moreencounters

Submitted by: Jerry Arnold of Natalbany, La.

I've met Jerry several times,and there is a story (funny or not) for every one of them. But,there are three

times that really stick out.The first one was in Oct.1989 at Jackson,Ms. He was on stage telling the f-16

story, and I was on the front row to his left. At one point, I found something funny in his story (that

apparently no one else did ) and laughed out loud. He turned and looked at me; and there was deathly

silence. My wife took a picture of him as he stood there looking at me. He said "I'm not through yet" and

everyone laughed. I never figured out if they were laughing at me or not, but to say the least, I was a bit

embarrassed. The second one was Oct.2000 in Biloxi, Ms. I always have a cd, tape, record,or picture for

him to sign,and he is always so kind as to sign them.This time my sharpie was out of ink and wouldn't

write. I believe his words were "Well,soonn the first thing you got to do is get a pen that writes" We both

laughed!! I said "That won't happen again I now carry two sharpies with me all of the time. The third time

was in Jan.2001 in Vicksburg, Ms. After a great concert, I spoke with him for a few moments.I had never

taken a picture with Jerry, even though I'd been to many of his shows and talked with him several times. I

told him that and he asked if I had a camera. I told him that I did and he said "Well let's take a picture "My

Dad,who was with me, took the picture and said "Say cheese". At that moment, Jerry put his arm around

me and say "CHEEEESSEE" couldn't hold the laughter back. After the picture, I produced a cd and

sharpie.I proudly quipped," And this one writes"Well, wouldn't you know, it didn't. He said, "Well, you

got another one that don't write. "At that time I produced the second one that did. We had a laugh about

it, and then went our seperate ways. He has always been so kind and down to earth that you can't help but

love the ole guy. I'll never forget him as long as I live.

Submitted by: Gregg "Lightning Rod" of West Virginia

After spending twenty-seven years wishing I could see my all-time favorite musician in person, I was

fortunate enough to attend my first Jerry Reed concert in Wytheville, Virginia. I decided to spend the

whole day at the festival where he performed, and it was one of the longest days in history. The last two

hours before Jerry came on seemed like an eternity. Finally, after 9:30pm, Jerry hit the stage and I hit my

feet. He looked healthy and sounded awesome. He did some of my favorite songs, and even performed

some new songs I'd never heard. A couple of new gospel songs were introduced and they were great! My

favorite part of the show was when Jerry picked up his guitar. It was amazing watching his fingers fly from

such a close distance (I had a good spot). I took loads of pictures and clapped, hollered, and cheered

throgh the whole show. Then, after he finished up, somebody gets on stage and said, "Jerry will be

signing a few autographs after the show, so line up over there." Well, the place was packed and even

though I was one of the first people to arrive at this designated spot, I ended up near the end of the "line"

(which was really just a big glob of people). So, while people who just wanted some famous guy's

autograph whirled by, me and this fan who was carrying a vinyl copy of Jerry's awesome GEORGIA

SUNSHINE album were stuck waiting. I finally made it to the table where "Jerry stuff" was being sold, and

was pleased to speak with Bobby Lovette and other band members while I spent loads of cash on some of

the above mentioned "Jerry stuff." As the line inched forward ever so slowly, I thought of what I'd say if I

could actually talk to Jerry, and I asked my son to hold the camera and snap a picture when I got up there.

Finally, it was my turn. I gave Jerry a photo to sign and said "My name's Gregg, I'm from West Virginia,

and I've been a fan since I was five. That's twenty-seven years! And this is the first time I've ever seen you

live." He quickly signed the photo and said "Well, I'm glad you could make it." Then I said to my son,

"Quick! Take a picture!" After the flash and click, I looked back up at Jerry, but he was already asking the

next person in line to come over. So I just turned around and started to walk off when Jerry said, "I'm glad

you got to come out." And I turned around, astonished to see that he was speaking to me and I said, "I am

too! I really like the new gospel songs. I'm looking forward to the new gospel album You're doing." He

said, "Well, you may be waiting a while." Then, I said, "Well, I understand. I work at a gospel radio

station. Will you be sending any copies out to gospel radio?" He didn't know how to answer that. Then I

said, "We're playing that song CHECK IT OUT." Jerry said, "Do what now?" as if he didn't know what I

was talking about. I said, "You know, CHECK IT OUT, the song you wrote, by the Melody Boys Quartet.

We're playing it every day." Jerry said, "Oh yeah. How's it doin'?" I told him it was still climbing the chart

and was in heavy rotation. (It eventually peaked in the Top50). He said he really had fun recording it (I

guess he recorded his own version for the upcoming album). Well, by this time, I'm feeling guilty for

talking to him all this time while all the other people only got the autograph and had to move on because

he was talking to me off to the side, so I said "Love ya, Jerry." And he said "I'm really glad you got to

come." I took one last picture and walked away thinking "Man, that was really cool of him to talk to me like

that." It's like he could tell I wasn't the "average" autograph seeker but a bona-fide Jerry Fan who has

listened and watched for most of my life, and I think he felt like giving me a little extra chat because of that.

It was like he knew I'd been waiting on that very moment for twenty-seven years and he helped make the

most of it. This happened many weeks ago and I still remember the whole thing vividly every word we

said, the expressions on his face. Now, don't think I'm way overboard with this, I worship only one God,

and Jerry Reed is not an idol or hero to me. But he is the most talented musician I've ever heard and that

night he proved he actually cares about people who care about him. It was an event I'll never forget.

Submitted by: John P. Snyder of Statesville, North Carolina

BEEN A FAN OF JERRY'S SINCE 1971. HAVE ALL ALBUMS. HAVE MANY, MANY AUTOGRAPH

PICTURES AND POSTERS. AN ENDLESS LIST OF JERRY'S STUFF. THE ONE TIME WHICH STANDS

OUT MOST GOES BACK JUST A FEW YEARS AGO. MY DAUGHER AND I WENT TO SEE JERRY AT

TWEETSIE RAILROAD. WE DIDN'T DO A THING BEFORE WE WAITED IN LINE FOR THE SHOW TO

START. WE WAITED AT LEAST 4 HRS AND GOT UP FRONT SEATS. WHEN JERRY SHOWED, HE

CAME AND STOPPED AND TALKED TO ME AND SHOOK HANDS BEFORE HE PERFORMED! MY

DAUGHTER WAS IMPRESSED, SO WAS I! AFTER SHOW WE HAD MORE AUTOGRAPHS OF

SHRITS AND HATS AND PICTURES! ALSO, I HAD MY LARGE BOOK OF PICTURES AUTOGAPHED,

JERRY SEEMED IMPRESSED! MY MOST PRIZED ITEM OF ALL IS A MUSIC CARD OF JERRY AND

ONE OF CHET AUTOGRAPHED BY BOTH IN SAME DISPLAY CASE! THIS IS A DATE I WILL

REMEMBER WITH MY DAUGHTER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE! SON-----------------N!