Re: DeFord Bailey

Ken Deifik <kenneth.d@xxxxxxxxxxxx> · Wed, 10 Mar 2004 09:28:14 -0800

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Jimbeau wrote: 
 
<blockquote type=cite cite>One thing the program brought up was how, even
after all these years, in our 
present-day &quot;enlightened&quot; age, Bailey is still not in the
Country Music Hall of Fame.</blockquote> 
Back when I posted regularly on this list, I believe I told the story of
meeting DeFord Bailey back in 1976, and spending a wonderful afternoon
with him. 
 
The occasion of that meeting had little to do with me.&nbsp; The Opry had
hired a painter named Kenneth Hari to paint individual portraits of their
most important members.&nbsp; Hari was a friend of mine and he knew that
as a harmonica player I might get a kick out of meeting Bailey.&nbsp; Mr.
Bailey was thrilled to learn that young harp cats were still thinking
about him, so my presence was a good thing. 
 
My point here, however, is that WSM and the Opry thought highly enough of
Mr. Bailey to include him in the walk of portraits they were going to
hang at the theater.&nbsp; They paid very good money to have that
portrait made. 
 
It is 25 years since I have been anywhere near Nashville, so I don't know
how it is now, but many of the other pioneering acts of the Opry were not
in the list of artistes Mr. Hari painted, while DeFord Bailey was.&nbsp;
That doesn't mean he shouldn't also be in the Hall of Fame, but he wasn't
exactly swept under the rug, either. 
 
K</html>