View From the Front Porch- August 11, 2012

Great morning in Tennessee, cool and bright sunshine with a blue bird sky and not a cloud in sight. I've been reading the nice comments that a lot of you folks have made on my Red Foley story, below. Friends, let me clarify my position on this....First of all I do not want to portray myself as some bigger than life saint that went around helping everyone and doing good....hey, I was just a kid soaking up sights and sounds like a sponge, loving the heroes of my music, trying to learn to be a decent man in a lot of indecent situations....but, one thing I have always had in abundance is loyalty and compassion for the sick and wounded of my circle of friends and companions, or for anyone else that crosses my path. That should just be a natural act of humaness. I was blessed to be around people like Mr Foley, and for whatever reason, somehow make a connection that seemed good to both parties. I worked shows with Red and used the occasions as a school for entertainment from one that I consider to be a Master at the craft. I never appeared on Red's TV show, I was in the Navy during the Jubilee's glory years and when I came back to Springfield when I got discharged the Jubilee was having other hosts come in to sub for Red during his bad times. He may have taken to me because he saw a young man with the same potential weaknesses that he himself was experiencing, or he may have heard something in my voice that touched a chord, I don't know. I do know that the first time I ever met Mr Foley, was a moment of extreme importance to my future music career. I was 24 years old, working at a start up Boys Ranch for homeless boys with my Uncle Bob Johnson. I was using my voice and my old J45 guitar, singing gospel music, as a promotional vehicle to get the word out about the work of the Ranch. I was at Radio Station KWTO in Springfield, MO, the home station for the Jubilee, just me and my guitar, in their small production studio recording some gospel songs for our Boys Ranch radio show. I noticed a man in a long white leather coat, standing at the studio window, listening to the little speaker attached to the wall there. He continued to stand there the whole time I was singing and when I came out of the studio I realized it was Red Foley. He walked over and put his hand on my shoulder and I noticed his eyes were damp as he said, "Son, your songs touched my heart...", that was a special moment in time for me and the start of a friendship that I will always treasure. I have found, in later years, that Music people just have the ability to almost instantly connect with one another through some inner well of understanding and heart wide open attitude that most people with this gift seem to share. In all my experiences, I relive them with you, not as an ego booster for this old hillbilly, but as an example of how God can take the life of one person, and amplify that life through His goodness and Mercy, to maybe touch someone else who needs encouragement, a simple hand on the shoulder, a caring voice, a kind word....or, maybe just a song from the heart. Don't ever think that I am holding myself up as something special, for I would never do that. I know so well the sorrow of personal failure by sin, but I also know the complete peace that surpasses all understanding, by the gentle embrace of the Father who softly says, "It's alright, I forgive you." I send my love, from the old farm house in Tennessee, to all of you, my extended family of music, on another beautiful day of promise.   -Stan