Maybe I can share something...

New pics of Ryan

Dixie Echoes Concert 2/21/09

Saturday, February 21, 2009 marked the beginning of my very own promotions company, Louisiana Gospel Promotions. This was our first concert, and naturally I had to have the Dixie Echoes! As usual they did an outstanding job. It was great to see these guys again and talk about old times. Stay tuned for information on our next concert. Until then enjoy these few photos from the Dixie Echoes concert.

Be There!!

Christmas 2008

Merry Christmas!!!!

Tracy, Valerie, and Ryan

2008

Too Much To Gain To Lose, Remembering Billy Todd September 26, 1929 - November 30, 2008

In the early morning hours of Sunday November 30, 2008 the Heavenly Choir gained one of the finest bass voices this earthly life has ever known. At the age of 79, Billy Todd passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

It certainly was an privilege to join the Dixie Echoes but also to follow immediately in the footsteps of such a great bass singer and wonderful person. In fact, it's quite intimidating! I had numerous opportunities to sit and visit with Billy before becoming a member of the Dixie Echoes. He always had a kind word to say, or a funny story to pass along. One of the greatest honors was when I was selected to be Billy's replacement he told me that he couldn't think of a better person to follow him. Anytime we would sing close to Pensacola, Billy would be there. He was always encouraging and supportive to me and it was always a pleasure to be able to sing next to him when we had the chance. On several occasions I had the opportunity to go out and eat with Billy and his wife Jane and Stewart Varnado. Those were great times and I will always remember them.

The last time I saw Billy was at the first J.G. Whitfield Memorial Sing in June, 2007. By this time the Alzheimer's was beginning to take quite a toll on him. But when Billy took the stage with all of the former Dixie Echoes and Florida Boys members it was obvious he was where he was meant to be. His face lit up and he fell back into that old groove doing what he loved to do. That was the last time I saw Billy face to face. Periodically Stewart would give me reports on Billy's health and unfortunately he seemed to get worse with each report. Thankfully he's finally in a better place with a sound mind and singing in the greatest choir of gospel singers ever! He will certainly be missed but someday soon we'll all join in together when all of God's singers get home!

Here are some links to other rememberances of Billy Todd:

Dixie Echoes, Remembering Billy Todd

Singing News.com

Danny's Diary

Singing News.com Forums

Below are some pictures from my personal collection.

Ray Reese, Billy Todd, and Randy "Scoot" Shelnut, Jr. Billy graciously filled in for me so I could take the weekend off to get married. June, 2006

This was probably one of the most popular line-ups of the Florida Boys. (L-R): Glen Allred, Derrell Stewart, Les Beasley, Tommy Atwood, and Billy together again at the J.G. Whitfield Memorial Sing June, 2007.

Here's that same group on the set of the popular television series the Gospel Singing Jubilee (L-R): Derrell, Glen, Les, Billy, and Tommy

Bass singers were plentiful at the first J.G. Whitfield Memorial Sing June, 2007 (L-R): Mike Bullock, Butch Owens, Tracy Crouch, and Billy

Billy cheering on Mike Bullock as Mike bottoms out on the ending of a song. J.G. Whitfield Memorial Sing June, 2007.

Everyone watching as Billy once again sings his part on "Have A Little Talk With Jesus" J.G. Whitfield Memorial Sing June, 2007.

To the best of my knowledge this was the last time Billy stepped on stage to sing. Once again he shows that he can still sing with the best of 'em! J.G. Whitfield Memorial Sing June, 2007.

Billy and myself at a concert in Marianna, Florida. At this time Billy was singing with the Bibletones Quartet.

Billy, you are loved and will be missed greatly, may we meet again soon my friend!

Here is a clip of Billy singing his favorite song, "Too Much To Gain To Lose" with the Florida Boys from the Gospel Singing Jubilee

Ryan 9 Months & Beauregard Parish Fair

Well, here I am again posting more pictures of Ryan! Sorry, I've been a little off schedule updating the pictures. Ryan will be turning 10 months old later this week and I haven't even posted any 9 month pictures!! So here ya go, Enjoy!!

Ryan and Daddy getting ready to head outside!

Ryan watching his favorite gospel quartet, The Dixie Echoes.

He told us he was tired of his current hairdo and wanted another

Uhmm....son, thats not where your pants go...quit acting like your mother!! ;o)

I guess we're not feeding him enough because he's resorted to eating his socks...

...and shoes!!

He's getting sooo big!

He's beginning to become quite a monkey

This is "Sleepy" Ryan

Having fun flooding the bathroom

He loves playing in the tub, guess we'll have to find him a small swimming pool next summer

Touchdown!!! Ryan cheering on the LSU Tigers!

Ryan's utter disappointment when LSU lost to Georgia

Beauregard Parish Fair-Petting Zoo

Meeting some hungry goats for the first time

Some curious cows

Don't worry, he didn't eat any of the feed!

I'm guessing this guy isn't native to Beauregard Parish

Up close and personal!!

Ryan's not too sure about the camel

Mommy teaching Ryan how to say..."Moooooo!!!"

This little guy thought Ryan's stroller was edible. While I was trying to take this picture another of his buddies flanked me and was nibbling at my cell phone. I'm sure they plan this stuff out in advance, they're all in on it!!

All-in-all Ryan really enjoyed the petting zoo. After that we had the ritualistic fair funnel cake. I grabbed a boudin link and we headed for the house.

Stay tuned for more pictures!

Weather Underground: Honoring the Cops They Killed

Source
Chris Cosgriff / PoliceLink
October 13, 2008

Picture L-R: Sgt. Brian McDonnell, Officer Waverly Brown, Sgt. Edward O'Grady

Editor’s Note: With the recent headlines mentioning the Weather Underground, the focus has been on who said what and who did what when. What has been overlooked, and seemingly forgotten, is the sacrifice of three real American heroes. This article’s only purpose is to honor those three fallen heroes.

If you’ve been keeping up with the presidential race then you’ve likely heard mention the accusations and denials from both campaigns about alleged ties between Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic candidate for president, and Bill Ayers. Plenty has been written about their relationship from both sides of the campaign, and I have absolutely no interest in exploring that relationship further.

I am interested only in honoring the memories of three fallen police officers and holding responsible those who actually planned and committed these murderous attacks against the American people and our criminal justice system.

Ayers, who has long held a position as a college professor in Chicago, has a surprisingly nefarious past. He happens to be the founder of a domestic terrorist group called the Weather Underground, which he has written about extensively in his own memoir, Fugitive Days: A Memoir.

The Weather Underground was responsible for bombing several government targets throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, including the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon, and a building used by the New York City Police Department. To finance their domestic terrorism activities the group also conducted “traditional” robberies, which occasionally led to murder.

What you don’t usually hear in modern-day news coverage of the group, is that three of those murders were of police officers killed in the line of duty.

On February 16, 1970, a bomb exploded at a San Francisco, California, Police Department substation, fatally wounding Sergeant Brian McDonnell. McDonnell died of his wounds two days later. A second officer, Robert Fogarty was partially blinded by the bomb’s shrapnel. Although the case has never officially been solved, members of the Weather Underground, including Bill Ayers and his wife, Bernardine Dohrn, were prime suspects.

On October 20, 1981, several members of the Weather Underground undertook the robbery of a bank to finance their terrorist activities. During the robbery the group murdered an armored car guard and two members of the Nyack, New York, Police Department – Officer Waverly Brown and Sergeant Edward O’Grady,. a Vietnam War veteran. Unlike with Sergeant McDonnell’s murder, this case was quickly solved and several members of the group were sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

Sergeant McDonnell, Officer Brown, and Sergeant O’Grady were just three of over a dozen law enforcement officers killed by radical, domestic terrorist groups during the 1970s and 1980s. Their memories may be forgotten by those who killed them and walk free – whether through lack of arrest and prosecution in McDonnell’s case or having served their sentences in Brown’s and O’Grady’s cases – but they will never be forgotten by their brothers and sisters in law enforcement.