By Nicole Back, staff writer
July 1, 2009 — This year’s Carter County Shrine Club Bluegrass Festival is in honor of the Late Keith Whitley.
May of 2009 marked 20 years since his death.
“He’s still popular, still influencing newer artists,” Doyle Whitley said of his brother. “People still love him. People are writing songs all the time about him in bluegrass and country.”
Each band’s performance will feature songs that were written by Keith. Some of Keith's family members will be at the festival, including Dwight.
Dwight and his wife, Flo, live in Stephens, Kentucky on part of Flo’s family farm.
“Keith used to come over here and we’d walk the woods,” Dwight said. “Flo would put a big pot of soup beans on and when we’d get back we’d eat soup beans and cornbread.”
Dwight and Keith developed a special bond because of music, Dwight said.
“I had a high school band in the ‘60s,” he said. “It was an old ‘50s style rock band. Keith was eight or nine years old at the time and he would sing and play guitar with us. He was the star of the show. When he’d come on stage, he’d just take over.”
Throughout the years, Keith went onto play with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, J. D. Crowe and the New South and his own band, the Country Store and New Tradition.
“I preferred to stay home and be a father and husband,” Dwight said.
Keith spent about 15 years playing bluegrass music and recording on about 50 albums, Dwight said. His national career was short-lived.
Keith had four number one hits: “Don’t Close Your Eyes,” “When You Say Nothing at All,” “I’m No Stranger to the Rain” and “I Wonder if You Ever Think of Me.”
“I was listening to ‘80s Billboard on the radio,” Dwight said. "The number one song of the ‘80s on the Billboard Charts was, ‘I’m No Stranger to the Rain.’ I was really proud. That was my favorite song that Keith ever did.”
Keith Whitley, 1954-1989, will be honored July 16-July 18 at the Shrine Park in Olive Hill. Call 286-1805 for more information or visit cartercountyshrineclub.org.
Schedule of performers:
Thursday, July 16------------------------
2:15…………………………………………………Laurel Branch
3:00……………………………………..Kerbela (Shriners’ Band)
3:45…………………….Buck Carroll and Breaking New Ground
4:30……………………………………Ralph (Hank) Smith Band
5:15…………………………………………...Summertown Road
6:00…………………………………………………Laurel Branch
7:00………………………………………………………...Kerbela
8:00…………………………………………………..Buck Carroll
9:00………………………………….....Ralph (Hank) Smith Band
10:00…………………………………….…….Summertown Road
Friday, July 17---------------------------
12:15…………………………………….Kerbela (Shriners’ Band)
1:00…………………………………………………….Idle Tymes
1:45……………………………Scott Tackett & Kentucky Sunrise
2:30……………………………..Billie Renee & Cumberland Gap
3:15………………………………………………………..Kerbela
4:00…………………………………………………….Idle Tymes
4:45……………………………..Billie Renee & Cumberland Gap
5:30………………………....…Scott Tackett & Kentucky Sunrise
6:15……………………………...Junior Sisk & Rambler’s Choice
7:00………………………………...J. D. Crowe & the New South
8:00…………………………………Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
9:30……………………………Junior Sisk & Rambler’s Choice
10:15……………………………..J. D. Crowe & the New South
Saturday, July 18---------------------------
11:00………………………………………………Hart Brothers
11:45…………………………..David Carroll & New River Line
12:30…………………………………………Continental Divide
1:15…………………………………………….Ralph Stanley II
2:00………………………………………………Blue Highway
2:45………………………………………Lou Reed & Carolina
3:30……………………………………………….III Tyme Out
4:15……………………………………………….Hart Brothers
5:15………………………….David Carroll & New River Line
6:15…………………………………………Continental Divide
7:15…………………………………………...Ralph Stanley III
8:15……………………………………………...Blue Highway
9:15……………………………………....Lou Reed & Carolina
10:15……………………………………………...III Tyme Out
