The Smoky Mountain Gypsy On Tour in UK

Our Gypsy is on the trail again!  While he didn't saddle up ole Nellie and pack the saddle bags full,  he did board a plane on Saturday evening in Atlanta headed to Dublin. 

It was quite the sight as Jerry packed his bags last week!   You see, Jerry, well,  truth be known, he not only packed the usual things, toiletries, socks, (briefs or boxers-we don't want to know!), jeans, and a crisp white shirt into that bag.  No, crammed into every corner, crook and crevice, Jerry packed in Uncle Gene and Aunt Pearl, Jack and Giants-robbers and thieves. It was like trying to put four and twenty blackbirds between two pie crusts on a Sunday afternoon!

 It only takes a small smackling of imagination to realize what ruckus might break out if an unknowing baggage handler were to let them all out of the bag at once! Talk about opening a can of snakes! No ! Not the Blackbirds--four and twenty all told, but Jack and the Giant, Ma and Pa and a couple of wacky brothers, Uncle Gene and Aunt Pearl, too! 

With Jack and Jerry and the Giant running a-muck through-out the airport! Guitar strings would certainly be'a flying, and a hard bent song would have to be hammered out! Charlie Daniels and the Old Devil going down to Georgia could not even compare to the ruckus that would tear loose in the international terminal!  Like ticks on a dog in a pine thicket in the dead of summer, the robbers and thieves would be a chasing about-- trying to jump gates! Getting that mess back in the bag would take some doing-- a sad love song a playing, and a little bit of wooing by the Smoky Mountain Gypsy--to put it all back together again.

Play on Gypsy, Play on.

May the Irish Eyes be smiling on you, the skies be blue above you and the ground below you be firm and fair.

 In Memory of Jody Payne

Our thoughts and prayers go out to and for the family of Jody Payne. Jody Payne passed away at the age of 77. He was guitarist with Willie Nelson and toured with Willie for over three decades. Our hats are off and our hearts hang low for the Payne family and those who held Jody near and dear to their hearts.

Uncle Gene Could Have Said That....

Last week Aunt Pearl and Uncle Gene were lying in

 bed watching "Who Wants to be a Millionaire"

when Uncle Gene turned to Aunt Pearl and said, 

"Pearl, you want to have sex tonight?" 

"No, Gene, I do not not," Aunt Pearl replied.

"Well, Pearl," Uncle Gene said, looking at her out of 

the corner of his eye, "is that your final answer?"

Aunt Pearl said, "Yes, Gene, that's my final answer!"

"Well then, Pearl,

would you mind if I phone a 

friend?"

and 

that's why Uncle Gene was sleeping on the couch!1 

 1. adapted from a story posted on https://www.facebook.com/passiontab

"A Dog, a Gypsy, and a Boy Named Jack"

It's that time of year again, when The Smoky Mountain Gypsy packs his bags and heads out on that ole jet plane again!  As sure as lightening bugs come on a summer evening, Shadow knows the time is coming for Jerry to leave, and he becomes a little more attentive, and ever more watchful. There is no need to use the word "master" when talking about the relationship these two share. It's not about Jerry being Shadow's master! The truth is, it would be quite the other way around! We all know that Shadow rules the house with quiet dignity and patient understanding. Perhaps more than anyone Shadow will feel the absence in the Great Smoky Mountains when the Gypsy dons that old civil war coat and with hat in hand, hits that trail again.

Fans await and Jerry is ready to meet them at Festivals and pubs and schools across the U.K. Very soon at places and events with names like Broadstairs, Chase Folk club and Queens Church, the Gypsy will walk across the stage, sit down on a stool, and pick up his guitar. Then, like an engineer throttling the controls of a train, he will take those lucky enough to  have a ticket on a journey that spans more than space and land and mass.  Our Gypsy will take them back in time to a quieter place where smoke rises from mountain tops. There, the sounds of evening fire and crackling wood merge with the rhythmic sounds of shuttle and beating bar,  of a weaving loom meeting out the sounds of life on the mountain. It's in this time that the magic begins, when a boy named Jack sets out on a road encountering robbers and giants.  The Gypsy will not stop until the travelers with him have shared an adventure and walked a dusty mountain road.

As the journey turns the bend, reveling travelers will tap their feet to authentic bluegrass mountain music. They will laugh at the ole time Appalachian humor that Jerry will bring. Many a fair maiden will lift gilded heart strings to a lonesome love song. As the mountain whippoorwill gives a final call, the Gypsy will return the train to the station and the travelers will know that for some magic moments with some magic beans, while they never left the building-- they all took a journey.

For those of us left behind on the Smoky Mountain, summer will turn to fall, before the Gypsy will return home to changing leaves and a friend named Shadow.   Travel well, our friend, travel well.

It Could Have Been Aunt Pearl and Uncle Gene

Sometimes people will send me a story or a note, or I'll read something that makes me think of Uncle Gene and Aunt Pearl.   I read this and I immediately thought of Uncle Gene and Aunt Pearl! I thought it would be fun to share some of these little pearls with Jerry's fans! 

Now, I just want to preempt this bit of fun by saying, I don't mean any disrespect at all to Uncle Gene or to Aunt Pearl--both very loved and appreciated!  This is the first of posts that will later just be titled, "It Could Have Been Aunt Pearl and Uncle Gene"

Down at the Social Security Office

After retiring, I went to the Social Security office to apply for Social Security. The woman behind the counter asked me for my driver's License to verify my age. I looked in my pockets and realized I had left my wallet at home. I told the woman that I was very sorry, but I would have to go home and come back later.

 The woman said, 'Unbutton your shirt'. So I opened my shirt revealing my curly silver hair. She said, 'That silver hair on your chest is proof enough for me' and she processed my Social Security application.

When I got home, I excitedly told my wife about my experience at the Social Security office.

She said, 'You should have dropped your pants. You might have gotten disability too.'

 That could have been Aunt Pearl and Uncle Gene!

 

1. from a story posted on https://www.facebook.com/passiontab

A Little Excitement Going on Down at the G-STRING

Coming Soon!  --Right after Spring Plantin'

Aunt Pearl's Country Store 

and 

Jerry Harmon Music Merchandise!

At Jerry Harmon Music Enterprise we are always looking for ways to keep our fans happy..from our brand-spankin' new website to our new G-STRING. But, now to tell y'all the plain truth we are more aptly interested to keep Aunt Pearl happy, and her rolling pin hanging from the hook on the kitchen wall; where it would not be hitting us up beside the head!  Y'all will be the first to know when Aunt Pearl gets a new refrigerator and Uncle Gene gets a new pair of boots!

We've listened to the fans and one thing we have heard (aside from a little clankity, clankity, clank that a little squeeze of an oil can will fix right up)  is, "We want t-shirts!" Because you spoke and we heard-- we are going to be launching a line of merchandise in the spring of 2014!   We have our design boards full and --well, I can't spoil all of our surprises, but let me say there's some really cool stuff hanging out there on the design boards!  We do tend to be "over achievers"  and so we went a little "hog-wild" over here on the mountain top!

As Jerry's fans know, our Charmin' Harmon always wears a hat or a bandana (now I wonder what Aunt Pearl would have to say about that)!  We don't know this for sure, but we would almost guess that Jerry showers with something on his head! Now having gone out on a limb to say that and hoping I'll still have a job tomorrow morning, we agreed that no line of Jerry Harmon merchandise would be complete without some sort of head gear! Aunt Pearl asked us to point that little fact out to Uncle Gene. Now, if you don't have a clue on Saturday night to what I'm talking about here, you need to just invite Jerry over and let him tell you a story or two about Uncle Gene and Aunt Pearl!

While I am a details sort of gal, and I would like to tell you about what all we have got going on here... this stuff is more hush hush than --well, Aunt Pearls' favorite recipes!  I can say though, that when we gathered at the proverbial round-table (in country-speak, that would be the kitchen table) our Mascot, Shadow, reminded us that "he has a career here, too!"and so there's a little something on the design boards with him in mind.

Just so we are clear on what's happening, coming in the spring of 2014 we'll have a big reveal of our first-ever line of Jerry Harmon Music Merchandise! That sort of just means we might hang our laundry out on the clothes line and y'all can ride by and point at Aunt Pearl's Sunday unmentionables!  However, cause we have got some folks that ain't from around here, we'll just say that you all will be able to buy merchandise at Jerry's live performances while he's on tour.  Or, you can go straight to the website at www.jerryharmonmusic.com and click on "Aunt Pearl's Country Store" tab where you'll be able to pick up some great Jerry Harmon hot and happening goodies! You might even be able to find a little something from the "G-STRING" there, too-- just saying!

So, y'all start saving up, stuffing your quarters and your dollars (Euros and shillings and Shekels, too) in your pickle jars and piggie banks! We'll keep you posted and give you the heads-up when Aunt Pearl gets the Country Store open! Now, 'fore some poor soul rushes on over there and then sends us nasty something here at the G-STRING, I'll just remind you that Aunt Pearl's store won't be opening up until some where's after spring plantin' is all finished-- but it would be 'afore Jerry takes off on Spring Tour 2014! We'll let you know when Pearl hangs the "Open" sign in the big ole' front store window. 

Our Prayers are with Randy Travis During this Critical Time

In the country music world when something happens to one, everyone feels the pain, our hearts are saddened, we circle the wagons, and friends draw near. According to Baylor's Health Care Center Randy Travis is sedated and remains in critical condition. According to various reports, Randy is surrounded by his family and friends.

Randy, who is 54, has been under heavy sedation having undergone surgery to relieve pressure on his brain following a stroke. Randy has been hospitalized since Sunday due to congestive heart failure related to a viral illness.

This sadness hits a little closer to home for us, since Randy is a North Carolina native. Randy is from Marshville, a small town in Union County, just south of Monroe. 

Randy's scheduled to release a 25th Anniversary Album this fall. The first song on the release is, "Tonight I'm Playing Possum", a tribute song to George Jones.

The folks here at Jerry Harmon Music are praying for Randy and his family and for their close inner circle of friends during this critical time. We trust in God's Amazing Grace.

http://media.baylorhealth.com/releases/randy-travis-physicians-speak

Jerry Harmon Music Engages New Manager

Jerry Harmon Music Enterprise Engages a New Manager

Jerry Harmon Music Enterprise is proud to announce that Harmon Music has acquired a new manager. The Alexander County native and Grammy nominated Harmon teased fans with news on his music fan page on Facebook that he had hired a new manager, who would be revealed soon. This came only a few days on the heels of another announcement that Harmon has a new album in the works.

Jerry Harmon, "The Smoky Mountain Gypsy"

In May of 2013, Susan J. Walker of Hickory NC, a North Carolina native, signed on as the new manager of Harmon Music.  We caught up with Ms Walker via internet while she was in Namanga –a border town of Kenya and Tanzania, where she has been for the past three weeks.  Walker was building a school for a Maasai tribe and community. 

Susan J. Walker, Manager

When asked about her new role as the manager of Harmon Music, Ms. Walker replied, “Our families share a long history together. When Jerry asked me to be his manager it just seemed a logical step.  Jerry Harmon is a hometown treasure, a North Carolina legacy, and a national treasure. It’s my goal to ensure that he gets the recognition he deserves. I want everyone to know who Harmon is: singer, songwriter, and Master Appalachian story-teller.” 

Harmon, better known around the world as “The Smoky Mountain Gypsy”, has shared the bill with Dolly Parton, Ricky Skaggs, and many others. Harmon is a direct descendent of Council Harmon, the man who is responsible for bringing the Jack tales to America. Jerry has a legacy of story-telling and as an Master Appalachian Mountain Storyteller he is certainly one of the best-of-the best.  He’s performed at such prestigious venues as North Carolina’s renowned Merle-Fest, The Bath International Music Festival, The Edinburgh International Festival, and The Winnipeg Folk Festival. Lately, Harmon has been touring in Germany and the U.K., where he has quickly gained recognition.

When Ms. Walker was asked about her plans to promote “The Smoky Mountain Gypsy”, she replied, “My goal is to continue to build on and expand our base in the UK where Jerry is loved by young and old alike, while also working to bring Jerry back home to the United States where, as I said before, he is a national treasure!  I want to see Jerry performing on the main stage at Merlefest and at other festivals and concert venues across the country.”

Ms. Walker said, “We have a great team in the U.K and Germany and our team’s goal is to get Jerry in front of his fans on stages across the United States, in Germany, and in the UK—once he’s on stage—Jerry Harmon does what Jerry Harmon does best—he entertains with his original style of music, engaging story-telling, and his down home good humor. I’m certainly proud that Jerry was nominated for a Grammy in 2009—but I have to say that I’ll be even more proud when he finally gets that Grammy! 

In her "other life" (as she puts it) Ms. Walker is a mother of three adult children and grand-mother of eight grand-children, with a grand-daughter due to be born in mid-August. Walker is the Founder and the President of Lydia Ministries International, an international not-for-profit organization with a home office in Hickory, N.C..

 

Visit www.jerryharmonmusic.com  to read more about Jerry Harmon or to listen to some of his songs, watch videos of his performances, or to request/download an electronic press or promotional kit.

Contact info:  Jerry Harmon Music Enterprise, 
1234 1^st Ave NW   Hickory, NC 28601  828-270-7733 Office

Susanwalker.manager@smokymountaingypsy.com