Today’s post was written by Paul.
For this week’s train song, I had the pleasure of hooking up with the great Sonny Reighard, one of the best loved singers in our area!
Sonny is one of the nicest, most likeable people one could ever meet. His rich lead vocal, warm stage presence, and infectious humor have made him a crowd favorite at bluegrass festivals, benefits, church singings, and other venues for as long as I can remember.
I was so happy when he accepted my invitation to meet up and try some songs together, and the experience did not disappoint.
I learned several great songs from him and enjoyed tons of interesting stories, including two hilarious stories about pranks that Little Roy Lewis of the Lewis Family played on the late great Jim McReynolds of Jim and Jesse fame.
Sonny served as the MC at Stecoah Valley for 5+ years and through that role, he made acquaintance with many of the greats of bluegrass and acoustic music.
My dad (Pap) and his brother Ray played Stecoah Valley several times, as have the Pressley Girls in more recent years. I don’t recall Sonny MCing any of those shows. I guess things didn’t line up timing-wise.
I had never heard this particular train song until we sat down to do it.
Sonny learned it from Doyle Lawson. After some searching, I found that it appeared on the “Pressing on Regardless” album.
We also experimented with several other great songs written by Sonny’s family members, and I may share those after this year’s train song series concludes.
Thanks for watching!
Paul
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That train whistle always makes me close my eyes and go back in time to when I was a child. A sweet memory. Enjoyed both their singing and the music too!!
Tipper: Correction to my post. Wrong song. Everyone knows “Life’s Railway to Heaven”. I was thinking of another tune, in waltz time, but it’s not a train song: “When I Take My Vacation in Heaven.”
A song called “Life’s Railway to Heaven” is perhaps the best “Sunday morning” train song of all time. It has waltz tempo. I first heard it as a child. I’ll bet Sonny knows it. Paul might be too young.
Song fits today, starting the blue and gray days of winter now. Nearly all the bright colors of fall gone, the forest floor brown, the trees and sky gray.
However, I saw one lonely little galax plant blooming this past Friday. Got tricked, I guess, by day length or temperature into acting like it was spring even while the leaves are starting to turn their winter bronze. And in the garden I have several purple violets blooming to. Always a bit of cheer to be found in the bluest of blue days.
Thanks Paul and Mr. Reighard for the train song.
All aboard!!! Toot! Toot! This train is headed to HAPPYTOWN!!! Sonny and Paul really shredded that train song!!! They’re both excellent guitarists and singers too! For some reason I feel better after hearing that tune ( which has a sad subject.) THANKS, TIPPER, for this Sonny and Paul train song!!! Ain’t nothing slow about those two fellers!!! Even the old man said THATS GOOD—- WHO IS IT??? A big grin and toe tapping happened here… lol
Thank you for the kind comments concerning my brother Sonny Reighard!
He has always been my hero and you could not have had a better big brother!
Thank you Paul and Sonny, nothing like a train song to get a Sunday morning going.