Photo: Courtesy of Vickie Lightle J. D. Micals, Percy Sledge, Ronnie Dove, Sheila Miles, Narvel Felts & Leon Everette Reception, Phoenix Inn, Greenville, SC Dec 4, 2009 (Click on photo for larger view)   Side Note (See Show Dates for time and date): The TV show I'll be filming Jan. 21 in Nashville is: "Country Family Reunion 2010" for RFD-TV	December 2009 December 5th I was one of the artists on the "Legends and Memories" concert at the "Carolina First Center" in Greenville, SC. The other artists were Ronnie Dove, Percy Sledge and Leon Everette. We had to be up at 5am on Friday the 4th to be on an early news show between 7 and 9am on Fox Carolina TV. We each sang a song and did a short interview. To end the TV show the four of us jammed on "Johnny Be Good" together. J. D. Micals and co-host, Sheila Miles have an amazing radio show originating from WOLT-103.3 in Greenville from 10am to 2pm EST, Monday through Friday. Ronnie, Leon and I were in-studio guests this same Friday. They played many of our records and talked with us. They even went far enough back to play Slim Whitman and Elton Britt. To hear this great show on the internet go to www.starlight-shows.com and click on "Listen". They were the promoters of our concert the next night. They tell me my two most requested songs on their show are "Pink and Black Days" and "Even Now". At 7pm that same Friday night all of us attended a meet and greet reception at the ballroom at our hotel. A full room of fans awaited us. A very receptive crowd attended our concert the following night. Each of us got standing ovations. I was introduced on stage by J. D. Micals. Ronnie Dove's band did a great job backing me. I was blessed with five standing ovations and three encores. They were after "Somebody Hold Me", "Even Now" and "My Prayer". A some three hour autograph line awaited me at Huey's Record Rack. I've always stood for my autograph lines. After about two hours I had to say, "Folks, I'm sorry. This is the first time I've ever done this. Would you please follow me over to the table. I must sit down!" They did and my line lasted about another hour. Through it came Danny Daniels, who from 1979 to 1991 played my records in regular rotation on WNGC in Athens, GA. Wayne Morton from 96.3 WGOG in Walhalla, SC came through the line and recorded a short interview with me. He plays my records now. A young man all the way from Boston, MA came through my line and said he'd seen me at "Rockin' 50's Fest" in Green Bay, WI. He came down to see what my country side was all about. Reggie Williams and her camera man video recorded the entire concert plus interviews with each of us and with fans in our autograph lines. She has edited a documentary composite for www.greenvillehd.com It will be made available to be seen on each of our web sites. The following day Huey and I took our some 12 hour drive back home, 1267 mile round trip. This ends my 53rd year in the music business. I'm home for Christmas and New Year's Eve with Loretta and our family.
Narvel's video on YouTube To see more go HERE Terry Wood From 95.9  Radio Joins Narvel On Stage to Jam, "Shake, Rattle and Roll" Collins Theater, Paragould, Arkansas Nov. 6, 2009 Photo courtesy of Sherry Long	November 2009 On November 6th I did my annual concert at the Collins Theatre in Paragould, Arkansas. Though my competition 21 miles down the road in Jonesboro that night was the Oak Ridge Boys, I had a full house again for the fourth year in a row. Terry Wood from Classic Country 95.9 "The Wolf" in Jonesboro did a great job as MC of the show and singing "It's Only Make Believe".  Gary Prince did a great opening show. I've never had a band do  better job backing me me than Sugar Creek did that night; correct vocal backgrounds and all! My show included my top country hits from the 70s, a trip back to my Rock-a-Billy days of the 50s, Two that were big multi-format regional hits in that area in the 60s; "Mountain of Love" and I'd Trade All of My Tomorrows". I called Terry Wood back on stage to jam, "Shake, Rattle and Roll" with me. I included one that had been a top 30 country hit for me in 1978 but I hadn't sung it in concert since 1979, "Just Keep it Up". My top hit from 1976, "My Prayer" closed the show and brought a complete standing ovation plus an encore with my top 10 hit from 1975, "Funny How Time Slips Away". A some two hour autograph line awaited me at Huey's Record Rack in the lobby. Arkansas supported me well. Others were there from as far away as the coast of Texas, St Louis and Cincinnati. Lee Lampkins visited me backstage. I'd first met him Christmas night of 1955. That night Harold White, J. W. Grubbs and I sat on the counter stools at the Highway Cafe Near Bernie, MO with our acoustic guitars. For the first time, I sang for strangers. Lee pointed his finger at me,, looked me in the eye and said, "Son, don't you ever pick another bowl of cotton 'cause you don't have to!" He was an Air Force Sergeant at the time. He's now in failing health. November 11th I turned 71at home with my wife, Loretta. Thank you for your cards and calls. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We spent it at our daughter, Stacia's house which used to be our son, Bub's house. It was a joy spending time with our family. Danny showed us a video on YouTube. It was me singing, "Lonely Teardrops" with Bub playing drums. It was from the 1983 International Festival of Country Music. We performed to a full Wembley Arena in London, England. This show was shown across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on BBC TV. Bub turned 19 while in London that weekend. Final Farewell: Bobby Caldwell, Jerry Whitman, Lois Felts   Narvel on Stage Riverview Amphitheater, Lady Luck Casino, Caruthersville, MO, Oct. 10, 2009 Photo courtesy of Ruth Bryant (Click on photos for larger view)
Narvel on Stage Narvel Autographing	October 2009 October 10th I did my 7th annual afternoon show at the Riverview Amphitheater at the Lady Luck Casino on the bank of the Mississippi River in Caruthersville, Missouri. Each year, until this one, the weather had been beautiful for this outside concert. They do have a concert hall in case of rain or bad weather. When I left home at noon I called and was told they were in a meeting, deciding whether or not to move the show inside on this cold, cloudy day. I left a voice mail saying, "It's 49 degrees and the show needs to be inside." When I arrived they'd decided to have it outside. Double Edge did their usual great job when they opened at 5pm. I was to come on at 5:20 but it was 5:30. This show has to be over by twilight as there are no stage lights. It was dark by the time I finished my hour. Some who had shivered through the show were walking out on my last two songs. 700 were in the audience. Though it was cold and a damp breeze blew off the river they gave me a warm reception, blessing me with standing ovations. Some had made the 500 mile drive from Louisiana. Some had made a 700 mile drive from Ohio to be there. our daughter, Stacia and Danny were there. She said their teeth were chattering. Our nephew, Billy Joe and Sissy were there. Most were from Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and Illinois. Lucy, who used to run the Rebel Club at Osceola, Arkansas was there. It was the first club I got paid to play, in the spring of 1956 when I was 17. Johnny Cash once told me that the first time he heard of me, he saw my poster in the Rebel Club. j. D. Beardon was there. He'd owned "Becky's Club Charming" in Cario, Illinois. He also hired me in 1956. His was the show place between Memphis and St. Louis in those days. The night would start with a duo playing dinner and danced music. The MC would then come to the dance floor with the spotlight on him. He'd tell some jokes wearing his tux then do a tap dance. We'd then do our show. The night would end with a review of strippers. Back to Oct. 10, '09 - Michael Steele from Classic Country "The Wolf" 95.9 in Jonesboro, Arkansas introduced me. Keith Michaels from Thunder Country 96.3 in Blytheville, Arkansas was seated in the front row with his mother. (Bob Logan from that station had interviewed me the morning before). Double Edge did a marvelous job backing me. I've never heard better sound than what Highland House Production provided. A very dedicated line of fans more than two hours long waited in my autograph line by Huey's Record Rack. I came prepared with a heavy coat, hat and gloves. One of the many was Ruth Bryant whose late husband, William J. Played my records faithfully on WDSG in Dyersburg, TN from the time I met them in 1965. For a more in-depth review focused on my show go to Reviews, Faye Huffman wrote a great one! Final Farewell: Shelby Singleton, Jess Forester, Juanita Morris, Billy Deaton Photos taken at: Riverview Amphitheater, Lady Luck Casino, Caruthersville, Missouri Oct. 10, 2009 (Click on photos for larger view) Photos by Faye Huffman
Diane & Wink Luitjens with Narvel Narvel Fan Club members since 1992 Guida Brown, Narvel and Dave McGrath Dave and Guida ran Gene Pitney's Fan Club Photos courtesy of Jerry and Bev Mackey  Taken at the Midwest Country Theatre Sandstone, Minnesota September 19th, 2009 (click pics to see larger view)	September 2009 I was home with Loretta September 14th. It was the 14th anniversary of our son Bub's death. September 19th I performed a matinee plus a night show at the Midwest Country Theatre in Sandstone, Minnesota. The theatre was comfortably full for the matinee and more than half full for the night show. The audiences blessed me with many standing ovations! These shows are always taped and a few songs used from time to time on the Midwest Country Show on RFD TV which is shown at 7:30 Central. This time only the first show was taped as Joe Jensen who oversees the taping suffered a warning stroke between shows. The Midwest Country Band did a good job backing me. They also did the opening set and backed the Mellow-Ds. Jerry and Bev Mackey parked their motor home near the stage door for me to have as a place to stay between the noon rehearsal and the first show, between shows and as a dressing room. Other Minnesota friends and fans, Manley and Benetta Olson, their son, Wade and Jennifer plus Holly, also Larry and Linda Armstrong and their son were there. They've all made long trips to catch my shows in the past. Wink and Diane Luitjens were there from Waterloo, Iowa. They've been fan club members since 1992. Diane loves my record, "Blue Darlin'" so much that she bought a new blue pickup truck and and had "Blue Darlin'" painted on the sides of it.  (see photo of the Luitjens on the left) Dave McGrath and Guida Brown were there from Kenowsha, Wisconsin. They used to run the late and great Gene Pitney's Fan Club plus do his merchandising for him. I included Gene's hit, "I'm Gonna Be Strong" in my show for them.  (see photo  of Dave and Guida on the left)  Through my autograph lines came fans from as far away as Texas Canada and Wyoming. Huey and I made the two day drive up and two day drive back home in my white Dodge Grand Caravan, a 1,876 mile round trip.
Narvel on stage, Rock-a-Billy Fest Jackson, TN 2009 Leroy Van Dyke & Narvel Country Legends Show Will Rogers Memorial Center, Fort Worth, TX 10-19-08 Cousin Carl & Narvel Felts Eagles Club, Cape Girardeau,  MO 8-29-09 Photos courtesy of Faye Huffman Click photos for larger view	August 2009 August 8th I did my show at the "Rock-a-Billy Fest 2009". This was the 10th annual show. I've been a part of each one. This fest is staged by the International Rock-a-Billy Hall of Fame in Jackson, TN. This year it was held in the auditorium at the Jackson Fairgrounds. There was banquet seating. At the table directly in front of the stage were the girls from Tupelo who have been to each one. At the table next to them was Faye Huffman and her sister, Patsy Martin who have been to some 50 of my shows in the past dozen years, traveling from their homes in Louisiana to each side of the Atlantic! With them was Tom and Annie Costello from the Cincinnati, OH area who have been from Clear Lake, Iowa to Michigan, to Cleveland  to catch my shows over the past several years. The audience was from the USA from Missouri to West Virginia, to Maine plus from Canada, England and Germany. I took the stage backed by Double Edge who did a great job backing me. I was blessed with several standing ovations on such songs as, "Somebody Hold Me", "Kiss-a-Me Baby", "If Ever Two Were One", "Danny Boy", "My Prayer" and "Funny How Time Slips Away". A three hour autograph line awaited me at Huey's Record Rack. Other artists on the show were Little David Wilkins, Travis Wammack, Sonny Burgess and the Pacers and Wanda Jackson. Wanda's life size portrait was unveiled by Marshall Grant who made her induction speech. Marshall was bass player with Johnny Cash. I had been honored with my life size portrait being unveiled in 2006. Ed Salamon, President of the Country Broadcasters Association made my induction speech. For more information about my show and the Fest go to "Reviews" on this web site. Faye Huffman wrote a great one. August 19th I was booked to be one of the artists on the Country Gold Tour at the Grandstand at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, Missouri. Huey and I made the drive up arriving the night before. Our former Bernie, MO  high school class mate Bill Crutchfield met us there. The next afternoon all of us artists met at the grandstand for our sound check. The weather was threatening at show time. The grandstand was full, as were the open air seats  between the grandstand and the stage. The Auctioneers did their opening song, Leroy Van Dyke did his show as did Jimmy Fortune. It then started pouring rain with lightning. The show had to be stopped then cancelled. Waiting under the stage in the green room, watching the show on the big screen the rest of us were waiting to go on: Moe Bandy, Steve and Ruby Gatlin, Helen Cornelius, David Frizzell, Gene Watson and me.  Gladys Van Dyke then organized two vans to take us around under the grandstand where the State Patrol had organized an autograph line for all of us to autograph and meet the fans. The first ones I saw were Wink and Diane Luitjens who had driven down from Waterloo, Iowa and were in the audience. They've been fan club members and attended many of my shows since 1992, from Minnesota to South Carolina. They had to walk a  half a mile in the pouring rain back to their car! Huey and I drove home the next day; a 693 mile round trip. August 29th was my third year to play the Eagles Club in Cape Girardeau, MO. Thanks to C-106.1 Pure Country Radio I had a full house again. Rick Sinclair from this station introduced me on stage. I called cousin Carl from this station on stage to do, "Rollin' in My Sweet Baby's Arms" with me. They play such records of mine as, "Somebody Hold Me", "Reconsider Me", "Lonely Teardrops", Drift Away, Fraulein, "Blue Darlin'", Stranger on the Shore, "Even Now' and at Christmas time, "The Little Drummer Boy". You can listen on the internet at www.KWKZ.com and request  your favorite Narvel record. Tell them where you're from. Double Edge did a great job backing me and doing their opening and closing set. I was scheduled to do my longest show of the year, an hour and 20 minutes. It turned out to be 2 hours! It was also my only club and dance to play this year. My other shows have been concerts at auditoriums and theaters plus festivals and fairs. During the show I called Fred Horrell, Steve Schaffner and Mike Smith, "The Hillbilly Cat" on stage to do, "Shake, Rattle and Roll" with me. Fred and I were Buddy's in our late teens, he played bass with me on occasion. Steve traveled with me from mid 1979 to late 1981. He would rehearse the bands and open my shows. The Hillbilly Cat does a 50's Elvis show. A couple was there who said they'd seen me sing with Jerry Mercer's band at the Four Way Inn at Dudley, MO. That was my first time with the band, March 24th, 1956! Fans were there from as far away as Rockford, Illinois, Arkansas plus the girls from Louisiana, Faye Huffman and Patsy Martin were there. A long line awaited at Huey's Record Rack for me to autograph. For more details of this night go to "Reviews" for Faye's review.

 

Gene Watson and Narvel Felts Back stage, Florida State Fair Tampa, FL Feb. 11, 2009 Photo courtesy of L&S Hamilton Photography Click on photo for full size printable photo.

June 2009 June 27 I was headliner on the "Fun on the Farm Jamboree" at the Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center in Huntingdon, TN. The theater was nearly full. The receptive audience blessed me with two standing ovations, one after "Danny Boy" in memory of our son, Bub, the other at the end of my show. Kelly Green from 100.9 "The Farm" gave me a great introduction. The entire show was simulcast on the radio. Double Edge did a great job backing me. Other artists on the show were Andy Lee Williams, Daniel Thomas, Jayne Nelson, Danny Eastin and Linda K. After my show a long autograph line awaited in the lobby. Huey and I had driven over the night before as my rehearsal was at 11 AM, the show at 2 PM. Dave McGrath and his wife Guida Brown flew down from Kenosha, Wisconsin to catch my show. They used to run the Gene Pitney Fan Club and did his merchandising. Soon after I returned from doing Slim Whitman's Farewell Tour of the UK in 2002 with him. I got a call from the promoter that was booking Gene Pitney's 2003 tour. He said, Gene was keen on me doing his UK and Ireland tour that year with him. I was excited about that as I'd always been a Pitney fan and had never met him. Fool that I was I allowed a London promoter and a Nashville agent make the decision that I would not do that tour. I'll always regret that as Gene died died April 5, 2006. I did his hit, "I'm Gonna Be Strong" for Dave and Guida on my June 27, '09 show. While in Huntingdon it was good visiting with Bob Timmers, Diane and Fran from the Rockabilly Hall of Fame plus my Rockabilly buddy, Carl Mann. After supper, Huey and I made our drive home, a 329 mile round trip. Final Farewell: Gale Storm

April 2009