How Did We Get Started?
It started out simple enough; my (Kelley's) friend Vern Lindsey was hosting a TV program for Charter Cable (“A Taste of Loudon”) in Lenoir City, August 2006. There were a number of Loudon area restaurants giving out food samples and entertainment from area Bluegrass bands. In between sampling the food for the show, Vern enjoyed listening to the music and struck up a conversation with the Banjo Player from “Jumping the Tracks” (Bob Wilson) during a break.
When Bob found out that Vern and his high school friend (Kelley) were playing Folk Music from their high school days again, Bob was delighted. It turned out that Bob had also started off playing Folk Music in High School during the 60’s and he asked to get together with them next time they practiced.
That “get together” turned out to be almost 6 months later, due to Vern initially misplacing Bob’s number and the holidays. The stars aligned in January of 2007 and a date was set. Bob asked if he could bring a friend that also played 60’s folk music (Walker Johnson). The evening was a huge success. Walker had a wonderful baritone voice, Bob was terrific on Banjo and Guitar and sang a high tenor and Kelley and Vern were in between. We found we had a lot of songs in common and started getting together every week to “pick & sing”.
After a few weeks, I (Kelley) asked the question “Where are we going with this? Do we just want to get together and pick and sing or learn some songs an go play for audiences?” We talked it over and decided to form a group with the intent of playing for audiences and started working toward that goal.
Then we needed a name. Walker liked “The Mountain Folk……” something but was stuck on what. It almost ended up as “The Mountain Folk Revival” but I thought that made us sound too much like a Gospel Group. Then Bob came up with the replacement word that stuck…”Reunion”, and “The Mountain Folk Reunion” was born.
In April of 2007, the group performed in public for the first time at “Music Row” in Maryville. “Music Row” has a predominance of Bluegrass groups performing and practicing in the warm up rooms. Groups or individuals sign up for 30- minute slots to sing in the main room. Needless to say, they had never heard anything like us before. We were singing songs that most had never heard unless they were over 55 and the choruses were in 4-part harmony. It was a fresh, new sound and they loved it. They even had us sing beyond our 30 minutes.
We sang at various events in the area till we were booked to sing at Catino’s Pizza on their deck in July 07. We had found our “Core Audience” and it lived in Tellico Village. They “Sold Out” and had 160 packed onto the deck. They had to rent extra tables and chairs and hire extra people. It was insane; it took an hour to get a pizza. They were not prepared for this kind of response, but it was a lot of fun and everyone had a great time and loved the music.
Since then, we have expanded our musical selection beyond the Folk Music hits of the 60’s with other Hit Songs of the 50’s and 60’s that we have adapted to our sound and versions. Interspersing these songs with the Folk Music makes for a more entertaining performance where the audience never knows what is around the corner for the next song.
In 2009, Vern moved on to form his own group and The Mountain Folk Reunion became a trio. Our harmony continues to evolve and our repertoire continues to expand, and the fun just keeps on coming.
That, is our story!!