AeroJoe
Dec-20-2006, 1:47pm
When Denton was at it's original place, The Old Thresher's Union Park when Milton Harkey was running the thing, Larry, Tony and Waytt Rice were scheduled to play a set. I can't remember if it was a "Unit" type thing or what, but anyway, Larry stayed in the room across the hall from me in a near-by motel. This festival was always in July, and I got up about 9am or so Sat. morning to take advantage of whatever was left over of the continental breakfast. The previous day was an absolute scorcher, even for July, and even with the wind picking up. As I was coming back down the hall, Larry turned the corner and was mumbling something to himself, apparenty not real happy...I asked him what was wrong and he said he got a speeding ticket coming up from Florida, and it was gonna be a hefty one. Then he said "The worst part is, we have to play in the heat today, right in the heat." I told him..."Mr. Rice, you're not gonna belive this, but you best take or find or go buy a sweatshirt for tonite." He replied, "You're kidding...what in the world for?" I told him there was a minimal hurricane that had parked itself off our Outer Banks and was strong enough the wind would be up enough inland, even as far as Denton, that the daytime highs would be in low '70's and the nite high's in the '60's...and this in July ". Later that nite it was 63 degrees at the Denton Bluegrass Festival, right there in July. Larry had a long sleeve shirt and jacket, so did his brothers and no one broke sweat. I never remember a Denton festival that cool, literally, before, and have not been to one since. I talked to him after they got done in the little artist room to the side of the stage...and he said, "Man...you were right...my finger were almost cold out there, 'til we got going"...