This weekend all my music pals are out in Nashville at the annual SPBGMA convention. It was chemo week for me, so there was no way I could make the trip. I just now got up; I expect they all just went to bed. Way back when I used to call Darin when I left in the AM for the hospital, and he was often just coming in from a show.
So to “The Sweethearts of Bluegrass,” and my adopted bluegrass youn’uns, (except they are married to each other) Darin and Brooke Aldridge, “The First Family of Bluegrass,” my adopted bluegrass brother and sister, (except like Darin and Brooke they are married to each other) Wayne and Kristin Scott Benson, to my 6th cousin “Cuz” Alan Bibey (he won the world mandolin championship in Knoxville,Tenn when he was my relative minor; (6th, get it?) to all of you guys all the best. I hope you all come home with an carload of awards. For that matter, I wish every pro out there could win. For my money y’all play the best music in the world, and I feel sorry for any human being who misses the joy of bluegrass in our short stay here on Earth. My bet is God allows a perpetual jam session in Heaven as long as we play at least one gospel number in every set.
God Bless all of you,
Dr. B
Dr. Tom Bibey: Stories of the Bluegrass Music Road 