Saturday night I took a walk across the bridge from Piedmont, W.Va., to Westernport to hear some music. I had heard rumors about the young vocalist who was to perform. To my surprise, there wasn’t a parking spot left available anywhere. Wow, I thought.
Within minutes I found myself standing on the dance floor directly next to the sound technician. Surrounded by a crowd of beautiful young women and handsome young men, I heard the click of the count; the lights burst on, faces lit up with happiness and the first notes of the evening blasted into the night.
The band was good — good and loud. The bass guitar and drum were amped up so high that I thought my heart was going to be blown clear out of my chest.
Then I could hear him, I could hear him singing. He was singing on key with a style and tone so perfectly suited to his music. After a few songs the sound man had it under control and the three piece band was tight and showed true professionalism.
That is when I really began to hear the voice. As the air traveled across the vocal cords I listed to the tones, the pitch and clarity, the ability to slide from highs to lows and to throw in a little gravel at just the right moment. It was all there.
After a dozen songs or so I headed back across the bridge. A million thoughts from both the past and the night rambled through my mind. What had I just witnessed? I thought to myself.
For a while I just walked quietly around the streets trying to let it all free. I began reminiscing about back in the day, as we call it, when I myself was a vocalist and how good it felt to be on stage at the Attic Lounge, Visions and the Clarysville Inn.
As I walked along a bit of sadness came to me as I realized that those things will probably never come again to this 62-year-old, white-haired grandpa.
Through it all the happiness, the sadness, a little jealousy, and some regrets, I felt a tear well up in my eye. A tear for me?
No, a tear of joy and happiness for this young man I had just experienced. I’m sure the feelings and good times that I enjoyed so many years ago are now a huge part of the life of this man that I know by name only, Mr. Travis Minnick.
On behalf of myself, and I’m sure everyone else, I would like to say to this man, Travis, I’ve been listening for 62 years and it only took me an hour to decide that you are quite possibly the most talented and true vocal artist to ever walk these panhandle hills. Take your dream and live it. Build your life around your talent.
Alvin L. Plum
Piedmont, W.Va.
Editorials
It didn’t take long to figure out just how good he really was
- Editorials
-
-
Better ‘Click It’
If you notice more police on the highway this week, it’s for a couple of reasons.
-
They do bite
This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. For anyone thinking that is not such a big deal, consider that 4.7 million Americans annually are bitten by dogs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
-
Stop buying licenses; let them find the money somewhere else
A few months ago, I received two cards from the National Rifle Association. These were dealing with a legislative alert.
They asked that I should contact Sen. George Edwards and Delegate Kevin Kelly concerning the anti-gun legislation. -
Strength of gun laws is not reflected in grisly statistics
According to the FBI’s uniform crime reports, California had the highest number of gun murders in 2011 with 1,220, which makes up 68 percent of all murders in the state that year and equates to 3.25 murders per 100,000 people.
-
An old story
What for years has been an on-again, off-again battle over funding between the Allegany County Commissioners and the Allegany County Board of Education seems to be growing even uglier.
-
‘Forgotten warrior’ not forgotten
The Korean War is often called “The Forgotten War.” My generation remembers the Battle for LZ X-Ray at Ia Drang, The Tet Offensive, and Khe Sahn of the Vietnam War.
-
Organization needed to help utilize the Potomac River
I am a committee remember on the Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway which stretches from Palmetto to Venice, Fla.
-
Reducing meat consumption can help ease climate change
A review of 12,000 papers on climate change, in the May 15 issue of “Environmental Research Letters,” found that 97 percent of scientists attribute climate change to human activities.
-
Editorial Cartoon - 05/18/2013
-
Maryland has stopped being “The Free State”
I am a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and, last but not least, the National Rifle Association. I am a yearly member of the American Legion.
- More Editorials Headlines
-
