I was doing a 'backstage at the Opry' feature for a magazine in 1984-ish, my first visit to the States, and waa fortunate to meet both Acuff and Bill Monroe, who were sitting together backstage. Against all Opry backstage protocol, Acuff signed a programme for me, on the grounds that it would be sold for charity (which it was).

That same afternoon I had been sitting in the Opry manager's office when an old man wandered in, said a polite hello, and walked out again. I hadn't realised it was Acuff.

Later, a Nashville agent told me, cynically, why he reckoned the Opry had given Acuff a house of his own in the grounds of the new Opryland. He said 'they're just waiting for him to die, so they can turn it into a museum...'

Great memories.

- Ian B