You actually worked with Marty Rob- bins too, right? That was early on, before the Winters Broth- ers Band. I was hanging out at Marty’s office one day after his first heart attack in 1969 and he asked me to start learning the licks to “El Paso” and I was kinda curious as to why. He told me he wanted me to start playing guitar for him on the Grand Ole Opry. When he had his heart attack he’d let his band go except my dad and Bobby Sykes. They’d do shows using just the house band at places. So I worked with him on just the Opry alone from about February of 1970 to February of 1971. And it was a great experience. I got to meet a lot of the staff musicians who I’m still friends with today. I got to stand on that Grand Ole Opry stage at the Ryman and I’ll cherish that for- ever.
I know you've been playing a lot of music over the past few years, I'm sure you never really let up. What are some of the projects you have been involved in. Local, basically all local. I did some recording on my friend George Harper’s album but mostly people will call me and ask me if I’ll come play that weekend. I’m pretty good with cover tunes. If I’ve heard it on the radio sev- eral times I can make my way through it.
Which leads us up to now. Do the WBB play anymore? Dennis actually has the Winters Brothers Band now.
I would be remiss if I didn't ask a southern man about family, We all know your wife Paula Underwood Win- ters is a photographer and writer and does all sorts of stuff. Is she doing something with TV?
Paula works for Larry Black at Gabriel Com- munications. They produce the Country’s Family Reunion and Larry’s Country Diner TV shows on RFD-TV and she puts together their country music newspaper, the CFR News. They give the older more traditional country music artists a place to sing now, and they’ve also been bringing together the kids of those artists for shows too, calling them “Sec- ond Generations.” I played a show with them at Mickey Roo’s a while back. There was George Hamilton V (and his dad), Robyn Young, Melissa Luman-Phillips, Jett Williams, Seldina Reed, Dean Smith, Hawk- shaw Hawkins, Jr. and a bunch more. It was great!
Does she have other projects stewing? We’re turning our family farm into an event venue. I hope to have some concerts there this coming summer. Earl Scruggs recorded a segment for his special called Earl Scruggs: His Family and Friends there with the Byrds back in 1968, Hank Jr. recorded part of “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight” out in their field and they’ve had weddings for family and friends there, so she decided to jump into it and try to make a business out of it. You can see more on that project at
www.mtairyeventfarm.com.
They say that behind every great man there's a woman, and I believe that. How do you feel about it? I love my wife. We’ve been married going on 34 years and we were together five years on and off before that. She’s my life partner.
Most of us are aware of the tragedy that you guys endured last year when you lost your son Ryan. All of our hearts were with you. Please share your hap- piest memory of your son.
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