JD Spohn was an inveterate RV'er. And he had a Fiat with a rattan flat roof that he towed behind his motor home. Never seen another like it. Camping in Pahokee, he was stopped waiting for a light to change. The driver of a pickup truck stopped beside him yelled over that he admired the little Fiat and his boss would love to see it, too. JD told the driver where he was camping and asked who the driver's boss was. Mel Tillis, he was told. JD said bring him on by and they'd have a toddy or two.
Sure enough that evening up pulls Mel, with his driver. As expected he loved the little Fiat and offered JD good money for it but JD loved the little car too much to part with it. Later Mel broke out his guitar and began singing around the campfire. All the delighted nearby campers were treated to a free concert. Two elderly ladies, walking back from the rest rooms, could hear Mel singing, too.
One said to the other, "Listen to that fella sing. He sounds just like Mel Tillis."
"Nope," corrected the other, "I've heard Mel sing a dozen times. That fella's no where near as good as he is."
Mel and the campfire group could hear this and all had a good laugh.
Another time Mel and Tom T. Hall appeared at the old Swamp Buggy Track. It was some charity event and both the CCSO and NPD volunteered security for the concert. Unfortunately, Mel was suffering from the flu. His assistant told us, "Don't worry, he'll do the show. Mel's a tough old bird."
When time came, he came out of his bus, being supported by two men, and weaved to the back stage steps. There, the men boosted him up on stage, he straightened up, and walked to the mike. He said, "I hope you folks will excuse me tonight if I don't hit some of the high notes. I have a little cold." That said, his did his hour, with all the perfection one expects of a master. I doubt any member in the audience could tell how he was suffering.
His show over, he walked to the wings and collapsed. His assistants hurried him to the bus. One of the cops enquired, "Guess you're going to get him home to Pahokee for some bed rest."
"I wish," the assistant said. "He's playing Detroit day after tomorrow and we're on the road from here."
Always admired ol' Mel all the more after that. Can't say the same for Mr. Hall.
If memory serves me, we had to assist old Tom T. onto the stage as well, but his strain of Flu came from a Turkey bottle.....
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