Have you ever dreamed of playing in a band for a famous Country and Western star? Ever wondered what life is like for those entertainment folks? Well, Junior Knight of Eustace [Texas] finds himself right in the middle of his lifelong dream. In July, Junior joined the LeAnn Rimes band (the 14-year-old Garland [Texas] teenager who is currently the talk of the C&W world, with her first album going double platinum and her first song "Blue", one of the nominees for the CMA's song of the year award), and now finds himself "on the road" most of the time.
Junior, and his wife of 19 years, Saran, live on her family's farm in Eustace with
their two
daughters, Shannon, 13, and Shelby, 6. Saran was really the one who encouraged
Junior to
continue searching for his dreams as you'll see later in this story. Junior also has two
sons by
a previous marriage, Hayden and Michael.
PHOTO of Junior and his family.
Growing up in Dallas, Junior left when he was 17 years old. "Music has been my total life. My dad was not a musician but he recognized my talent as God-given and he was the driving force behind me. I'm not a schooled musician - everything I am I owe to the Lord," Junior commented.
"My dad bought me a pawn shop $45 Gibson guitar which I still have. I
learned
to play by ear.
Dad took me to Bill Ryan, a friend of his who was a fantastic guitar player. I've always
said he
'kicked me into playing.' Bill wore pointed toe boots. Just seeing them was
enough
to keep me
practicing. I played in bars when I was 10 years old. My dad was with me the entire
time. He
and
my mother gave me a good home and good standards. I've seen what drugs and
alcohol can
do to people and I knew that wasn't for me. I believe being a professional musician is
not
something you learn. I believe it is a God-given talent. Sure, you practice, but it's not
something
you go to school for," he continued.
PHOTO of Junior playing at the Knoxville
Smoky
Mountain Jamboree.
"I am a backup musician. I know that's why I'm here. I've tried in the past to get away from it, but I've always come back to it. My father-in-law, Dewey Groom, owned the Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas for 30 years. It was the premier club for many years. I was in the last band Dewey had there for 11 years. When Dewey closed the club, I retired. I was tired of all the drugs and alcohol, and the 20 plus years of playing.
"I left there and worked for Leon Groom driving a truck for Tex-Pack. I took over that agency in Mabank and was there for four years. During that time, we moved it from Mabank [Texas] to Kaufman [Texas]. Then I drove for other companies, but I still played at the Mesquite Opry on Saturday nights. That's where I met LeAnn, when she was about 7 years old. I knew then that the good Lord let her ability overrun quite a bit - she was totally gifted and poised at age 7. I stayed with the Mesquite [Texas] Opry until 1994, just playing Saturday nights," he said.
This is where Saran's unselfish attitude came into play. Having grown up in the music business herself and knowing how much Junior loved being a professional musician, Saran suggested he try to get back on the road. She was persistent - she tried for 6 years. "I knew I was meant to be a professional musician. I had tried for 9 years to give it up but itjust didn't work. I knew I had a gift and I wanted to go out on a high note. I got a job playing for Gary Stewart and was on the road for about one year. Then I got a house job at Cowboys in Dallas [Texas] and was there for 17 months, when they closed the club. Then I took a weekend job at Lee's Silver Fox in Terrell [Texas] and played for Scott Whitaker, a Dallas policeman who sings and writes country songs. I was in his first band," he continued.
"About that same time, I got a call to fill in for the steel player in LeAnn
Rimes'
band. They sent
me the tapes to practice with. I don't read music but I do read musical charts that use
the
Nashville numbering system. When LeAnn's group started getting more and more
bookings,
the
regular steel player didn't want to be 'on the road' as much as the job would
require so I was
asked if I would take the itinerant job. I still remember when l was asked, 'Do you
want
the job?'
I said, 'Let me think about it....yes!' Immediately. I knew this was one chance
in a
lifetime," he said.
PHOTO of Junior Knight and his family are
pictured here with the other LeAnn Rimes' Band members.
The LeAnn Rimes group consists of twelve people who travel by bus from one appearance to the next. They have a grueling schedule through the end of the year. While traveling, they spend some of their time refining their arrangements and planning future concerts.
"LeAnn has been the opening act for. Dwight Yoakum, Randy Travis, Wynonna and Blackhawk. She's appeared on David Letterman and the Grand Ole Opry and was on the recent CMA Awards show out of Nashville. She has upcoming appearances planned for Prime Time Country and the Rosie O'Donnell Show, and is also scheduled for a future appearance on the Jay Leno Show. Her father, Wilbur, is her producer and manager. He is an honest and fair man.
"My father-in-law, Dewey, was instrumental in helping folks like Charlie Pride, Willie Nelson, Ronnie Milsap, and Loretta Lynn. He was the greatest boss I ever had. He is the most fair man I've ever worked for. Wilbur is a lot like Dewey. I've always dreamed of being in a band where there's no smoking, drinking or drugs, and here I am, on the ground floor," he continued.
When Junior is home, he enjoys being with his family on their farm. He has plans to take his steel guitar to the Eustace [Texas] schools and play for his daughters' classmates.
In conclusion, Junior said, "I haven't practiced with the band yet. The band hasn't practiced yet. Our itinerary is so full, we perform and practice at the same time. I would put us up against any major road band right now. I am honored to play with this group."
Reprinted with permission from The Monitor.
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