This week found me driving along on my route thinking about Elvis. One of my earliest memories is of August 16 1977 - the day Elvis Presley died.

My memory wasn’t cemented because I was a big fan. I was five years old at the time, and Elvis didn’t seem nearly as cool to me as the rest of the guys he resided with in my parent's record collection. I think it was the jumper suit that threw me off.

Wilf Carter seemed way cooler because he had a cowboy hat, cowboy shirt and a great big guitar on the cover of his album. Harry Hibbs had an accordion and Winston “Scotty” had a cool hat with a feather on the side. Even Don Messer seemed more impressive to five year old me with his shirt and tie and fiddle tucked under his chin No, I wasn’t at all taken with the look of the “seventies”, Elvis and I certainly wouldn’t have remembered the day he died but for one thing.

When reports of the King’s death came into our house in Cardross through the radio, I remember that my mother was very upset. I found the sight of my mother crying scary and confusing and her sad face was forever ingrained in my mind. My mother is as happy go lucky a person as you will ever meet, but on that day she wept for the passing of the King. We played Moody Blue” and my mother touched Elvis on his record sleeve. It was a sad day for many.

As I rode along dumping cans, I thought it such a shame that Elvis isn’t still around to see how much he meant to everybody. I thought about how strange it is that millions of people who never met or even seen him perform in person mourned him like they would a family member. I thought about what I would say to him, if I could go back in time, to try and convince him to get sober. I guess that is a silly thought because I am sure there is nothing that the garbage man could think of to say to him that his loved ones didn’t already try. With the nature of addiction being what it is, I think I would save my breath.

Rather than waste my imaginary time with the King, I think I would show him my Fender Bass. I read somewhere that he liked them. I’d take him over to Gillis’ for a banana split. I’d pay the tab, but we would take his Caddy because somehow that would seem more appropriate at the drive in. I would shake his hand and say thank you. And I would look him in the eye so he would know that I meant it.

I think artists give so much of themselves to us. I think maybe Elvis gave too much. Perhaps that is why so many folks felt like they knew him and wept when he died. I guess that is why I enjoy meeting artists so much and I resist judging them if they happen to stray from the straight and narrow from time to time. And indeed I would let Elvis slide for the jumpsuits. Besides, I should be the last one to pick on someone for how they dress!

I’d be nothing but a hound dog if I didn’t tell you about this weeks special guest at The Close to the Ground concert series. I have a bad news/good news sort of announcement this week. The bad news is that Mike Dixon from the band Saddle River fell off a ladder a few weeks ago and broke his ankle badly. Because of complications around his situation, the boys had to cancel their scheduled performance at the hall this week. Hopefully we will have them back again when Mike is back on his feet.

The good news is that we found an awesome performer to fill in at the last minute. This Thursday August 25, 8pm at Kaylee Hall Pooles Corner, Fiddlers’ Sons welcome Irish Mythen to share the stage.

Irish performed a few shows on the Island this spring and I have heard nothing but raves about her. She is a singer songwriter who cites Makem and Clancy, Planxty and Bob Dylan as her early influences. She has four critically acclaimed albums to her credit and has toured extensively as a performer. She is a compelling storyteller and her songs will stay with you long after the concert is over. It is worth your drive to Pooles Corner just to hear her tell the story and sing her song 55 years.

Kaylee Hall has been pretty full on Thursday nights this summer so put on your blue suede shoes and come on down early to get your seat. This week will be one Close to the ground night of entertainment.