Special Thanks for Special People

  • Billy Bob Thornton for the inspiration to preserve part of our past and the ability to recognize the value of things that have always been there.
  • Brenda Maynard for being my trusted assistant who brings new meaning to the term "right arm."
  • Brother Mark Calhoun who was there in the beginning and will be there in the end, and who's always been my best friend. We've always been able to make things happen and together we make a whole person.
  • Danny Smith for being the eternal wizard and magician of the mixing console.
  • DeWayne Hayes for being true to rock's roots, for friendship, and the timeless compliment upon viewing a collection of vintage band photos, "...and what a styling fashion sense you have displayed through the years. You guys look like Lynard Skynard's plane crashed into the Magical Mystery Tour bus!"
  • Grady Trimble and Randy Boyd for the many hours helping restore and archive period recordings and for understanding the reasons why.
  • Governor Mike Huckabee for preaching that no matter how high we sing, or how low we go, we're never too old to rock 'n roll. Rock on!
  • Janet Smith at Camera Work, Inc. for having the eye to recognize the "stars" in vintage photographs and the talent to transform them into digital images for future generations.
  • Jim DeCola with the Fender Custom Shop in Nashville and Steve Christmas at the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville for making old guitars play like new and making new guitars for old players.
  • Johnny Bradley, Andy Fullerton, and Chuck Gordon for being part of the story and sharing so many years. Without your individual talents it wouldn't have been the same. We're friends to the end!
  • Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton, Hank Williams, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Buddy Holly, Beach Boys, The Beatles, Del Shannon, Elvis, The Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, Gene Pitney, Jan and Dean, and countless other singers, songwriters, and musicians that paved the way for our generation.
  • Jon Garrison for his excitement, genuine enthusiasm, and for the graphic design found in the book, The St. James Group: -- 10 years of rock 'n roll.
  • Julie Calhoun, my wife, for being the love of my life and for standing by me through thick and thin. She's the only person alive who still knows the words to all the songs.
  • Mark Hays for providing tons of vintage photos, being a musical pack rat, and for writing wonderful songs.
  • Marty Stuart for the "picture book" concept, preserving music history, and his love of country music. (See Marty's book, Pilgrams, Sinners, Saints, and Prophets.)
  • Merle Kilgore for spending time with his grandparents across the road from my Mom and Dad's grocery store in Formosa, Arkansas, for buying Big Orange sodas, for writing million-seller songs including, "Ring of Fire," "Johnny Reb," and "Wolverton Mountain," and for becoming a local music legend.
  • Mike Jukes for capturing the spirit of the times with his album designs.
  • Mrs. Norma Calhoun and Mrs. Dorothy Bradley for being mothers who supported our efforts and believed in what we were trying to accomplish – even when we changed careers.
  • Professor Jim Ehrhard for helping me discover the gift of writing and for editing this story.
  • Steve Evans at Jacksonville Guitar Center for his knowledge of guitars and rock 'n roll history, for collecting cowboy guitars, and for always treating us like "stars"
  • Sam Custer and Tom Evans at Sir Speedy Printing for putting it all together and for putting up with me.
  • Tim Quertermous for helping maintain a herd of guitars, rounding up strays, and fixing what's broke. Many vintage guitars are alive today because of Tim's talent.
  • And most especially, I give thanks to an Eternal God for creating us, providing music, family, friends, and for sending His Son to secure our future.

Goodnight everybody and God bless! -- Rick Calhoun