch ...myself, Ray and our daughter Emily and to my surprise they accepted...actually the whole band followed we all had the brisket special...due to stomach trouble Cal order only milk on the rocks.
   Cal & Darla had celebrated thirty-nine years together and you can believe they are the nicest, down to earth folks you'll ever meet in country music. Cal asked us if we are ever down that way to meet them for breakfast at "The Plantation" near their home in Branson.