I knew Waylon when he was performing at the night club in Phoenix, which was owned by a friend of mine. My wife and I would go to the club to listen to him and his band. He would come to our table on breaks and visit with us. This was before he was a star, of course, but it was fairly easy to predict that he would be one given the opportunity. A little known story is that Jerry Purcell, Eddy Arnold's manager had a hand in Waylon going to Nashville. Eddy appeared with the Phoenix Symphony and I told Jerry he should go out out to J.B's and listen to Waylon. He did, told Chet Atkins about him, and shortly thereafter Waylon left Phoenix for Nashville.

He was a real gentleman when I knew him, and I'm really sorry country music, and all his fans have lost him.

One of his first recordings, a 45 RPM, made at Audio Recorders here in Phoenix was "Four Strong Winds." There is a trumpet part on the end of the song that was performed by Herb Alpert. I wish I still had that old 45 record, though I would have nothing to play it on.

DougR